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Visit the Boulders Beach
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penguins
The ancient granite boulders protect it from the
wind and large waves, which makes it an ideal
swimming spot for children. Because it falls under
the Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected
Area, the beach is always clean and safe, and it is
rarely crowded. This comes at the cost of a small
price, but who wouldn’t be willing to part ways with
R65 for a day in this paradise?
Did we mention the penguins?
At the beautiful Boulders Beach, you can get to
know our most famous (and arguably our cutest)
birds, The African penguin. You just can’t resist
these waddling wonderful birds, but that’s a good
thing because they need your attention.
South Africa’s penguins are under threat from
the loss of habitat, declining fish and their ever-
encroaching human neighbours. But not to worry,
by making a visit to see these unique locals you
are helping them. Every year, over 60 000 visitors
flock to Simon’s Town to photograph and watch
the famous Boulders Beach penguins. This leads to
more money to help boost our penguin conservation
efforts through South African National Parks
(SANParks).
African penguins used to be known as Jackass
penguins, due to their distinctive braying, and are
the only penguins found on the continent. Although
they breed in colonies stretching from southern
Namibia to Port Elizabeth, the story of how they
came to call Boulders Beach their home is one of
remarkable urban colonisation.
African penguins used to be known as Jackass
penguins, due to their distinctive braying, and are
the only penguins found on the continent. Although
they breed in colonies stretching from southern
Namibia to Port Elizabeth, the story of how they
came to call Boulders Beach their home is one of
remarkable urban colonisation.
The whole species though, both at Boulders Beach
and elsewhere, face many threats and these aquatic
flightless birds are actually listed as endangered.
Boulders Beach remains the only place in the world
where one can get up close to African penguins, it is
a special place for sure.
Penguin viewing is made easier by boardwalks that
lead visitors across the beaches as well as to an
information centre, which is managed by SANParks.
To help stop the loss of chicks, and provide a safe
breeding environment, Boulders Coastal Park
management has introduced artificial and clever
nesting boxes, which you will see when you walk
through the area. Thanks to conservation initiatives
by the Southern African Foundation for the
Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), the Dyer
Island Conservation Trust, and SANParks, these
precious penguins may yet survive to swim, and
waddle, another day.
To understand our penguins is to understand their
history. The story of this penguin colony in Cape
Town started in 1983 when a pair was spotted on
Foxy Beach at Boulders. The birds came to False
Bay from Dyer Island. At the time, False Bay was
closed to commercial fishing. For the newcomers,
abundant food and breeding sites meant the African
penguin population at Boulders soared as they
decided to make this area their home.
However, almost three decades later, Boulders
Beach penguins are in trouble. Cars, people and
competition for breeding sites have seen the
penguins trying to nest in unsafe environments,
leaving their nests exposed to both predators and
the elements. Climate change has also affected fish
stocks, and increased severe weather incidences
have depleted penguin chick numbers.
But thanks to tourism, there is hope. Every time you
visit these little guys at Boulders Beach, you help
spark a lifelong commitment to saving their future.
Source:
the-boulders-beach-penguins
Boulders Beach, just outside Cape Town, has so much going for it you will
be blown away by the beauty of the small hidden attraction.