Hotels near Boulders Beach
Simon's Town, Cape Town, 7995, South Africa
Boulders Beach in Simon's Town is a protected white-sand cove home to a colony of approximately 2000 African penguins - the closest place to Cape Town where you can see (and swim near) wild penguins. The colony arrived in 1982 when 2 breeding pairs flew in from offshore Dyer Island; numbers have grown steadily since. The endemic African penguin species is critically endangered with a global wild population of around 13000.
Access via 3 boardwalks - the main Foxy Beach viewing platform (free with the 200 ZAR park entry) lets visitors observe penguins close-up. The adjacent Boulders Beach itself is a swimming beach where penguins swim alongside humans (not actually touching). Open daily 08:00-18:30 (later in summer). Allow 90 minutes. Located in Simon's Town on the Cape Peninsula route - most visitors include it on a Cape Point day trip.
Pro Tip: Arrive at 08:00 opening for the most active penguins (still cool) and the parking is easier. Swim at Boulders Beach itself rather than Foxy Beach - the penguins waddle past beach-goers. Do not touch them and watch for territorial nipping during October-March breeding season.
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