Why visit Boulders Penguin Colony
Boulders is home to roughly 2,000 African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) — a species classified Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and one whose global population has dropped by more than 95% over the past century.
The Foxy Beach boardwalks put you within a few metres of nesting and moulting penguins without setting foot on their beach. It's one of the few places in the world where a working conservation site is genuinely accessible to visitors.
Where Boulders Penguin Colony is
Boulders sits in Simon's Town on the False Bay side of the Cape Peninsula, about 45 minutes' drive south of Cape Town city centre via the M4 through Muizenberg, Kalk Bay and Fish Hoek.
The main visitor entrance is on Kleintuin Road; there's a smaller entrance at the Boulders Beach swimming area a few hundred metres further along the coast.
What to expect
From the main gate a raised timber boardwalk leads through coastal fynbos to a series of viewing platforms above the nesting sites at Foxy Beach.
You'll see hundreds of penguins on the sand and in the low vegetation. In moult season (Nov–Feb) they gather in dense groups on shore; in breeding season adults come and go between nests and the sea.
The boardwalks are level and manageable for most visitors, including families with strollers. The swimming beach itself involves stairs and rock scrambling.
Best time to visit
November to February — the annual moult, when adults are easy to see on shore.
March–May and August–October — breeding season, when chicks are visible.
Early morning is quietest for both wildlife and photography.
How to include Boulders Penguin Colony in a Wanderer private tour
On a private Cape Point day tour with Wanderer, Boulders is one of the day's main stops — usually paired with Chapman's Peak Drive, the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and lunch in Simon's Town or Kalk Bay.
Your guide handles conservation fees, times entry to avoid the worst tour-bus congestion and gives you the natural-history context that turns a photo stop into a proper visit.
Practical tips
- Wear closed shoes — the boardwalks are safe, but you may want to walk down to the neighbouring beach.
- Never touch or feed the penguins — they are wild and can deliver a serious bite.
- Leave drones at home — the reserve is a strict no-fly zone.
- Bring binoculars if you're a birder — there's more than just penguins here.