Place · Table Mountain lower cableway station

Boulders Beach penguin colonyBoulders Beach

A boardwalk beach at Simon's Town with a breeding colony of African penguins: go early or late for fewer people, and pair it with Cape Point on the same peninsula drive.

go at hour · morning or late afternoonadmission: unknownNot field-verified

Add to a day →

Key facts

Time on site: 60–90 min; p95 120 min
Price: check; adult, 2026 estimate
Hours: 08:00–17:008:00 AM–5:00 PM; typical, check
Best time: morning or late afternoon; quietest window
28″ bags: No; Table Mountain lower cableway station: forbidden
Getting there: Self-drive or a tour vehicle to the Boulders Beach entrance, Simon's Town

African penguin colony
Flat boardwalk, step-free
Swimming allowed at the second beach
Go morning or late afternoon

Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.

Rules in force · 10Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive befor…After dark, use ride-hailing or a hotel car between areas

Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
Southern Africa ↗A rental car may leave its home country only with the rental company's cross-border letter, the registration papers and paid road taxes at each post; driving into Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Angola without them ends at the border.
Southern Africa ↗Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive before sunset: livestock, wildlife, pedestrians and unlit trucks make night driving the main cause of serious visitor accidents.
South Africa ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport with the Department of Home Affairs or a South African mission before booking; exemptions depend on nationality, and the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is optional for most visa-exempt visitors in 2026.
South Africa ↗Travelling with children: accompanied foreign children no longer need a birth certificate, but unaccompanied minors, South African children and some passports that omit parents' names still do; check with Home Affairs and your airline before you fly.
South Africa ↗Driving is on the left. If your licence is not in English or has no photo, get an International Driving Permit before you travel; rental companies also check it.
South Africa ↗National park gates open and close at fixed times; you must be inside your camp before the gate closes, and speed limits in parks are enforced.
Cape Town ↗After dark, use ride-hailing or a hotel car between areas; do not walk between the City Bowl, Bo-Kaap and the Waterfront.
Cape Town ↗The Table Mountain cableway stops in strong wind: keep a spare morning and check the operator's status page before you go.

Actions

Usually 08:00–17:00

Map & directions

Google Maps Apple Maps Street View

Directions

From where I am

Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.

Plan

Open now, what it costs, what to know, how long it takes

Go now?

hours and prices: check on the day

Open: Usually 08:00–17:00Usually 8:00 AM–5:00 PM
Crowds: Quietest around 08:00 · go morning or late afternoon
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Quietest Mon–Thu · busiest Sat · desk estimate
Tickets: Adult: check (2026 estimate: a moderate rand entry fee)
Child: reduced rate (check)
Time to spend: 60–90 min · up to 120 min if you linger

Directions Add to a day →

Know before you go

Boulders is a paid section of Table Mountain National Park inside the town of Simon's Town, about 40–50 minutes' drive from the City Bowl.
There are two main viewing points: Foxy Beach (boardwalk only, no swimming near the colony) and the second beach area where swimming among the boulders and penguins is allowed under the rules posted on site.
The colony is wild and free-roaming: penguins can appear on the road and car park in Simon's Town too.
Bring reef-safe or no sunscreen near the water and pack out all litter; this is a working seabird colony.

Best time of day

Go morning or late afternoon. Plan 60–90 min inside.

quietlightbusyheavypacked· desk estimate; tour buses cluster late morning

Weather here, next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Time on site

minutes

Minimum

45min

Worthwhile

60min

Typical

90min

p95

120min

Gate hours change by season; not printed until verified.

Tickets & entry

2026 estimate · check the posted board

Where to buy: Buy at the entrance on the day.
Buy from the official site or the ticket desk; resellers add a fee for the same ticket.
Adult: Entrance gate, card or cash
Child: Same gate
Entry covers both the Foxy Beach boardwalk and the second-beach swimming area on the same ticket (check current layout).
Official site ↗

Ticket	Price	Where to buy	Skip-the-line reality
Adult	check (2026 estimate: a moderate rand entry fee)	Entrance gate, card or cash	—
Child	reduced rate (check)	Same gate	—

Inside, in order

Foxy Beach boardwalk
20 min
Raised boardwalk directly over the main colony; flat and step-free.
Second beach (swimming area)
30 min
Sheltered boulder-strewn cove where swimming alongside penguins is permitted under posted rules.
optional
Simon's Town waterfront
20 min
A short walk or drive from the beach; cafés and the naval harbour.
optional

Plan this visit

saved in this browser only

I reach the gate at

Time inside

Crowd on arrival: quiet
Worst while inside: light
Leave by: 09:309:30 AM
Closing buffer: 450′

Good window: go.

