Getting up close with penguins is one of the best experiences in Cape Town. Options include scenic drives along the beautiful Cape Peninsula coast visiting famous landmarks like Cape of Good Hope, Cape Point and Simon’s Town or kayaking to the penguins. We’ve found tours catering to every penguin seeker and nature lover.
Highlights:
- Scenic mountain and ocean drive along Chapman’s Peak
- Visit South Africa’s largest penguin colony at Boulders Beach
- Explore Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point Nature Reserve
- Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve
Know before you book:
- Use printed or mobile voucher for your own convenience
- This is a full day tour
- Some include pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation in Cape Town
- All children must be accompanied by an adult
One of the only places in the world outside of polar regions where penguins gather year-round, Boulders Beach is a unique and incredible place to visit. The penguin beach is a short walk from parking spaces through indigenous forest and a perfect white sand beach where you can swim and snorkel with the penguins!
Cape Town penguins tours include kayaking adventures and combination trips with Table Mountain and Chapmans Peak.
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Boulders Beach Entrance Fees 2020
The Boulders Beach entrance fee starts at USD $3 for South Africans and USD $12 for foreign tourists. Depending on the tour you choose.
Boulders Beach Tour Price
The tours below start from USD $26 and can go to as much as USD $200 depending on how exclusive you want your trip to be, as well as how many additional places are included in the tour! Whether you want to kayak with the swimming penguins or spend the whole day touring Cape Town’s abundant nature, there’s a tour here for everyone.
Compare prices across the tour providers below:
Operating Hours
Boulders beach is open all year for 7 days a week at the following times:
- December – January: 07h00 – 19h30
- February – April: 08h00 -18h30
- May – September: 08h00 – 17h00
- October – Novemeber: 08h00 – 18h30
Best Time to go
The best time to visit Boulders Beach penguin colony is in South Africa’s summer (October – February) when the weather is warm and you can brave the cold waters to swim with the penguins!
If you’re in Cape Town during whale watching season (July-November) you might be lucky and spot some whales from Cape Point viewpoint. The penguins stay here all through the year, so there’s no wrong time to go.
Cape Point and Boulders Beach Tours
This is the perfect day trip to see things outside of Cape Town like the fascinating penguin colony at Boulders Beach, Simon’s Town and Cape Point. Make sure you wear comfortable clothes and shoes as you might need to take a little hike upon visiting these sights.
Get ready for a day packed full of exciting activities. With minibus options that will pick you up at your accommodation in Cape Town city center or surrounding areas, you will get to enjoy some of the most astonishing views in Cape Town.
Falsebay Kayaking with Penguins Tour
Paddle to the penguins on Boulders beach in Kayaks with a tour to guide you. This is a fantastic way to get up and close with the animals all around the bay and that’s why its one of our favorite options to see the penguins in Cape Town.
You’ll likely also spot seals and other ocean wildlife on your kayaking adventure. Jump out and take a swim and enjoy the views of Cape Town’s gorgeous coastline.
- 2-person kayak and paddles
- Lifejacket
- Windbreaker
- Experienced guide
- Transportation
- Food and drinks
- Towel
A great excuse to take to the sea for some fun and exercise, this kayaking tour of Boulders Beach is a really unique and special way to see the penguins. Bring a towel and a change of clothes – the kayaks are very stable, but you’ll still get a little wet.
Check Price & bookBo Kaap, Table Mountain, Chapman’s Peak & Boulders Beach
Visit the colorful houses of Bo Kaap, take a cable car up Table Mountain and then enjoy the scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive. Followed by a stop at the Boulders Penguin Colony and Cape Point (fees not included).
This penguins Cape Town tour is the perfect combination of Cape Town’s eclectic cultures and gorgeous nature. With idyllic photo opportunities and plenty of sights to soak in, it’s the perfect day trip.
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Private tour guide and driver
- Entrance fees to the park and Chapman’s Peak
- Luxury vehicle
- Meals and drinks
- Optional gratuities
- Entrance fees to Boulders Beach and Cape Point
Wine Tasting, Cape Point and Penguin Explorer Tour
One for the wine lovers, this tour combines the best activities around the Cape Peninsula. Take a scenic through Camps Bay, drive along Chapman’s Peak, past Misty Cliffs and the seaside village Scarborough and finally reach Cape of Good Hope in the Table Mountain National Park.
The coastline of Cape Town along Chapman’s Peak is a truly magical sight. With the mountain on one side and the crystal-clear Atlantic ocean on your other, you’ll see why Chapman’s Peak is everyone’s favorite Sunday afternoon drive. Pack your camera, because you’ll get to enjoy a snapshot opportunity at Maiden’s Cove near Simons Town.
Visit the Cape of Good Hope sign, the lighthouse and the South African penguins at Boulders Beach, Cape Town. Finally time for wine o’ clock, you’ll pass through Constantia Valley Wine Route where you can enjoy a wine tasting at one of the most prestigious wine farms in the country.
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Private tour guide and driver
- Entrance fees to five stops
- Drinks and snacks
- Wine tastings
- Luxury vehicle
- Additional food and and drinks
- Gratuities
- Entrance fees to three stops
Full Day Cape Town Penguin Tour
This tour also starts out with a gorgeous drive along Chapman’s Peak! Upon reaching Hout Bay, you can opt to book an additional boat tour to Seal Island. The tour continues to Noordhoek village.
The Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point are up next. Cape Point is where the Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean currents meet. Cape Point is a declared a natural world heritage site, so you can be sure to experience the most beautiful views from the top of the lookout point.
The most south-western point of the African continent is a great place to see fynbos, the indigenous fauna and flora of the Cape region. You can expect to see some signs of wildlife while you are up there – we know that baboons love this spot! And if you’re in luck, you might spot a zebra or a bontebok.
You’ll also get to explore The Cape of Good Hope Nature reserve, see the beacon of Bartholomeus Diaz (the first person to sail around the Southern tip of Africa) or take a hike up to Cape Point Lighthouse. If you don’t want to hike up to the lighthouse, you can enjoy a ride with the Flying Dutchman Funicular at an additional cost, where you will be astonished by the beautiful views.
And last, but not least, you can get up close to the Boulders penguins at Boulders Beach in Simon’s Town. Hosting the largest penguin colony in South Africa, Boulders Beach (often misspelled as Bolders Beach) attracts hundreds of visitors yearly. So, get up close to these cute creatures, looking like little men in tuxedo’s, before returning to Cape Town via the scenic Boyes Drive passing Muizenberg and Kalk Bay beaches.
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Private tour guide and driver
- Entrance fees to Chapman’s Peak and Cape of Good Hope
- Luxury vehicle
- Bottled water
- Meals and drinks
- Optional gratuities
- Entrance fees to Boulders Beach
- Optional boat to Seal Island and Dutchman Funicular (optional)
Specification: 9 Best Boulders Beach Tours with Penguins (Short, Half-day, Full-day)
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Anne – United Kingdom –
An amazing tour! Would highly recommend. Learnt so many interesting things and saw spectacular views.
Amy – South Africa –
excellent personalised tour.