Cape Town is known for its beauty, but there are some people who will take cute animals over a breathtaking view any day. But who needs to choose when Boulders Beach is an option?
The magnificent Boulders Beach tops the list of favorite local and tourist beaches in Cape Town for two reasons: its rocky seaside cliffs are super unique, and its actually the only place on Earth where people can get close to African Penguins.
Although amazing beaches are in no short supply in South Africa, Boulders Beach has an extra attraction that makes it different from other beaches, and literally everywhere else – a colony of African Penguins! They waddle around in their little feather coats like the miniature suited up businessmen of the animal world.
The penguins have famously inhabited the rocks since 1982, and today the population is estimated between 2,000 and 3,000. But sadly, they’re classified today as an endangered species, as the result of over-fishing, habitat destruction, pollution, and poorly regulated tourism activities. The surrounding Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area is working hard to protect the penguins and their beaches. That being said, the beach is for all to responsibly enjoy! The beach is great for swimming, and the rocks are great for climbing.
For anyone who fancies more information on the little fellas, expert guides are there offering tours. But it’s important to remember: as cute and friendly as they are, they’re still wild animals. That means it’s not okay to feed them, so don’t do it – we want to keep them just the way they are! Perhaps surprisingly, it’s also a no-swim zone, which means outings on the water by boat, canoe, or kayak are prohibited. And lastly, though this should come as no surprise: it’s a no-take zone. That means you can’t take the penguins home with you. We do apologize.