Boulders Beach Penguin Colony: On The World’s 50 Best Beaches

A 40-minute drive from Cape Town’s city centre is Boulders Beach, home to a serene penguin colony and one of the few places in the world where you can swim with these delightful seabirds.

Because it falls under the protection of SANParks, a conservation fee is payable to gain access. Once there, you can watch the penguins play in the surf, and even approach them as they waddle about on land, though it’s best not to get closer than a metre or so.

The best place to view the penguins is at nearby Foxy Beach, where wooden walkways surrounding the colony allow you to see them up close.

Important note They may seem cuddly and cute, but it’s advised not to feed or touch them. Aside from it being a violation of conservation efforts, the penguins have very sharp beaks that can harm humans if they feel threatened.

When to see the penguins

• Nesting season is from February to August.
• Visit in January to have a good chance of seeing baby penguins moulting on the beach.
• There are usually less penguins on the beach between September and October, as they spend most of the time at sea during those months.
• African penguins are most active during early morning and late afternoon (that’s their way of coping with the warmer African climate).

Good to know Boulders Beach is a great swimming area, especially for kids, as the boulders shelter it from winds and strong currents. You can picnic on the beach, and there are restaurants in nearby Simon’s Town for a post-swim bite.

Endangered species

The African penguin is a unique species, found only on the coastlines of South Africa and Namibia. They are currently classified as endangered (a result of habitat destruction, oil spills, pollution and overfishing).

Two breeding pairs arrived at Boulders in 1982, and founded their little colony. Since then, numbers have grown to around 2 200 – a small but significant win for this beloved species. (Of the estimated 1.5 million African penguins that existed in 1910, only 10% remained at the end of the 20th century).

Would you like to help? Contact SANCCOB at 021 557 6155.

Can’t get enough of these cuddly creatures? Try kayaking in Simon’s Town. You can see the birds darting through the water as you row along the False Bay coastline.

Date Daily
Time 8am – 5pm (April to September)
7am – 7.30pm (December to January)
8am – 6.30pm (February to March)
8am – 6.30pm (October to November)
Cost Daily Conservation Fee for 1 November 2024 – 31 October 2025
South African citizens and residents: R50 (adults)
R25 (children)
SADC nationals: R100 (adults)
R50 (children)
International citizens: R215 (adults)
R105 (children)
Location Simon’s Town, via the M4 (Main Road) from Muizenberg

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