A colony of approx. 3000 African (Jackass) Penguins reside just outside Simon's Town at Boulders. Even though it is a residential area the thriving colony was born when two wild breeding pairs started breeding there in 1982. The success of the colony is partly due to the reduction of commercial pelagic trawling in False Bay. This increased the supply of pilchards and anchovy, which is part of the penguins' diet. Boulders forms part of the Table Mountain National Park, which incorporates Table Mountain and the Peninsula mountain chain from Signal Hill to Cape Point.
In recent years the authorities have instituted measures to protect the birds against negative human impact without impeding the visitors' ability to get close to these amazing creatures. Tourists can access the beach and view the wild penguins by means of raised wooden boardwalks, which allow the penguins to wander around unhindered.
Although wild, the penguins are used to humans being close to them as their environment has always been like this since the inception of the colony. Obviously one is not allowed to touch or feed the birds. This is a truly unique experience, with untamed penguins in very close proximity to humans.
On this half day, morning tour of the Cape Peninsula you travel from Cape Town down the Peninsula’s Atlantic Seaboard up to and including Cape Point, where you’ll spend time taking in the incredible views. Returning via the False Bay coastline you may visit an African Penguin Colony (optional).
Highlights:
Cape Point
,
Boulders Beach Penguin Colony
,
Chapman's Peak Drive
,
Cape Peninsula
,
Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
,
Simon's Town
.
From Cape Town you travel to Hout Bay - with an optional 30-min boat cruise on offer to Duiker Island (Cape Seal colony). The scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive and Cape Point awaits you. An African Penguin Colony (optional) and a visit to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens round of the day.
Highlights:
Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
,
Boulders Beach Penguin Colony
,
Cape Peninsula
,
Cape Point
,
Simon's Town
,
Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
.
Cape Town is situated on the Cape Peninsula. In 1580 Sir Francis Drake described the Cape Peninsula as "The most stately thing and the fairest Cape we saw in the whole circumference of the earth". A visit to Cape Town should always include a day tour of the Cape Peninsula.