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All South Africa Cape Town Boulders Beach Penguin Sanctuary

Boulders Beach Penguin Sanctuary

This African beach is home to thousands of rare mainland penguins that are known for their annoying voice.

Cape Town, South Africa

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mlynch
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  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
SA Penguins are very social animals. Like for all the penguins, communication is essential for recognition of families and couples. They emit a unique sound like that is usually accompanied by intensive gesturing.   Alisiks / Atlas Obscura User
This pink patch above the penguin’s eye is a gland that helps penguins to cope with the changing climates. When the temperature gets hotter, a body of an African Penguin sends more blood to these glands to be cooled by the air surrounding it. So the more heat stress a bird experiences, the darker this skin becomes.   Alisiks / Atlas Obscura User
African penguins are exemplary family guys: they are monogamous [монАгомэс], and the same pair [пэр] generally returns to the same colony, and often the same nest site each year. About 80 to 90% of pairs remain together in consecutive breeding seasons, and some are known to have remained together for over 10 years.   Alisiks / Atlas Obscura User
Taken during November; a view as you walk toward the Beach.   superbetsy / Atlas Obscura User
Penguins walking freely on Boulders Beach   Pericles Rosa / Atlas Obscura User
The wheelchair-friendly boardwalk that allows visitors to observe its famous inhabitants whilst protecting their nesting and chicks.   Pericles Rosa / Atlas Obscura User
  grazianolenci / Atlas Obscura User
  kevinyouells / Atlas Obscura User
  CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
  CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
Braying penguin   tahasic / Atlas Obscura User
  superbetsy / Atlas Obscura User
  RoadUnraveled / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  mikeymsb / Atlas Obscura User
  Collector of Experiences / Atlas Obscura User
  mikeymsb / Atlas Obscura User
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About

One of the only remaining homes to the rare African penguin, Boulder's Beach Penguin Colony allows visitors to get up close and personal with the strange, prehistoric birds that seem right at home despite their generally Antarctic reputation.  This beautiful beach is the home of over 2,000 endangered African penguins, and one of the few mainland penguin colonies in the world.

The African penguin was long known as the "Jackass penguin" due to its grating, braying chirp. However the world is apparently big enough for two varieties of penguins with the same horrible voice, and the colorful term is now used to describe a species of penguin found in South America. The Boulders Beach birds, while endangered, were actually growing as a population in the 1990s as they bred on the scenic beaches and migrated in from other nearby colonies.

However, the booming population became a public hazard as the noisy birds started tearing up gardens and annoying neighbors. The park was subsequently fenced off and made into a national park. 

Related Tags

Animals Birds Beaches Endangered Animals

Know Before You Go

Boulders Beach has two different sections. Do not touch and feed the penguins when you visit any Cape Town beaches. Check the website for ticket prices.

Inside there is a long boardwalk with penguins and dassies all around. Please do not disturb the penguins or leave the path. 

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Wild South Africa

Marine wildlife and Kruger Safari

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Added By

mlynch

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CoolCrab, Pericles Rosa, bbjames69, movesbrit...

  • CoolCrab
  • Pericles Rosa
  • bbjames69
  • movesbrit
  • Collector of Experiences
  • grazianolenci
  • superbetsy
  • mikeymsb
  • Alisiks
  • tahasic
  • RoadUnraveled
  • kevinyouells

Published

August 27, 2013

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Sources
  • http://www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/tourism/attractions.php#boulders
  • http://www.capepointroute.co.za/moreinfoOther.php?aID=110
  • http://www.simonstown.com/tourism/penguins/penguins.htm
  • https://britonthemove.com/cape-town-safari/
  • https://www.7continents1passport.com/cape-town-beaches/
Boulders Beach Penguin Sanctuary
1 Kleintuin Road
Cape Town, 7995
South Africa
-34.196486, 18.450049
Visit Website
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