Boulders Beach Beach

Address: Boulders Beach, Simon’s Town, False Bay, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Website: https://www.sanparks.org/

Hours: Daily (seasonal variation); typically park gates open around sunrise and close after sunset - check SANParks for exact Boulders Beach hours

Admission: Entrance fee (Table Mountain National Park): around ZAR 79 per adult for Boulders Beach (rates vary; check SANParks website)

Boulders Beach is a series of sheltered beaches and granite boulder-strewn coves on the False Bay coast near Simon’s Town in the Western Cape. It is best known for a resident colony of African penguins that nest in the sheltered vegetation and rocky crevices.

The site offers close-up viewing of penguins from boardwalks and designated paths, and several calm bays suitable for swimming in protected waters. The colony was established in the early 1980s and has since become a popular wildlife attraction.

The beaches are managed as part of the coastal protection areas within Table Mountain National Park and include visitor facilities in the Simon’s Town area. The site sits on the eastern side of the Cape Peninsula near the naval town of Simon’s Town, within driving distance of Cape Town.

• Penguin viewing: Viewing platforms and boardwalks allow close observation of the resident African penguin colony while keeping a safe distance to avoid disturbance.
• Location: Situated near the naval town of Simon’s Town and incorporated into Table Mountain National Park, making it accessible from Cape Town by road-about a 40 km drive to the south.

Boulders Beach is about 40-50 km south of central Cape Town. Drive via M3 and M42/Simon’s Town road, or take the scenic coastal drive along Clarence Drive from Gordon’s Bay. The Simon’s Town train line from Cape Town also serves commuters; from Simon’s Town station a short taxi or local shuttle will take visitors to Boulders Beach.

• Arrive early in the morning or late afternoon for the best light and fewer crowds around the penguin colony.
• Stick to the boardwalks and respect the viewing distances - the African penguins are protected and vulnerable.
• Combine a visit with the nearby Simon's Town museum or a coastal drive along Clarence Drive for scenic stops.