For a day at the coast with a difference, take a drive or hop on the Southern railway line to Simon’s Town. A couple of kilometres further, and you’ll find yourself at Boulders Beach where there’s plenty to see and do all year round.
The bay is famed for its 2,000-strong penguin colony, located in a fenced-off area at the adjacent Foxy Beach. Wooden viewing platforms are the best place to get up close, giving you space to watch the birds as they amble about enjoying the sunshine. The penguins have really taken to the place since the first breeding pair was introduced in 1983. It’s rare to get this close, so photos are a must!
Don’t be surprised if you bump into a couple as you go back to Boulders Beach for a swim. They like a change of landscape, so you could well find yourself swimming with penguins in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. Be careful though, they have sharp beaks!
As part of Table Mountain National Park, Boulders Beach is well looked after by the local stewards and rangers who maintain a daily beach patrol. There is also an information centre, which is worth popping into for information on guided tours of the area. If you’d prefer a slightly different view, kayaking and boating trips let you enjoy a panorama of the coastline from the sea.
At 40 kilometres from Cape Town, Boulders Beach may seem a fair way to travel. However, this is a trip that you won’t regret. Even without the draw of the penguins, the beauty of this unspoilt beach is a real treat. Spotless white sands stretch along the coast, contrasting spectacularly with the glinting depths of the ocean. The looming granite boulders for which the beach is named provide welcome shade from the afternoon sun.
An entry fee applies, but this is very affordable, making Boulder Beach the perfect place to spend a day, or even just to drop in for a few hours as part of a drive along the coast towards the Cape of Good Hope.
