September 2025

Penguins, penguins & more penguins!

After telling you more about Simon’s Town in our previous post (read here), it’s now time to introduce the main attraction to you.

With Boulders Beach just a stone’s throw from our accommodation, we walked down to the beach early in the morning where we could see the famous African Penguins.

Road leading to Boulders Beach

We knew that we were going to spend a fair amount of time with the penguins, so our first thought was to look for a place to have a hearty breakfast. Boulders Beach Hotel, Café and Curio with its beautiful views over False Bay was the perfect place to enjoy our breakfast.

Our view from Boulders Beach Hotel, Café and Curio

Coffee and omelette for breakfast

We were planning to follow the boardwalk to the main viewpoint from where you can see the penguins. But while we were paying the entrance fee, a family advised us to first take a walk on the beach among the boulders where we might see the penguins at close range.

The father of the family used to work at SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) and knew this area very well – I think it was our lucky day to basically have him as our ‘tour guide’.

We followed the family to Boulders Beach with its huge granite rocks (from where the name originated). This popular beach is sheltered from the wind and with its many inlets between all the boulders, it’s perfect for swimming – and if you’re lucky, seeing African penguins as well.

Boulders Beach

We had to almost crawl under and between large rocks to get to a possible spot where the penguins were.

Finding our way through the small inlets and big rocks

And there, lo and behold, at least 10 penguins were sitting on a rock, seemingly enjoying the early morning sun.

Penguins at Boulders Beach

Penguins are among the fastest swimmers on Earth (even though they can’t fly), but it’s funny that they look a bit clumsily on dry land.

‘Excuse me ma’am, I need to walk down this rock to take a quick swim’

The penguins’ own little beach

Penguin on its way to the water

The good life of a penguin

It was incredible to be so close to the penguins. We made sure not to get in their way or disturb them and just sat there on the sand to watch them.

Penguins swimming between the big boulders on Boulders Beach

This is what you call ‘Penguin on a mission-look’

It’s true that penguins love swimming. They are highly adapted for aquatic life, with streamlined bodies, flippers that function like propellers, and strong tails that help steer them.

Penguins enjoying a morning swim

The unique walk of a penguin – they waddle upright with short, quick steps – are called tobogganing. This walk may seem awkward, but it apparently saves energy and help them travel quickly.

Penguins ‘tobogganing’ to the water

Ready, steady … swim

Lovely bay of calm water for the penguins

It gave us so much pleasure to watch the penguins, whether they were in the water, on the beach or dried in the sun on the rocks. It seemed that the African penguin is quite happy to call Boulders Beach their home.

‘Hey look, I’m posing for you’

Frolicking in the water

‘Oh, that was cold! Let me get back up on the warm rock’

They are such lovely birds

‘No, I’m not sleeping – just resting my eyes’

Here’s another fun fact. Did you know that African penguins mostly have one mate for life? Male penguins often present small pebbles to female penguins as a gesture of their dedication and affection. It shows commitment and begins the nest-building process.

‘Oh, I think I like you’

We could easily have spent another hour watching these amazing animals, but it was time to move on. We walked back—again weaving through the high boulders—to reach the boardwalk that leads to the viewpoint.

Last look at the penguins’ little bay

‘Goodbye little penguin’

On our way back, we saw another penguin between the boulders

Climbing over big rocks on Boulders Beach

Beautiful Boulders Beach

On the boardwalk towards the main viewpoint

Along the boardwalk, we saw several penguins nesting among the bushes. The critically endangered African penguins settled at Boulders Beach in 1982.  From just two breeding pairs in 1982, the penguin colony has grown to about 3,000 birds in recent years.

Penguin on a nest

Boardwalk to the main viewpoint

The viewpoint is very popular with tourists and there was quite a crowd when we arrived. We were grateful to the man who earlier suggested that we first search for the penguins among the high boulders – it was great to see them from the main viewpoint, but our earlier encounter with the penguins was much more special.

Tourists at the viewpoint

As I said, it was still nice to see large colonies of penguins on the beach, and we spent a while here watching them move back and forth from the beach to the sea.

Penguins on the rocks, in the water and on the beach

Chilling out on the beach

‘It feels as if someone is following me’

‘Whee, I’m going for a quick dip’

‘No swimming for me – it’s time for a mid-morning nap’

A last look at the African penguins in the waves at Boulders Beach

Now for something completely different. On the way back along the boardwalk, we saw the well-known ‘dassie’ (rock hyrax). They were happily sitting and basking in the warm sun. I think, if we really wanted, we could probably have touched them (but never try and do that with wild animals). Don’t they have the cutest little faces?

‘Dassie’ (rock hyrax)

‘That is some balance you have there Mr Dassie’

I read that Boulders Beach was named the 2nd best beach in the world in the Golden Beach Awards in 2024, for its combination of natural beauty and African penguins. Well, I couldn’t agree more.