The penguins of Boulders Beach
In Simon’s Town, on the eastern side of the Cape Peninsula, a colony of critically endangered African penguins settled in 1982. From two breeding pairs, it has grown to about 3,000 birds.
Key facts
Before you go.
- Starting point
- Simon’s Town, by MetroRail train from Cape TownSimon's Town (Wikivoyage)
- GPS coordinates
- -34.19700, 18.45100Boulders Beach (Wikipedia)
Good to know
Three things to remember.
The penguins are best viewed from Foxy Beach, where boardwalks take you to within a few metres of the birds.
Boulders Beach (Wikipedia)At Simon’s Town station, a “Rikki” minibus meets every train and goes on to Boulders Beach.
Simon's Town (Wikivoyage)Entry is card-only.
Rates & Entry Fees, Table Mountain National Park (SANParks)
Plan the trip
Our recommended partners
One link per need, chosen for reliability. Prices and availability are the partner’s, in a new tab.
Keep exploring
South Africa
Table Mountain
A flat-topped mountain overlooking Cape Town, Table Mountain rises to 1,086 m at Maclear’s Beacon.
The Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point
The Portuguese explorer Bartolomeu Dias rounded it in 1487 and first called it the Cape of Storms.
Robben Island
In Table Bay, 11 km from Cape Town, the island has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999.
Sources · 3 pages consulted, with the exact sentence used
- Boulders Beach (Wikipedia)
It is located on the eastern side of the Cape Peninsula, in Simon's Town […] a colony of the endemic and critically endangered African penguins […] which settled there in 1982. […] From just two breeding pairs in 1982, the penguin colony has grown to about 3000 birds in recent years. […] the penguins are best viewed from Foxy Beach, where newly constructed boardwalks take visitors to within a few metres of the birds. (coordinates -34.197, 18.451)
- Simon's Town (Wikivoyage)
There is a regular MetroRail service from Cape Town via Fish Hoek, Kalk Bay, Muizenberg, Wynberg and Claremont. […] A "Rikki" is a small minibus which usually runs from the train station to Boulders Beach […] A Rikki taxi meets every train that arrives at Simon's Town station.
- Rates & Entry Fees, Table Mountain National Park (SANParks)
Cape Point and Boulders Gates are a cash-free environment and we only accept payments via debit and credit cards.
Opening hours, prices and access conditions change: check them with the official source before you go. Viafro publishes no price without a source and a date.