Boulders Beach, Cape Town - Up Close with the Penguins

When we went to Boulders Beach, it was hot, for me anyway. It was October, so Spring-time in Cape Town, and it wasn't just me that was feeling the heat. The penguins looked hot too.

Most of them were just standing around, some in the shade, not doing very much at all. We’d gone there to see penguins, obviously, but I didn’t realise quite how close you get to them or how much time you end up spending just watching.

Walking past penguin houses

You walk along a wooden boardwalk that takes you through the area where the penguins live. Along the way, there are little man-made penguin houses built in among the rocks and bushes. They’re there to help with nesting and protection, and they’re actually quite sweet.

When we were there, some of the penguins were nesting, which made it more interesting. You could see them tucked away in their spots, clearly busy and completely uninterested in the people walking past. It feels less like you’re visiting something and more like you’re just passing through.

The viewing platforms

There are two main viewing platforms along the boardwalk. We stopped at both, and it seemed quite busy, even though it wasn't the main tourist season. From the platforms, you can watch penguins heading down to the water, others coming back, and some just standing around doing nothing in particular. It’s surprisingly easy to lose track of time doing this, especially when it’s hot and you’re happy to stop walking for a bit.

Spotting the nesting penguins from the platforms was a highlight, especially as you had to actually look properly rather than just glance and move on.

It’s not just penguins

Once we slowed down, we noticed there was a lot more going on than just penguins. Little lizards on the rocks, birds, and dassies popping up between the boulders.

If you’ve never seen a dassie before, they look a bit like chunky guinea pigs and seem to be absolutely everywhere once you start noticing them. We kept spotting them sunning themselves on the rocks or darting back into gaps whenever people got too close. It became one of those places where you keep stopping because someone’s seen something else.

The swimming area (separate to the penguins)

There is a separate beach area where you can go into the water, away from the penguin viewing boardwalks and platforms. It’s not mixed in with the penguin area, which makes sense, and it feels calmer because it’s sheltered by the rocks.

Even if you don’t swim, it’s nice knowing it’s there, especially on a hot day. We didn't get a chance to swim on this visit, but it looked really inviting and it is a must to go back to.

Back at the car

One thing that made me smile were the signs in the car park reminding you to check under your car for penguins before you leave. It sounds funny until you remember how close they wander to everything. It’s a small detail, but it really drives home the point that you’re visiting their space, not the other way around.

Visiting with kids

This is an easy place to visit with children. You walk, you stop, you look, and then you walk a bit more. There’s no pressure to keep moving or see everything quickly. It does get busy, especially later in the day, so going earlier helps if you want it to feel a bit more relaxed. There is an entrance fee to access the boardwalk and penguin areas, which goes towards conservation and looking after the colony.

Entrance fees (2026)

The entrance fees differ depending on where you come from:

South African Citizens and Residents - Adults R55, children (2-11yrs) R26
SADC Nationals - Adults R110, children (2-11yrs) R55

International (non-South African) Citizens - Adults R245, children (2-11yrs) R120

So I paid R245, and Lawrence paid R55 - quite a difference, but the experience was worth it, for sure!

Was it worth it?

Yes, definitely! Where else do you get to see penguins where it is warm and they are in their natural (albeit supported by manmade housing) environment? There are actually five main African penguin colonies in the Western Cape, and Boulders Beach is just one of them. Another popular and very different place to see penguins is Betty’s Bay (Stony Point), which we also visited another day (can't ever get sick of penguins!)