Boulders is a popular beach near Simon's Town, Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. There are larger and more scenic beaches around, as Boulders, which gets its name from the large boulders surrounding
The colony’s rhythm follows the southern summer’s daylight marathon. Arriving early, just after sunrise, lets you watch the birds tumble ashore as they shake off the night’s chill, an hour before the main crowds appear. Late afternoon, around the low‑sun, the penguins retreat to their burrows, offering a quieter stroll along the boardwalk. Winter visits are quieter still, though the birds huddle more tightly, giving an intimate glimpse of their social choreography. Pack a wind‑breaker; the peninsula’s breezes can turn brisk even in summer, and a reusable water bottle helps you stay refreshed while respecting the fragile environment.
Beyond the boardwalk – local perspective
The surrounding Simon’s Town community has woven the birds into its daily life. Local cafés often serve fish‑free menus to avoid inadvertently feeding the colony, and the town’s heritage museum runs talks about the navy’s role in protecting the coastal ecosystem. If you linger after the main tide, you’ll hear residents discussing the penguins as neighbours rather than attractions, a subtle reminder that the beach is a shared space. A short walk inland leads to a historic naval base where guided tours link the area’s maritime past with contemporary conservation efforts, offering a broader narrative than the tide‑pool view.
A regional comparison
For travellers keen on African penguin watching, Boulders Beach sits beside a modest network of sites along the western coast. A day trip to nearby Stony Point, where a small colony nests on a steep escarpment, offers a contrast: here the birds are less accustomed to human proximity, demanding a more patient, observational approach. Further north, the island of Dassen offers pristine, unstaffed rookeries, but reaching them involves a boat charter and strict no‑landing rules. Boulders Beach therefore provides a rare balance of accessibility, infrastructure, and close interaction, making it a practical benchmark for gauging penguin behaviour across the region.
Introduction
Beach in Cape Town, South Africa
This article is about Boulders Beach in South Africa. For the beach in New Zealand, see Boulder Beach. For the beach near Las Vegas, Nevada, see Lake Mead.
Boulders BeachBeachAfrican penguins (Spheniscus demersus) at Boulders BeachBoulders BeachCoordinates: 34°11′49″S 18°27′04″E / 34.197°S 18.451°E / -34.197; 18.451LocationCape Peninsula, Simon's Town, Western CapePatrolled byTable Mountain National ParkAccessKleintuin Road, Simon's Town
Boulders Beach is a sheltered beach made up of inlets between granite boulders, from which the name originated. It is located on the Cape Peninsula, in Simon's Town, in the southern region of Cape Town, South Africa. It is also commonly known as Boulders Bay.
The beach is a popular tourist spot because of a colony of the endemic and critically endangered African penguins which settled there in 1982. Boulders Beach forms part of the Table Mountain National Park.
Although set in a residential area, it is one of the few sites where this vulnerable bird (Spheniscus demersus) can be observed at close range, wandering freely in a protected natural environment. From just two breeding pairs in 1982, the penguin colony has grown to about 3000 birds in recent years. This is partly due to the prohibition of commercial pelagic trawling in False Bay, which has increased the supply of sardines and anchovies, which form part of the penguins' diet. as well as the help from former SANDF naval officer, Van the Penguin Man.
Bordered mainly by indigenous bush above the high-water mark on the one side, and the clear water of False Bay on the other, the area comprises several small sheltered bays, partially enclosed by granite boulders that are 540 million years old.
The most popular recreational spot is Boulders Beach, but the penguins are best viewed from Foxy Beach, where newly constructed boardwalks take visitors to within a few metres of the birds. It is also a famous swimming beach, although people are restricted to beaches adjacent to the penguin colony.
In 2024, Boulders was ranked as the 2nd best beach in the world in the Golden Beach Awards, for its combination of natural beauty and African penguins. In 2025, Boulders was ranked the 12th best beach in the world by The World’s Best, for its warm water, penguins, safe swimming spots, and combination of leisure and wildlife conservation.
Gallery
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Welcome to Boulders
Entrance, Kleintuin Road, Simon's Town
Boulders Beach Visitor Centre
Pathway
African penguins at Boulders Penguin Colony
Rocks in Boulder Beach
Penguin colony
Nesting burrows of the African penguin
Swimmers enjoying the relatively calm waters of the sheltered beach next to the penguin colony
Dassie at Boulders Beach
Boulders at the beach
Boulders Beach with some swimmers. In the background, the penguin colony and visitors can be seen
Swimmers and a penguin at the beach
Penguin, Boulders Beach
