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Where to See Penguins in South Africa

March 3, 2016 by Helen

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pair of penguins at boulders beach south africa

You’ll meet hundreds of jackasses in South Africa.

Jackass penguins, that is. Before you ask, let me explain. These adorable, flightless birds were given this unfortunate name because of the donkey-like braying sound they emit. In more recent years, however, they’ve become politely known as African penguins.

Now that we have that out of the way, you want to know where to see penguins in South Africa, right? Birds of a feather certainly flock together — colonies of the country’s famous residents can be found on a number of islands but these two mainland locations in the Western Cape are your best bets and easily accessible from Cape Town (you will go to Cape Town during your stay in South Africa, won’t you?).

Boulders Beach

penguin colony on large rocks at boulders beach south africa

Surrounded by — you guessed it — giant granite boulders, this sandy cove in Simon’s Town is part of Table Mountain National Park and the most popular spot for penguin viewing. In fact, over 2,000 of them call Boulders Beach home and attract 60,000 visitors each year, and why wouldn’t they? They’re irresistible. The little tuxedoed critters can be seen waddling across the shoreline, darting in and out of the ocean and soaking in the sun like Charlize Theron on her last beach holiday — or meditating. It was hard to tell.

little african penguin sunbathing on boulders beach south africa

south african penguins on boulders beach south africa

close-up of two penguins at boulders beach south africa

cape town penguins resting on boulders beach south africa

No barbers here – it takes up to 13 days for an African penguin to shed its feathers.

an african penguin waddles to the sea at boulders beach

This butler waddles.

You’ll be confined to the boardwalks that snake through green flora and, every now and then, you’ll cross paths with a penguin or two resting in the shade amongst the vegetation just a mere few feet away.

Don’t get too close though. Despite their overwhelming cuteness, they may nip your fingers with their sharp beaks. No taunting, no harassing, no feeding — and you’ll emerge from the nature reserve with your digits unscathed.

two african penguins resting in the shade at boulders beach south africa

African penguins are among the few monogamous species in the animal kingdom.

But to get truly up close and personal, continue along one of the boardwalks until you hit Foxy Beach, a pristine stretch of soft white sand and calm, warm waters. Here, you can hit the ocean with the penguins but don’t try to keep up — they’ll outswim you by miles. They’re even known to join sunbathers on their beach towels! I didn’t have such an opportunity for this kind of intimacy (it was too cold), but I hope you do.

Fee: R65 for adults, R35 for children.

Getting there: From Cape Town, Boulders Beach is a one-hour drive south on the spectacular Cape Peninsula Route and on the way to the Cape of Good Hope, making an excellent day trip (read this post to learn more). For flexibility, renting a car is best but many bus tours include the beach in their itineraries.

Betty’s Bay

seaside town of bettys bay south africa from a distance

You can also get your penguin fix at this picturesque seaside town in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve. Once you find the colony at the abandoned whaling station at the Stony Point promontory, you’ll enjoy fewer crowds and a smaller fee than those at Boulders Beach. Unfenced until the 1980s after a leopard attack, the breeding grounds have grown from two to over 3,000 of the white-bellied birds. In fact, a broken fence wreaked havoc in 2012 when local properties were invaded by troops of loud and mischievous penguins, but you don’t live there so that’s not your concern.

There are no beaches for swimming but you can closely observe the penguins’ quirky antics from the boardwalk along the rocky outcrops. It takes about 10 minutes to reach the end but, of course, it will take longer — you’ll want to spend quality time with our feathered friends.

colony of african penguins at bettys bay south africa

african penguins at stony point betty's bay

colony of sunbathing african penguins at stony point betty's bay

The best times for viewing are after their fishing excursions in the early morning and late afternoons. It would be wise to bring a sweater as the winds can get chilly.

Fee: R10 per person.

Getting there: Betty’s Bay is a gorgeous 60- to 90-minute drive southeast of Cape Town on R44 and an ideal stop on the way to Hermanus (read this post to learn more about this whale-watching and wine-sipping town).

Conservation

Despite the amusing anecdote of intrusions at Betty’s Bay, African penguins in South Africa are teetering on the edge of extinction. Habitat loss, oil spills and the depletion of the fish on which they feed are among the reasons they’ve been on the endangered list since 2010. Visit the penguin colonies in their natural habitats at Boulders Beach and Betty’s Bay and you won’t just be entertained, you’ll help ensure their survival.

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where to see penguins in south africa

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  • Arathusa Safari Lodge and the Wild Riches of Sabi Sands Game ReserveArathusa Safari Lodge and the Wild Riches of Sabi Sands Game Reserve
  • A South African Safari Through Timbavati Game ReserveA South African Safari Through Timbavati Game Reserve
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Comments

  1. Janice & George (@SandInSuitcase) says

    March 3, 2016 at 11:14 am

    What a lovely post! Who needs to swim at the beach when you’ve got all those adorable penguins to watch:-). We’re penguin lovers too – I (that’s me, Janice) spent countless hours kneeling in poopy snow in Antarctica taking pics of the Adelie and Gentoo penguins there. Very happy memories… Now we’d love to visit South Africa again and take in Cape Town and surroundings – we missed the southern coast when we were in S.A. and only had time for a safari (not complaining though!). Your penguin photos put smiles on our faces this morning…

    • Helen says

      March 13, 2016 at 7:22 pm

      Thanks, Janice! These little guys are definitely a reason to go back to South Africa. And I’m jealous of your Antarctica experience – I would love to go there myself and not just for the penguins.

  2. Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields says

    March 25, 2016 at 11:40 pm

    Thank you for this. We are headed to Sth Africa in the next few weeks and I particularly want to see the penguins. It is great to have the benefit of your first hand experience.

    • Helen says

      March 26, 2016 at 6:47 am

      Oh, that’s great to know, Lyn! Thank you for your note. 🙂

About Helen

Helen Suk

Travel writer. Photographer. Always curious. I search the world for beauty and inspiration while sharing valuable tips to help you plan your next trip.

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