How to Visit the Penguins at Boulders Beach in Cape Town

Last Updated on July 23, 2026 by Hannah Stephenson

Boulders Beach is hands down the best place to see penguins in Cape Town – and it’s one of my all-time favourite things to do here.

That’s right, as if beaches, mountains, and wine farms weren’t enough, Cape Town also has its very own penguin colony! I’ve been to visit them at Boulders Beach three times so far, as I love to take friends and family who come to visit.

It’s pretty easy to tick off your Cape Town bucket list, but the colony isn’t exactly smack dab in the middle of town and there are a few things to know before you visit. With that in mind, I’ve put together a guide containing all the info you’ll need to go and visit the penguins at Boulders Beach. 

Before you go

Driving is the easiest option, but if you’d rather not hire a car, a guided tour is a fantastic alternative and lets someone else deal with the winding coastal roads.

Arrive before 9 am in summer if you can. It gets much busier later in the morning, especially on weekends and during school holidays.

Bring a camera with a zoom lens if you have one. The penguins are protected by boardwalks, so while you get great views, you’ll get much better photos than you will with your phone alone.

Don’t touch or feed the penguins. They’re wild animals and can bite if they feel threatened, so stick to the boardwalks and give them plenty of space.

You can swim nearby! While you can’t enter the protected penguin colony itself, there are public areas of Boulders Beach where you can swim. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a penguin paddling past in the water – how cool is that?

About the penguins at Boulders Beach 

The penguin colony at Boulders Beach is currently about 3,000 birds strong. This is pretty impressive given that back in 1982, there were only two breeding pairs left in the world! 

African penguins are usually between 60-70 centimetres tall, so they’re pretty small – and very cute! They’re also an endangered species, and the conservation fee you pay on entry (more on that later) goes towards protecting them.

These guys have a cute little waddle that makes them look slightly drunk, but they’re great swimmers. They’re also near-sighted on land, but have amazing underwater vision. And they used to be called “jackass penguins” because their call sounds a bit like a braying donkey!

Where is Boulders Beach?

Boulders Beach is 41 kilometres (25 miles) from Cape Town city centre. The drive takes around 45 minutes if you can avoid traffic.

It’s in Simon’s Town, which is one of the oldest towns in South Africa, located on the eastern side of the Cape Peninsula. 

How to get to Boulders Beach

Drive Yourself

Boulders Beach is pretty easy to get to from central Cape Town. 

You can drive yourself there, and if you haven’t got a car you can rent one from Discover Cars, which is the website that I always use.

You can compare suppliers by price and customer ratings to make sure that you get a good deal. You can also add full coverage insurance to make sure you’re covered whatever happens.

Click here to compare rental cars in Cape Town

The best route to Boulders Beach

Once you’ve got your wheels, I highly recommend taking the scenic route to Boulders Beach.

To do this, head to Camps Bay and then follow Victoria Road to Hout Bay. When you get there, keep following the M6 to get to Chapman’s Peak Scenic Drive – which just so happens to be one of the most beautiful roads in the world.

You’ll need to pay a small toll fee at the gate, and keep hold of your receipt in case you want to come back this way later. It’s worth the small cost because this road winds along red rocky cliffs, offering beautiful views of the mountains and the sea the entire way. Just make sure to check the status of the road before you head out as it does close when conditions are bad!

Then, when you’ve finished this gorgeous drive it’s an easy 25 mins on the M6 and M4 to get to Boulders Beach.

Related read: For more tips on driving in Cape Town, check out this article.

Take a Guided Tour

Option A: Boulders Beach half day tour (best if you’re short on time)

If you’d rather not drive yourself, this small group tour picks you up from central Cape Town and gives you two hours to spend at Boulders Beach. This is plenty of time to see the penguins, relax, and get some food!

One thing I like about it is that since it’s a small group tour, you get to travel to the beach via Chapman’s Peak Drive – aka Cape Town’s most stunning road. Big tour buses can’t get along this windy road, so this is a big advantage of booking a small group experience.

You’ll then head back to town via Muizenberg and the False Bay coast, which is also super scenic. You get a good overview of the whole peninsula on this tour! And it only lasts for about 5 hours, so you’ll get back to the city for mid-afternoon, with plenty of time to hit the beach and catch the sunset.

And don’t just take my word for it – you can read hundreds of glowing reviews here!

You can book this tour here, with free cancellation!

Option B: Full day Cape Point sightseeing tour (best value)

The second time I went to Boulders Beach, I did so as part of a sightseeing tour that also took us to the Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope. We didn’t get to drive along Chapman’s Peak on this tour, but we had plenty of time to see the penguin beach and have lunch. 

On the plus side, there’s an optional guided hike from Cape Point to the Cape of Good Hope, although we didn’t do this as the weather was bad! 

Still, it was a great day out overall and it’s a fantastic way to see the Cape Peninsula. We also loved our guide, who was so friendly and provided fun commentary along the way. You can read my full review of the experience here.

Read THOUSANDS of 5-star reviews and book this tour here!

Kayak!

Arguably the most exciting way to get to Boulders Beach is to kayak there!

This kayaking tour leaves from Simon’s Town and takes you paddling over to Boulders Beach to see the penguins. You’ll also stop at Windmill Beach, which is a beautiful and lesser-known penguin hotspot.

Paddling alongside the penguins is the cutest experience ever and if you book the 7 am slot, you’ll probably catch their morning feed!

And if all that weren’t enough, you can also spot whales while kayaking during the winter, as Simon’s Town is a hotspot for them – how cool is that?

