simon's town
• 32 comments •
Forty kilometers south of Cape Town lies the village of Simon's Town. When we read that Boulders Beach (located just outside Simon's Town) was renowned for it's African penguin colony, we knew we had to make the trip out.
After a short train ride, we were making our way through Simon's Town, in search of Boulders Beach. Although you can spot penguins on surrounding beaches, it's best to pay the entry fee for the beach (which is maintained by Table Mountain National Parks).
We went down walkway that was built for penguin viewing and saw one or two of them hiding in the bushes. Suddenly, a few steps later, we were surrounded by hundreds of them ...
...waddling, lying around, swimming, squawking - in addition to some seagulls that were eyeing the penguin eggs. Penguins look ridiculous when they move around and we couldn't stop laughing at them.
As we walked away, we saw a seagull steal a penguin egg:
We felt kind of sad - but c'est la vie, right?
After monopolizing the best photo spots, we finally left and headed down the coast to the sheltered swimming beach. 
The beach is still part of the national park, but it gives you the chance to actually swim alongside the penguins (watch out, they bite). In reality the penguins and humans tend to leave each other alone - the beach was filled with families who seemed oblivious to the penguins sunning themselves on the rocks nearby. 
Although there weren't hundreds of penguins at the beach, there were a handful - swimming around and hanging out on rocks, but they weren't actively encouraging human interaction. It was quite nice to see the families enjoying themselves and the penguins being left to their own devices. 
32 comments
This is awesome! How often do people actually get to see penguins in their natural habitat, you know? :D Also, that penguin in the video's adorable. He's exuding this drunk/lost/I-just-woke-up-and-am-still-half-asleep vibe, haha.
ReplyDeleteAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa... too cute!
ReplyDeleteI know it's something silly, but I just gave you guys an award! Come and check it out! :)
http://gypsy-diaries.blogspot.com/
This looks so fun! I would love to see penguins like this.
ReplyDeletethat is sooo cool.
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing! I love how close you are to the penguins!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing,
Marcie
I was there a few years ago. A great place! They really are so fun to watch. The only thing I remember I didn't like was the smell of their feces. I don't know if it was like that still, but it was everywhere when I was there. Maybe the park is doing something about trying to clean it up. Anyway, glad you enjoyed it, and I'm glad I stumbled upon this blog the other day. I just started following you.
ReplyDeleteCheers.
ahhh i love seeing all your south africa pictures since i went to so many of the same palces when i was there a few years ago! brings back all sorts of memories.
ReplyDeletei remember being so surprised that there were penguins in south africa - what a treat!
hope you two are doing well...
xo
WOWsiii! the ocean looks so beautiful and yet dramatic in those pictures! love love love! and the penguins are super cute :)
ReplyDeletexox vicky
Bikinis & Passports
that is incredible!! and wonderful photos!!
ReplyDeleteLove it looks so fun
ReplyDeletei am obsessed with penguins!! i wanna go there! love the pic of the lone penguin with the blue sky.
ReplyDeletewowsa! I love this. I'd love to visit this place.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos - south africa looks simply amazing! I know it's kind of silly but I tagged you in a 6th photo thing... choose to play along if you wish! http://thegourmettraveller.blogspot.com/2010/04/6th-photo.html
ReplyDeletewhat an awesome day! great video and soundtrack!
ReplyDeletei love that you were able to get a photo of the seagull stealing the egg. love the photos (as usual)
ReplyDeleteadorable! it reminds me of the seals on the La Joya coast... so cute but they tell you not to touch them because they are wild animals... have a nice one!
ReplyDeleteThat's really cool that the people and the penguins coexist like that. This post was really fun!
ReplyDeleteyou did make it to the penguin colony! such a fun place ! so crazy! :)
ReplyDeleteaw penguins! so cute. love these photos
ReplyDeletethat swimmer's beach looks divine
ReplyDeleteoh the irony of it all :)
ReplyDeletefirst the humans were on the rock watching the penguins swimming beach and then the other way around...love your pics, the one of the penquin posing perfectly and the swimming beach with huge rocks looks incredible!
That is SO awesome! You are so lucky.
ReplyDeleteIs it ever possible to have too many penguins? I think not.
ReplyDeleteOh, that beach is beautiful. Penguins are quite silly to watch. How cool to be able to observe them like that.
ReplyDeleteI just found your blog, and I'm officially in love!
ReplyDeleteAnd all those penguins... so cute!
oooh penguins are so irresistibly cute! it looks so beautiful there!
ReplyDeleteThey are so freaking cute!!!
ReplyDeleteOMG! These are the most AMAZING pictures, ever. I want to go to Antarctica one day just to see the penguins and also now South Africa! I had no idea penguins bite.
ReplyDeleteIn reply: yes, those photos were taken with an iPhone. Do you two carry a phone while traveling? I love taking photos with them. The app I took it with is called Hipstamatic. I usually don't like paying for apps, but I own all the camera ones. Other camera apps that are cool are CameraKit and ShakeItPhoto. (just in case you ever decided to get an iPhone). I think it's worth it. Plus, you might be able to use useful apps on it while traveling!
Such a great post. I just adore penguins, but yeah - they're totally ridiculous lol. Loved the clip and the music you chose! ;) And that "Lonely Penguin" photo is amazing - that sky is just perfect!
ReplyDeletePenguin Beach was one of the best parts of my trip. Did you get in the water? Frigid! The proximity to Antarctica is to blame for that, but in the heat of the South African sun it is tolerable.
ReplyDeletethe cutest little penguins!! your hair is getting so long. and this is amazing that you are seeing the whole world like that.... an inspiration to all! <3
ReplyDeleteI didn't know penguins were known to bite, either way they're super cute! and so is your hubby in that picture:)
ReplyDelete