Boulders Beach penguin colony
Simon's Town
A colony of African penguins at Boulders Beach in Simon's Town, listed as Critically Endangered, with boardwalks and a conservation fee.
- Best monthsDecember to FebruaryDecember to February is the mating season, when behaviour is easiest to watch, but it is also the busiest period, so arrive early on weekends and holidays.
- How longOne to two hours
- WhereSimon's Town
Boulders Beach in Simon's Town, on the False Bay side of the Cape Peninsula, is home to a colony of African penguins and is part of Table Mountain National Park. Wooden boardwalks link the viewing platforms, and Cape Town Magazine says the colony is about a three-minute walk from the Boulders parking area. It says December to February is the mating season, the best time to see natural behaviour, and that early morning and late afternoon are best for photographs.
BirdLife International lists the African penguin as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and reported its uplisting from Endangered in November 2024. BirdLife says breeding pairs have dropped below 10,000 for the first time on record, and names commercial fishing for small fish such as sardines and anchovies and warming seas as the most critical threats.
The rule is to look but not touch: do not feed or disturb the penguins, and keep in mind that they can bite. Cape Town Magazine describes a side-to-side head movement as a warning sign. Nomad Mum reports that summer is the busiest season, and advises arriving early on weekends and holidays.
What it costs
A South African adult conservation fee at Boulders was R55 for rates valid from 1 November 2025 to 31 October 2026, as reported by Time Out from the SANParks tariffs; the international fee could not be confirmed from an official page.
Getting there
Boulders Beach is in Simon's Town, on the False Bay side of the Peninsula, and visitors usually arrive by car or on a day tour. The colony is about a three-minute walk from the Boulders parking area according to Cape Town Magazine.
Visiting safely
- Do not touch or feed the penguins, because they are wild animals and can bite.
- Watch for a side-to-side head movement, which Cape Town Magazine describes as a warning sign, and step back.
- Take care if you swim, because Cape Town Magazine advises caution even though the beach is calm and warm enough for children.
- Arrive early on weekends and holidays to avoid the busiest periods, as Nomad Mum advises.
Where this comes from
- African penguin on the brink of extinction · BirdLife International
- The Boulders penguin colony · Cape Town Magazine
- SANParks' new 2025/26 tariffs: these are SA's cheapest parks to visit · Time Out Cape Town
- Penguins in Cape Town: Boulders Beach fees, best time · Nomad Mum
