Become a Virtual Tourist Member Today!  Sign Up for Free | Sign In
Penguins / Boulders Beach, Cape Town
Search:

Home » Travel Guides » Africa » South Africa » Province of the Western Cape » Cape Town » Things To Do » Penguins / Boulders Beach Reviews

Cape Town Hotels

Real reviews from real travelers.

Penguins / Boulders Beach, Cape Town

Penguins / Boulders Beach tips and photos posted by real travelers and Cape Town locals.
• 143 Photos
• 78 Reviews

See all Cape Town Things To Do
Sort By:  Most Recent | Best Rated
Penguins / Boulders Beach: Penguin Paradise
  • Tip Rating:
  • lynnehamman
  • By lynnehamman on October 24, 2008
  • Cape Town Page by lynnehamman
  • Penguins / Boulders Beach - Cape Town
    by lynnehamman, 3 more photos
    Seeing these penguins, in their natural habitat, was a delight. The route is well chosen, the pathways are signposted, and the penguin coves are pristine. The behaviour of these fascinating creatures is interesting to watch. They squabble, they march and are totally aware of the visitors that are watching and snapping away with their cameras. Also many small wild Cape fauna around.
    There is a nearby tearoom, serving tea or coffee & delicious home-baked South African cakes

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: Boulders Beach Simonstown
  • Directions: Scenic train ride from Cape Town station along the False Bay Coast,to Simonstown. Trip takes about 45mins.Boulders Beach can be reached by walking, from Simonstown Station ( 15minwalk)
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Cape Town?

    Read reviews about Cape Town Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Penguins / Boulders Beach: The Boulders Beach
  • Tip Rating:
  • cokes
  • Updated By cokes on November 30, 2006
  • Cape Town Page by cokes
  • The Boulders Beach Front - Cape Town
    The Boulders Beach Front
    by cokes, 4 more photos
    This is Just one of many beaches which you will pass on your way to Cape Point. Its situated in Simons Town.

    Well if you wanna get a real view of Penguins well this is the perfect place to go. Its Perfect for the whole family. The penguins does`nt seem to be bothered with the poeple so its perfect as you can get really close to them.

    It cost R25 per person that allows you to go see the penguin colony and give you acceess to the beach whereby you can swim side by side with the penguins.

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: 4 Boulders Place, Boulders Beach, Simon’s Town
  • Phone: +27 (21) 786 1758
  • Directions: Its close to the naval base in Simons Town. Just look for the Boulders Beach sign and drive down the road to the parking area.
  • Website: http://www.bouldersbeach.co.za/
  • Other Contact: boulders@iafrica.com
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Penguins / Boulders Beach: Be Monogamous Like African Penguins!
  • Tip Rating:
  • jumpingnorman
  • Updated By jumpingnorman on February 1, 2009
  • Cape Town Page by jumpingnorman
  • Monogamous penguins at Boulders, South Africa - Cape Town
    Monogamous penguins at
    Boulders, South Africa
    by jumpingnorman, 4 more photos
    As part of the bus tour which I took, they brought us to this African Penguin Sanctuary, just a few minutes from the center of Simons Town (just before we arrived at Cape Point).

    The place is called Boulders because of the large granite stones that form the sheltered bays where the penguins swim. We entered a little building which had access to a raised boardwalk over the Foxy Beach and our guide pointed out that these penguins were MONOGAMOUS and were nesting at the time we visited (February).

    Some tourists just stay on one part of the boardwalk, but try to go to the other side for a better view and also a view of the tourists themselves as the penguins see them. The place also has a nice gift shop and I bought a nice pair of penguin shirts for the twins!

    Leave a Comment

    Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Penguins / Boulders Beach: Meet the penguins on Boulders Beach
  • Tip Rating:
  • jo104
  • Updated By jo104 on August 9, 2006
  • Cape Town Page by jo104
  • Race you to the water - Cape Town
    Race you to the water
    by jo104, 2 more photos
    What you didn't know about penguins now you can!!

