A Guide To Visiting The Famous Cape Town Penguins

South Africa and Cape Town in particular are famous for their cute little penguins. When going to see the elephants and the lions, don't forget to include the penguins! At the other end of South Africa is Kruger National Park - the most famous safari park in South Africa.

Penguins don't just live in the cold icy waters of the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic (that's where the more TV famous Emperor, King, and Adele penguins live). New Zealand is also home to several species of penguins - they are often an overlooked part of touring New Zealand.

The Cute African Penguin

The only species of penguin to live in Africa is the African Penguin. It is a smaller white and black penguin that inhabits parts of the coastlines of South Africa and Namibia. The nearest colony to Cape Town is just a short drive away and will take one into a world many only expect to find in Antarctica.

Nickname: Jackass Penguin (From Its Loud Donkey Like Bray)
Size: 60-70 cm or 24-28 inches Tall
Diet: Mostly Fish and Squid
Classified: As Endangered
Range: Mostly In South Africa and Namibia, Can be Seen In Angola, Mozambique, The DRC, and Gabon

Threats And Population Decline

Unfortunately, the population of these adorable birds has been in drastic decline. Estimates put the population of the African penguin from 1.5 million to as many as 4 million before 1910. Since then their population has been in a dramatic collapse. By the end of the 20th century, there were only around 10% of the population left.

Pre-Industrial Population: 1.5 Million or More
Decline: The Population Has Declined By About 95% Since Pre-Industrial Times

In 2019 only around 20,850 breeding pairs were estimated to be left in South Africa and Namibia. If trends continue they may be facing extinction by around 2050.

Extinction: If Trends Continue They Could Be Extinct By About 2050

They have faced many threats and pressures including predation by mongooses, pets (including cats and dogs), gulls, sharks, and seals. They have suffered habitat loss and threats from fishing with depleted fishing stocks. They have had an unsustainable number of their eggs taken as food.

There are many efforts to try to reverse this decline. South Africa has moved to make more of their breeding sites national parks and fishing areas marine parks. They have tried to care for the abandoned chicks and for the sick. As well as creating artificial nesting sites for them to nest and escape the heat from.

Boulders Beach Penguin Colony

The Colony at Boulders Beach was established in 1982 from two breeding pairs. It peaked a few years ago at around 3,800 and has since stabilized at around 3,000.

Established: In 1982
Population: Around 3,000

The colony is nestled on Boulders Beach in the stunning resort and Victorian seaside town of Simon's Town. This is a stunning setting with the colony on the edge of the town. It is easy to read and one can just park and then it's a five-minute walk to them.

Location: In Simon's Town Around 40 Minutes From Cape Town
Monogamous: The African Penguin is Monogamous Normally Pairing With One Mate For Life

The colony is part of the larger Table Mountain National Park that includes the fabled Table Mountain in Cape Town. It is a stunning park to explore.

Visiting The Colony

To get to the beach it is best to rent a car (South Africa is best explored by car), or with a tour. One can also take an Uber there. Public transport while possible is not convenient.

Admission Fee: 170 Rand ($10)

There is a Visitor Center at the entrance and then a boardwalk to the penguins. The boardwalk goes right into the colony so visitors will be a mere meter to two from the penguins. Some of the penguins will be sheltering under the boardwalk and none of them are concerned about all the tourists there taking pictures.

Distance: One Can Be Within A couple of Feet Of the Penguins

Depending on what time of year one comes, one may find them nesting in the bush in the nest boxes supplied by the national park. As penguins need to keep cool, South Africa can become a little hot for them, so the nest boxes provide protection from the heat as well as from predators.

Tip: Come Earlier and There Will Be Fewer Crowds and Likely More Penguins