Boulders Beach is one of a few interactive penguin colonies in the world. The beach is located on the False Bay coast just a little past Simons Town. After paying a small fee (currently R40 for adults and R15 for children), you will be able to swim, picnic and sunbathe amongst some of the most endearing creatures on Earth.
Foxy Beach, which is right next to Boulders, is actually the African Penguins’ real home; they just visit Boulders to hang out with the tourists. Foxy Beach is less interactive than Boulders; you aren’t allowed to wander among the penguins as this would disturb their breeding ground. But there are elevated boardwalks for you to see the penguins go about their daily business.
At Boulders Beach, the curiosity and cheek of the waddling birds knows no bounds. They’re perfectly happy to catch some waves with you, run around your legs and, if you’re lucky, share your towel. In fact, they appear so tame and relaxed in human company that you may want to reach out and touch them. Don’t. They’re not fond of being touched and are not afraid to use their sharp beaks to convey the message.
False Bay boasts warmer waters than the beaches on the Cape Town side of the coast. So you might want to pack some sandwiches and cold drinks and make a day of your visit to Boulders. The sand is great for building sand castles and the beach is sheltered so you won’t be bothered by the eternal wind that plagues much of the bay. The water is also calm so your kids can swim without fear.
The best time of day to visit the colony is in the late afternoon, as this is when the penguins come home after spending the day eating out in the bay. But that doesn’t mean you won’t be greeted by squawks and waddles if you arrive in the morning.
The Boulders and Foxy Beaches are protected areas and fall under the jurisdiction of the South African National Parks Board. They are considered to be part of the Table Mountain National Park. The park’s board is not only responsible for the penguins’ welfare, but also has to ensure that nearby residents are kept safe from the penguins. Before the area was declared part of the Table Mountain National Park, the penguins had a tendency to roam the streets and hop into yards on a whim. Fences now keep the birds in their protected area, more or less. You still have to be careful of penguins crossing the road.
Jade Scully is a copywriter excited about writing copy and stories, blogging about the world and editing. She currently and regularly publishes her stories on a number of blogs. Jade loves animals and hopes to begin writing copy for the animal rescue charity TEARS as her contribution to the cause.