    The jackass penguin is named after their donkey-like braying call
    They can swin at an average speed of 7km/h & stay submerged for up to 2 minutes
    Their black & white dj camouflage is white for underwater predators looking upwards & black for predators looking down onto the water
    Penguins have very sharp beaks & can cause serious injury if they lunge & bite (bite first - ask questions later)

    This beach is fairly sheltered & you can swim amongst the penguins, as mentioned they are not petting animals & could give you a nasty nip. They like to nest in holes & cracks in the rocks.

    This is a beach which you pay to visit in 2005 Adults R20 & children R6
    Watch out for high tide as it could trap you on the beach
    In high season this beach is fairly packed with picnicing families

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: Boulders, Simonstown
  • Phone: +2721v786v2329
  • Website: www.tmnp.co.za
  • Other Contact: +2721 786 5786
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Penguins / Boulders Beach: Cute Penguins?
  • Tip Rating:
  • Myndo
  • Updated By Myndo on August 21, 2004
  • Cape Town Page by Myndo
  • Penguins - Cape Town
    Penguins
    by Myndo
    The Cape Peninsula National Park, Boulders hosts many Penguins.

    First I was a little astounded: Penguins in Africa? But yes, here you can find them.
    And not only find. They are so accustomed to humans, that you can get quite close. A lot of them were also sitting on eggs (directly next to the path).
    They breed here since 1983, numbers have gone up to over 2000 adult penguins...

    No dogs allowed (the reasons are obvious).
    You will get a leaflet how to behave: no running or handwaving because this disturbs them. Stay away from nests 1 m

    Leave a Comment

  • Directions: Cape Peninsula
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful

    Visiting Cape Town?

    Read reviews about Cape Town Hotels

    Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.

    Penguins / Boulders Beach: I GO for Penguins!
  • Tip Rating:
  • Radiomom
  • By Radiomom on June 1, 2004
  • Cape Town Page by Radiomom
  • Penguins are so sensitive... - Cape Town
    Penguins are so sensitive...
    by Radiomom
    (One of my favorite Lyle Lovett songs, BTW)
    We visited TWO penguin colonies -- one at Betty's Bay, the other at Boulders. For photos, Boulders is the best, as there are more opportunities for contrast -- too many rocks at Betty's make it hard for your photos to turn out (although both were gorgeous places).

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: Not far from Simons Town
  • Directions: Road signs lead you right there
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Penguins / Boulders Beach: Penguins on the beach!
  • Tip Rating:
  • dejavu2gb
  • Updated By dejavu2gb on May 9, 2005
  • Cape Town Page by dejavu2gb
  • Boulders Beach - Cape Town
    Boulders Beach
    by dejavu2gb
    No, its not some sort of mistake, if you visit Boulders Beach, you will see Penguins walking around in the sun on the beach.
    Located in a gorgeous spot between Simons Town and Cape Point is this world renowned beach that houses the unique African Penguins that are seen as a vulnerable species.
    Only about 10% of the original 1,5 million penguins are still around, so really worth seeing them.
    The drive to Boulders will take around 40 minutes and is very very scenic.

    Leave a Comment

  • Phone: +27 21 786-2329
  • Directions: Driving south take the M5 towards Muizenburg, then on the M4 towards Simons Town, and Boulders, you will see signs along the way.
  • Website: http://www.cpnp.co.za/brochboulders.html
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Penguins / Boulders Beach: Let's speak Penguinese!
  • Tip Rating:
  • Jenniflower
  • Updated By Jenniflower on May 23, 2006
  • Cape Town Page by Jenniflower
  • Family of Penguins at Boulders Beach - Cape Town
    Family of Penguins at Boulders
    Beach
    by Jenniflower
    Between the naval town of Simon's Town, and on the way to Cape Point Nature Reserve, you will find Boulder's Beach. A conservation area, it is primarily used for the preservation of it's unique and world-renowned penguin colony.

    The jackass penguin (Spheniscus demersus) can be seen here at close range, in its natural habitat. Yes!

    These penguins enjoy the heat and the sand, not the ice cold. They are comical to watch and a pleasure to visit :)

    We usually take a picnic and clamber onto one of the big rocks overlooking the beach where they are (Boulders Beach), and don't pay for this.

    You can pay a fee and get up and close and personal with them too, but we find the view from our rock just as good and enjoyable.

    A must-see for the kids and adults alike!

