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.
Key facts
- Time on site
- 60–90 min
- p95 120 min
- Price
- check
- adult, 2026 estimate
- Hours
- 08:00–17:00
- 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.
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- 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.
Map & directions
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Plan
What to know before you go, how long it takes, when to be there
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
Minimum
45min
Worthwhile
60min
Typical
90min
p95
120min
Gate hours change by season; not printed until verified.
Plan this visit
- Crowd on arrival
- quiet
- Worst while inside
- light
- Leave by
- 09:30
- 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.
Ticket types
| 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 | — |
Entry covers both the Foxy Beach boardwalk and the second-beach swimming area on the same ticket (check current layout).
What's inside, in walking order
01
20′
Foxy Beach boardwalk
Raised boardwalk directly over the main colony; flat and step-free.
02 · optional
30′
Second beach (swimming area)
Sheltered boulder-strewn cove where swimming alongside penguins is permitted under posted rules.
03 · optional
20′
Simon's Town waterfront
A short walk or drive from the beach; cafés and the naval harbour.
Pairs well with
same_day · place
Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope
On the same peninsula road; most visitors combine the two in one half or full day.
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
- note: 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)
Combine in the same cluster
- Same peninsula drive, usually the next stop
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 groundPhoto spots · Facilities · Step-free route · Seasons · Who it suits · Skip it if
Photo spots and rules
| 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 | — |
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 | — |
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.
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. |
“Check” rows move every year; confirm dates on the official calendar before you plan around them.
Who it suits
| Traveller | 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
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.
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
- ClusterTable Mountain lower cableway station10 m · 1 min walk
- PlaceCape Point and Cape of Good Hope18 km · ride, not a walk
- PlaceKirstenbosch National Botanical Garden23 km · ride, not a walk
- ClusterCity Bowl: Company's Garden and museums30 km · ride, not a walk
- Sleep areaCity Bowl and Gardens30 km · ride, not a walk
- EatHussar Grill (City Bowl)30 km · ride, not a walk