The gorgeous Boulders Seaside is considered one of Cape City’s most visited seashores and the one place on the earth the place you get near African Penguins.
Cape City positively has no scarcity of superb seashores, however Boulders Seaside in False Bay gives one thing additional particular – a colony of African Penguins in all their well clothes, waddling glory, proper beneath your nostril. The truth is, it’s the solely place on the earth the place you may get near African Penguins.
Well-known Residents
In 1982 a few these little crowd-pleasers settled on the delicate white sand between the big granite boulders that shield the seaside from wind and enormous, stormy waves, and presently the inhabitants is estimated between 2,000 and three,000 birds. Sadly the African Penguin has been labeled as an endangered species, as a result of issues like over-fishing, habitat destruction, air pollution, and irresponsible tourism actions, and the Boulders Seaside colony has additionally felt the impact, with numbers dwindling during the last couple of years.
Fortunately, Boulders and its surrounding seashores now kind a part of the Desk Mountain Nationwide Park Marine Protected Space, thus guaranteeing the seashores are protected and clear, and the penguins protected. A few years in the past three wheelchair-friendly boardwalks had been constructed to accommodate the practically 60,000 guests that go to the seaside every year. These boardwalks wind their approach via the dunes and vegetation and never solely supplies nice viewing spots, but in addition protects nesting penguins and their chicks. Nonetheless, you may nonetheless spot one or two of the little fellas waddling via the car parking zone on occasion.
What to Do
Boulders Seaside isn’t only a good spot for penguins, it’s additionally a preferred family-friendly swimming seaside the place children can climb over the boulders, discover the rock swimming pools, or swim within the cool, clear False Bay water. It’s additionally an ideal place for a leisurely picnic. As a result of R55 conservation payment, the seaside is never packed.
Should you’d wish to study extra concerning the space’s well-known inhabitants, you’ll want to pop over to the Boulders Guests Centre the place professional guides gives you tonnes of attention-grabbing details about Africa’s personal, distinctive penguins.
Methods to Get There
Boulders Seaside is located False Bay, simply exterior Simon’s City, on the way in which to Cape Level. It’s about an hour’s drive by automotive from the CBD.
There are a few routes you may take to get there:
- Across the mountain through the Southern Suburbs, and leafy Bishops Court docket, previous the Constantia Valley to Kalk Bay, then alongside the coast to Simon’s City
- From Camps Bay through Hout Bay, alongside Chapman’s Peak drive, previous Noordhoek and Kommetjie (an extremely scenic drive)
Should you’d like to make use of public transport:
- Catch a practice from Cape City Station all the way in which to Simon’s City (you’ll want to purchase a First Class ticket). The practice runs alongside the Kalk Bay shoreline, an extremely scenic practice experience. From Simon’s City you may both take the 30 or so minute stroll via the historic little naval city, or catch a taxi.
- The newly launched Metropolis Sightseeing’s Cape Level Explorer additionally stops at Boulders on its solution to Cape Level and it’s a handy and reasonably priced journey to take.
- Some motels and tour operators supply transfers from the CBD and again.
What to Convey
- There’s a conservation payment, so convey some money
- An umbrella, hat, and sunscreen should you plan on spending the day on the seaside
- Climate-appropriate clothes, particularly throughout winter, when the climate might be fairly unpredictable. Winter can be the wet season, so convey an umbrella or raincoat
Essential notices from SANParks:
- Boulders is a protected seaside, with rangers on patrol every day
- Do NOT feed the penguins or come too shut. Whereas they could look cute, they’re nonetheless wild animals.
- Parking is proscribed, particularly throughout peak Summer season, so come early
- Alcohol and smoking prohibited
- No vessels are allowed, together with canoes and kayaks
- As a result of it’s a part of the Marine Protected Space, it’s a no-take zone, which implies no marine life could also be eliminated.
- For entry and exit instances, please examine the SANParks web site
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