Boulders Beach Penguin Encounter Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Swim with African penguins at Boulders Beach
- Explore Simon's Town harbor
- Visit Cape Point Nature Reserve
- See Cape of Good Hope's rugged coastline
- Enjoy panoramic views from Cape Point
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Round-trip transportation from Cape Town
- Guided tour of Boulders Beach
- Swimming with African penguins experience
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Pass by: Soon after collection from your accommodation in Cape Town, we will drive along through the city centre to see some historical monuments and buildings.
We stop in the Bo-Kaap, also known as the Cape Malay Quarter, due to its Malaysian and Indonesian heritage. This is where we stop to see the colourful historical houses and capture beautiful photos with these colourful houses as our backdrop. If they are around, you may get to meet some of the friendly residents and learn about the history of their houses.
A stop here in Camps Bay will be at the famous Maidens Cove. Here is a popular tourist stop over for the most beautiful photos in Cape Town, with the Lion's Head and Table Mountain plus the 12 Apostles on the backdrop facing the mighty Atlantic Ocean.
Our next stop will be at Chapman's Peak viewpoint. We will drive along one of the most scenic routes in the world known as Chapman's Peak Drive - Chappie's to the locals. The stop at the viewpoint will be for approximately 15 minutes so that visitors can capture some of the most breathtaking photos of the pristine Atlantic ocean stretching as far as the eye can see.
Simon's Town will be next on our list of stops. This is where the South African Naval base is situated. This is also where we will meet the monument of the enchanting dog called Just Nuisance. Just Nuisance became a member of the South African Navy and even had a wedding. We will allow you time to have an optional lunch here in Simon's Town.
We reach the highlight of the day with a stop at Boulder's Beach. Upon our arrival at the Boulder's we will enter through the gates and walk along the boardwalk to view the African Penguins colony. This is one of the largest penguins colonies in South Africa and you may even have an opportunity to be greeted by one or two of them along the boardwalk. We will allow you to enter the main colony at own account which is ZAR 175 per adult. Thereafter we will enter onto the Boulder's Beach for and spend the rest of the tour on what is known as one of the best beaches in Cape Town. Visitors may have chance encounters while swimming, to swim with the Penguins if they are in the water at the beach. Take plenty of photos with these stunning sea creatures and come face-to-face with them in their natural habitat. Note that clean fresh beach towels will be included as well as sunscreen and beach umbrellas. Note that items of personal nature like sun hats and beach slippers are not included.
Our tour culminates with a stop at St. James Beach near Muizenberg to view the colourful huts on the beach. These colourful huts are used for changing rooms for the sunbathers and surfers, but they also provide amazing backdrop for spectacular photos to last a lifetime.
Pass by: We return back to Cape Town for drop off at guest's accommodation.
Important information
Know before you book
- This tour is suitable for all ages and fitness levels.
- Swimming with penguins is optional; viewing from the beach is also available.
- The tour operates in all weather conditions; dress appropriately.
Know before you go
- Bring swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes for the nature reserve.
- A hat and sunglasses are recommended for sun protection.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair Accessible
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- Items of personal nature, i.e.: Sun hats, peak caps, refreshments, beach slippers, etc.
Traveler reviews
Excellent and good value.
Our tour leader was. Gift made the day most enjoyable, even though we started little late. He provided very good information. He even organized the group lunch and kept all of us together. He has promptly responded to our queries. All the best to Gift.
Cutest Experience Ever! Watching Penguins in Paradise ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Boulders Beach is an absolute dream come true. Getting to see the African penguin colony up close in their natural habitat is something I will never forget. The boardwalks are incredibly well-laid-out, allowing you to watch them waddling on the sand, nesting, and diving into the crystal-clear turquoise water without disturbing them. The scenery itself is gorgeous—massive granite boulders framing beautiful, sheltered white-sand bays. It does get busy, but the sheer joy of watching these amazing creatures makes it worth every single second. The staff are dedicated to conservation, and the whole area is clean and safe. A magical experience for travelers of all ages!
An Unforgettable Day
We had a private full day tour of the Cape, including Boulders Beach and the Cape of Good Hope. It was an unforgettable day and Mena was a wonderful guide! His knowledge of the history of this area and his life experiences made this especially great.
Fabulous!
We did Half Day Boulders Beach/Penguins and Cape Point with Clement. It was fab! Clement was brilliant with my neurodivergent/ADHD 11 year old son and he even arranged mountain zebras!!!
A+
Lina and driver Kyle were both fantastic and made the whole trip fun and seamless. Highly recommend