Grab your spot on this kayak adventure here!

Is there parking at Boulders Beach?

Yes, you can park at the parking lot on Bellevue Road on the south side of the beach, which is the first one you’ll come to if you take the Chapman’s Peak route to Boulders Beach. 

There’s also parking on the north side if you’re coming along the eastern side of the peninsula at the Seaforth Beach lot. It’s free to park in either lot – happy days! 

Remember to bring some small change for the car guards, though, as they’re usually friendly and actually quite a big help when the car parks are busy.

How much is the entry fee to see Penguins at Boulders Beach?

For international visitors, entry to the penguin beach costs R245 for adults and R120 for kids.

For SADC Nationals, it costs R110 for adults and R55 for children.

Entry to National Parks is always cheaper for locals in South Africa! If you are lucky enough to have a South African ID, then it costs R55 for adults and R26 for kids. 

How do you view the penguins at Boulders Beach?

After you’ve paid your entry fee, you’ll head through the gate and walk along the boardwalk. It boardwalk will lead you right down to the penguin beach, which is where you’ll see the highest volume of these cuties.

Just don’t be an idiot and go poking at the penguins. Though they may be little, they are fierce! 

When is the best time of year to visit the penguins at Boulders Beach?

Boulders Beach is open all year round. However, I actually prefer visiting during winter because it’s less windy!

The first time I visited the penguin beach was on a gloriously warm day in the middle of winter. There was no wind and we actually really regretted not bringing our bathing suits! African penguins also breed from May until August, so visiting in July meant that we got to see lots of baby penguins.

My second and third visits were during the summer. The wind was strong and I got sandblasted! It’s still worth visiting, but prepare to be rigorously exfoliated when the wind is up (which is often).

If you’re visiting in the summer, I also would recommend going on a weekday if you can. Try to get there early in the morning if possible to avoid the crowds and beat the heat. The beach opens at 8 am, and arriving around then will mean you have the viewing platforms mostly to yourself, before the tour groups arrive!

How to make a day of your Boulders Beach visit

If you’re driving yourself, it’s well worth turning your visit to Boulders Beach into a full day out. When I visited with my mum and sister, we drove along Chapman’s Peak, saw the penguins, had lunch at Seaforth Restaurant, and then stopped at Constantia Glen for wine on the way back to Cape Town.

We had such a great day out because we got a combination of dramatic coastal scenery, time with the penguins, and wine! What’s not to love?

You could follow the same route:

• Drive Chapman’s Peak
• Visit the penguins at Boulders Beach
• Have lunch at Seaforth Restaurant
• Stop at Constantia Glen on the way back to the city

It’s a really easy way to turn Boulders Beach into a full day trip without packing in too many stops. For more on what we got up to, you can find the exact 7-day itinerary we followed right here!

FAQs about visiting the penguins at Boulders Beach

Can you swim with the penguins at Boulders Beach?

Yes, you can swim at Boulders Beach.

The main penguin colony is protected, but there are several beaches nearby where swimming is allowed. If you’ve paid to enter the reserve, you can access the small swimming area at Middle Beach via the Willis Walk boardwalk. This is where you have the best chance of finding yourself floating next to a penguin!

There are also free public beaches on either side of the colony, including Seaforth Beach, Water’s Edge Beach, and Windmill Beach, where penguins are sometimes seen in the water.

It’s important to remember that the penguins are wild animals. You shouldn’t approach or try to interact with them, but if you’re lucky, you may spot one swimming nearby.

Is Boulders Beach the best place to see penguins in Cape Town?

Yes! Boulders Beach is the easiest and most accessible place to see penguins in Cape Town.

I have seen the odd penguin whilst kayaking, as there is a colony on Robben Island, but it’s strictly closed off to the public. There’s another colony at Stony Point in Betty’s Bay, but that’s about a 2-hour drive from central Cape Town. Boulders Beach is popular for a reason!

Are the penguins at Boulders Beach free to visit?

You may occasionally spot penguins around Simon’s Town without paying, but you’ll need a ticket to enter the protected Boulders Beach area and visit the main viewing platforms. For international visitors, admission currently costs R245 for adults and R120 for children aged 2–11.

Different rates apply to South African residents and SADC nationals, and you’ll need to show the relevant ID to claim these. Boulders Beach is cash-free, so bring a debit or credit card.

What’s the difference between Boulders Beach and Foxy Beach?

Although the names are often used interchangeably, they’re technically two different parts of the reserve. Foxy Beach is home to the main boardwalk and viewing platforms, where you’ll see the largest number of penguins and their nesting sites. Boulders Beach is the sheltered swimming beach next door, where you can relax on the sand and may spot a few penguins nearby. Your entrance ticket covers both areas.

Can you touch the penguins at Boulders Beach?

No, you should never touch or feed the penguins. They may look adorable, but they’re still wild animals. Touching them can cause them a lot of distress, and they may well bite you with their sharp little beaks! Always give any penguins you encounter plenty of space.

Are there baby penguins at Boulders Beach?

Yes, you’re very likely to see a few fluffy penguin chicks around the colony, especially during breeding season. When I visited in July, I saw so many babies!

Is it worth it to visit the penguins at Boulders Beach?

Yes! It’s so good that I’ve been three times, and I’ll definitely go again. The penguins are so cute and seeing them in their natural habitat is really amazing, especially since that habitat happens to be a beautiful beach. I’d definitely say it’s a must-do activity while you’re here.

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• Where to Stay in Cape Town – A Local’s Guide!