Boulders Beach
Public beach · Cape Town
Simon's Town, Cape Town, 7995, South Africa
Highlights
See African penguins up close in natural habitat; boulder beach
See African penguins up close in natural habitat; boulder beach
"A unique coastal spot famed for its resident penguin colony, offering a family-friendly wildlife experience and a memorable seaside attraction distinct from typical beach visits." - Paul Brady Paul Brady Paul Brady is the news director at Travel + Leisure and the brand's expert on cruise travel. He has been covering the travel industry for more than 15 years for outlets including Condé Nast Traveler, Skift, and The Huffington Post. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A white-sand beach notable for its resident African penguin colony set against a backdrop of huge, truck-sized granite boulders; visitors can observe waddling penguins up close. For a more intimate experience, use the lesser-known southern entrance that allows beach access rather than staying on the boardwalk." - Katie Jackson Katie Jackson Katie Jackson is a New York City-based writer who covers travel, food, and more. Her work has appeared in USA Today, The Sunday Times, Esquire, Outside, New York Post, and Travel + Leisure, among others. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A unique coastal site famous for its resident penguin colony, offering visitors the chance to observe penguins in a natural coastal setting—an especially appealing addition to a longer trip during prime beach weather months." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s also the founder of the travel site justpacked.com. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A coastal reserve known for its resident penguin colony, this beach offers close-up wildlife viewing and seaside scenery—though the ocean water remains quite cold for swimming most days." - Andrea Romano Andrea Romano Andrea Romano is a writer and editor in New York City. For the last eight years, she has been a lifestyle journalist for Mashable, Brit+Co, Reviewed, Bustle, and Travel + Leisure. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Cape Town's penguins come to Simon's Town to breed. In the early 1980s, an enterprising pair mated for the first time on Boulders Beach, and their tuxedoed descendants now number several thousand. To see the penguins in their natural habitat, make the one-hour drive from Cape Town and stroll the wooden pathway, part of Table Mountain National Park. Park employees patrol the beach, keeping an eye out for the little guys—they were classified as an endangered species in 2010—so the penguins feel safe enough to leave their protected area and waddle onto the sand or splash in the Caribbean-blue water. Robben Island is another great spot to view these stars of the Southern Hemisphere; tours depart daily from Cape Town's Nelson Mandela Gateway."