Closing buffer is measured against a planning close of 17:00. Gate hours are shorter in winter; check before you go.
Crowd levels are a desk estimate by hour, not live data.

On the ground

Getting in, crowds, and where to go if it does not work

Getting in

Stop: Self-drive or a tour vehicle to the Boulders Beach entrance, Simon's Town
Exit: —
Ticket: on site · official site
Stairs: Boardwalk is flat and step-free; the beach itself is sand and boulders
Shoes: Sandals fine on the boardwalk; closed shoes if walking down onto the beach.

Crowds and switching

Crowd clock: Tour groups arrive mid-morning to mid-afternoon; the boardwalk is quiet at opening.
Sensory load: 2/5
Exposure: medium

Bailouts

crowd
Foxy Beach viewing platform (usually quieter than the main boardwalk)

Nearest rescue anchor: A — Boulders Beach entrance kiosk (field-verify)

Step-free check

Accessible toilet: check · check

Step-free route

1The Foxy Beach boardwalk is flat, raised timber decking and is step-free from the entrance.
2The second beach involves sand and boulders and is not step-free.

Combine with

nearest first

—Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope — On the same peninsula road; most visitors combine the two in one half or full day.

Walk the Table Mountain lower cableway station area · the cluster page has the walking order, rescue stops and after-dark notes

Best photo time today

Sun times for today load in your browser.

Spot	When	Rule on the spot
Foxy Beach boardwalk	Morning, soft light	No flash near the birds; keep to the boardwalk.
Second beach with Table Mountain National Park cliffs behind	Any clear time	—

Red lines

Do not touch or approach the penguins; keep at least a few metres away and off marked breeding areas.
Do not feed the penguins or leave food unattended — they will take it.

More on the groundFacilities · Seasons · Who it suits · Skip it if4 parts

Facilities on site

What	Status	Where / note
Toilets	yes	Near the main entrance.
Accessible toilet	check	—
Café or shop	yes	Small kiosk at the entrance; more options in Simon's Town, a short drive away.
Changing facilities	check	For visitors swimming at the second beach.
Drinking water	yes	—

Seasons, festivals and night openings

When	What happens	Effect on your visit	Dates
Nov–Jan	Chick season	More activity around nests near the boardwalk; keep extra distance.
Dec–Jan	Peak season	Heaviest crowds on the boardwalk; go at opening or after 16:00.Heaviest crowds on the boardwalk; go at opening or after 4:00 PM.

“Check” rows move every year; confirm dates on the official calendar before you plan around them.

Who it suits

Traveler	Fit	Why
Families with children	good	A short, flat boardwalk with a guaranteed wildlife sighting.
Photographers	good	Close, reliable views of African penguins in a natural setting.
Swimmers	good	The second beach is sheltered and swimmable when conditions allow.

Skip it if

You are short on time and must choose one peninsula stop — Cape Point is the bigger single sight.

Deep dive

Questions, what is nearby, photos and sources

Questions and answers

answered by Voykit editors · dated

Are the penguins wild?

Yes, this is a wild, free-roaming breeding colony, not an enclosure.

Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk

Can I swim with the penguins?

Swimming is permitted at the second beach area under the rules posted on site; keep distance from the birds and do not touch them.

How long do I need?

45–60 minutes for the boardwalk alone; add 30–45 minutes if you swim at the second beach.

Is it step-free?

The Foxy Beach boardwalk is flat and step-free; the second beach is sand and boulders.

Do I need to book ahead?

Not normally; it can be busy with tour groups mid-morning to mid-afternoon, so go early or late for fewer people.

Answers come from Voykit editors, not from other travellers.

Nearby

Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.

Sources

officialSouth African National Parks — Table Mountain National Park (Boulders)