Boulders Penguin Colony

Boulders Penguin Colony is a protected African penguin colony within Table Mountain National Park at Simon's Town. SANParks records that penguins arrived from surrounding island colonies and established the mainland colony in 1983. Breeding numbers reached about 3,900 birds in 2005 before declining, and the park recorded roughly 2,100 birds in 2011. The site is both a wildlife-viewing attraction and a managed conservation area for a species whose breeding population has fallen sharply. Daily: Dec–Jan 07:00–19:30; Feb–Mar 08:00–18:30; Apr–Sep 08:00–17:00; Oct–Nov 08:00–18:30. Open every day with no regular weekly closure day. Entry can pause when visitor capacity is reached.

The Boulders visit centres on the visitor facility, fenced paths and boardwalks that lead toward the penguin colony at Foxy Beach. SANParks' official map also marks Boulders Beach, Middle Beach, First Beach, Seaforth Beach, Water's Edge, a vegetation buffer zone and the route between the visitor centre and the shore. The colony-viewing route and the swimming beach are related but not identical experiences. Open every day with no regular weekly closure day. Entry can pause when visitor capacity is reached.

The required time changes with the purpose of the stop: walking the managed boardwalk to view the colony is shorter than combining wildlife viewing with Boulders Beach, a picnic or swimming. Tide conditions can reduce usable beach space, and limited parking can add time during the peak summer period. Decide before arrival whether the visit is only for the penguin-viewing route or includes the wider shore, then allow flexibility for queues and wildlife activity. A wide wooden boardwalk provides step-free access from the visitor area to the penguin-viewing point at Foxy Beach.

Boulders uses seasonal entry times rather than one year-round schedule. The SANParks brochure publishes 08:00 to 18:30 for February and March, 08:00 to 17:00 from April through September, 08:00 to 18:30 in October and November, and 07:00 to 19:00 in December and January. SANParks also advises arriving early in peak summer because parking is limited. Daily: Dec–Jan 07:00–19:30; Feb–Mar 08:00–18:30; Apr–Sep 08:00–17:00; Oct–Nov 08:00–18:30. A wide wooden boardwalk provides step-free access from the visitor area to the penguin-viewing point at Foxy Beach. The information centre has ramped access. Wheelchair-accessible toilets are available.

Boulders Penguin Colony is a Table Mountain National Park pay point, and SANParks requires a daily conservation fee for entry. Cape Point and Boulders operate without cash, so payment is made by debit or credit card at the gate or through SANParks' official online ticket service. Daily adult conservation fee (ages 12+), valid through 31 October 2026: R245 standard international rate; R110 for SADC nationals with a qualifying passport; R55 for South African citizens and residents with qualifying identification. Boulders is cash-free and accepts debit or credit cards. A wide wooden boardwalk provides step-free access from the visitor area to the penguin-viewing point at Foxy Beach.

Boulders Penguin Colony lies just beyond Simon's Town on the False Bay side of the Cape Peninsula. The official brochure maps the visitor centre near Seaforth Square, with access from the M4 through Simon's Town and onward toward Cape Point. City Sightseeing’s Cape Point Explorer is the named direct bus option and stops at Boulders en route to Cape Point. By road from central Cape Town, follow the M3 or M5 to Muizenberg, then continue on the M4 through Fish Hoek and Simon’s Town. Parking at Boulders is limited, especially in peak summer.

Do not touch or feed the African penguins at Boulders. SANParks warns that the birds can inflict serious bites with sharp beaks, and visitors must remain on the managed routes and respect the vegetation buffer. Alcohol and smoking are prohibited. Rangers patrol daily, but visitors still need to protect belongings, follow staff directions and avoid blocking boardwalks while watching or photographing wildlife. A wide wooden boardwalk provides step-free access from the visitor area to the penguin-viewing point at Foxy Beach. Wheelchair-accessible toilets are available. Willis Walk provides a firm boardwalk route between the visitor centre and Boulders bathing beach, but it is steep in places.

Boulders' public boardwalks provide the controlled viewpoints for photographing African penguins without entering the colony. The official material does not record blanket permission for tripods, commercial sessions, drones or close approaches, so those uses must not be inferred from ordinary visitor access. Keep equipment and bodies within the visitor route, leave space for others, and never move toward a bird for a tighter frame. Willis Walk provides a firm boardwalk route between the visitor centre and Boulders bathing beach, but it is steep in places. The concrete ramp onto the bathing beach is very steep, and many wheelchair users will require assistance.