African Penguins at Boulders Beach in Simon's Town, South Africa

Warm weather and sandy beaches don’t exactly conjure up images of penguins. But at Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town – just south of Cape Town –more than 3,000 endangered African Penguins are living along the shore.

During our Visit in Cape Town, we planned a day trip from the city that would allow us to see the penguins at Boulders Beach in their natural habitat.

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Visiting Penguins at Boulders Beach

Rather than taking one of the Cape Town Penguins Tours, we decided to make the trip on our own. If you are planning doing the same, we have some honest advice of what you can expect!

Boulders Beach Entrance Fee & Hours

As the beach is part of the Table Mountain National Park, it is required to pay an entrance fee. Boulder Beach tickets can be purchased online or at the entrance.

The Boulders Beach opening times vary by season.

April to September: 8:00am to 5:00pm
October to November: 8:00am to 6:30pm
December to January: 7:00am to 7:30pm
February to March: 8:00am to 6:30pm

Viewing the Penguin Colony South Africa

Foxy Beach is where the majority of the Boulders Penguin Colony resides. Boardwalk paths and viewing platforms have been erected on the Simon’s Town beach to allow you to get an up-close.

Top Tip: Follow the third path to the south end of Simon’s Town Boulders Beach where you can put your feet in the sand…and maybe see a rogue penguin on the beach!

Watching Simon’s Town Penguins on Boulders Beach

We knew what to expect from the pictures we had seen, but nothing could properly prepare us for the natural landscapes, close proximity and hilarity of these African penguins on Boulders Beach.

Hundreds of them could be seen on the beach and rocks. Some stood still. Others were lying down. Some were busy digging nests in the sand. A few waddled into the water for a swim.

Swimming Penguins

The sea at Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town has crystal clear water – which allows you the chance to watch the penguins swim.

As they splashed around in the shallow water – which seemed to be more to cool off or bathe than in search of food – they often let themselves tumble with the waves.

Others swam together, moving rapidly through the sea and then they would quickly pop up and emerge onto the shore.

Penguins Molting

Our late November visit to Cape Town coincided with the “21 Days of Molting” – the annual shedding of old feathers to make way for the new.

During this time, they lose their waterproofing and therefore are restricted to land – not even swimming into the ocean for food.

In addition, they look quite funny with half of their coat a fuzzy mess of feathers and the other half sleek and new!

Penguin Mates and Enemies

Penguins have life-long mates and we noticed that the couples often separated themselves from the crowd. Pairs of penguins are often found standing close together and preening each other.

Occasionally, however, we would witness a snarky penguin sneak attack another one for reasons unknown to us. The result was a tense stare-off for them and a humorous scene for us.

African Jackass Penguin

The birds were not especially noisy during our visit, but when they did make sounds, the noise was like that of a donkey. The honking sound has earned them the nickname “Jackass Penguins in South Africa.”

How To Get to Boulder’s Beach from Cape Town

There are two ways to get to the Penguins at Boulders Beach without a car: Train or Tour.

Train: Metrorail Southern Line

The Metrorail’s Southern Line conveniently extends the 25 miles from downtown Cape Town to Simon’s Town.

The ride is inexpensive, but predicably unreliable. We quickly learned this when our train broke down after only six stops. We waited on the platform for 45 minutes until the next train collected us.

However, the ride is incredibly scenic. Especially the section from Muizenberg to Simon’s Town, where the tracks are practically on the beach. We opened the windows and were blasted with fresh ocean air as we gazed in awe at the scenery.

Getting to Boulders Beach from the Simon’s Town train station is just under a 2 mile walk. But it’s an easy and pleasant enough stroll through the historic and charming town.

Boulders Beach Cape Town Tours

Getting to Boulders Beach from Cape Town on an organized tour is a much easier option than sorting out the train. Plus, they usually take in multiple sights along the way.

Cape Peninsula and Penguin Colony Tour – This robust full-day tour includes visiting beaches in Cape Town, standing on Cape Point, seeing the penguins and stopping at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

Private Tour to Cape of Good Hope – This private tour visits the most well-known attractions in the Cape Town region – including Table Mountain, African Penguins and the Cape Point Lighthouse.

Full-Day Cape Tour – Enjoy this full-day excursion that takes you along Chapman’s Peak Drive to Cape Point, makes a stop to see the penguins at Boulders Beach and includes a wine tasting in Constantia Valley!

Start planning your trip to South Africa! Search for the lowest airfares, the best accommodations and fun things to do…then start packing! Want additional advice? Head over to our Travel Planning Page and for country-specific information, take a look at our Travel Guides Page!

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