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: Boulder's Beach, Main Rd
  • Directions: Boulder's Beach, Main Rd, on the way to Cape Point
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Penguins / Boulders Beach: The very funny Jackass Penguins
  • Tip Rating:
  • Travelchili
  • Updated By Travelchili on August 8, 2004
  • Cape Town Page by Travelchili
  • A little Jackass:) - Cape Town
    A little Jackass:)
    by Travelchili
    African or Jackass Penguins can be seen only in three places along the South African coast - one of them being the Boulder's Beach at Simon's Town. Don't miss this chance to see the colony of around 3000 penguins - they are adorable!

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: Simon's Town
  • Directions: On the Cape Peninsula
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Penguins / Boulders Beach: Visiting the penguins
  • Tip Rating:
  • mvtouring
  • By mvtouring on February 20, 2007
  • Cape Town Page by mvtouring
  • the entrance - Cape Town
    the entrance
    by mvtouring,
    2 more photos
    The Boulders Colony:-
    In 1983 a pair of African penguins were spotted on Foxy Beach at Boulders and in 1985 they began to lay. Since then the colony has grown rapidly, increasing initially at about 60% a year. By 1997 there were 2350 adult birds. Although Simon's Town is very proud of its penguins, nearby residents suffered badly as the birds invaded their gardens, destroyed the undergrowth and were generally very noisy and messy. The great increase in tourists has also been a problem. As a result, the area has now been taken over by Cape Peninsula National Park, the birds have been restrained from wandering inland by a fence, board walks and an information room have all been established. Boulders still remains the only place in the world where one can actually swim amongst the penguins as they have continued to invade more beaches. They are remarkably untroubled by people but one should avoid harassing them by getting too close or chasing them. Beware!! They have a vicious bite
    Penguins are flightless, aquatic birds, which live in the southern oceans in climates as varied as Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands on the equator. There are seventeen species in all but the African Penguin is the only one to inhabit the African continent and its inshore islands. It used to be known as the Jackass Penguin
    Scientific Facts:
    Scientific Name: Spheniscus Demersus
    Average Statistics: Weight - 2,1 To 3,7 kilograms (4.63 To 8.16 pounds)
    Height - 50 cm (19.7 inches)

    Leave a Comment

  • Address: Simonstown
  • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    More Cape Town Tips
    Overview
     
    Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 251 - Photos: 268
    Things To Do
    Tips: 1,283 - Photos: 1,875
    Nightlife
    Tips: 90 - Photos: 50
    Transportation
    Tips: 130 - Photos: 95
    Restaurants
    Tips: 356 - Photos: 305
    Shopping
    Tips: 103 - Photos: 91
    Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 195 - Photos: 212
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 36 - Photos: 27
    Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 118 - Photos: 68
    Local Customs
    Tips: 67 - Photos: 56
    Packing Lists
    Tips: 40 - Photos: 18
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 59 - Photos: 78
    General Tips
    Tips: 242 - Photos: 249
    Flights
    Tips: 33 - Photos: 0

    Best Cape Town Travel Deals

    South Africa Tours
    See Kruger, Cape Town & Vic Falls. All in a Personalised 10 day Tour!

    Discover South Africa
    Small Groups & Expert Guides Book Online. Download a Brochure!

    South Africa Tours
    Experience Africa up Close & Wild. Safaris and Tours at Great Prices!

    Breathtaking Botswana
    Unparalleled safari experiences in southern Africa.

    South Africa from $930
    Fly to South Africa from $930 R/T on SAA! Sale Ends Soon, Book Today.

    Sponsored Links

    More Cape Town Travel Deals

    South Africa Safaris
    National Geographic Award Winner Custom Itineraries & Private Guides

    Southern Africa Safaris
    8 Days. Botswana, Zambia, S. Africa MalaMala Reserve & more. Since 1991

    Plan your trip to Africa
    Luxury adventures in South Africa Safaris, Family Travel and more.

    Sponsored Links


    Cape Town Hotels





    About VirtualTourist |  10 Great Things to Do On VirtualTourist |  Contact Us |  Press Center |  Help |  User Agreement |  Privacy Statement
    Virtual Tourist® ©1994-2009 VirtualTourist.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.