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Penguin Encounter Boulders Beach Half Day Tour: Explore African Penguins Habitat from Cape Town
4.9
266 Ratings
Cape Town
Experience the spectacle of African Penguins in the wild through our half-day trip to Boulders Beach. Relish in the opportunity to unwind, explore and blend in with the hospitable marine birds, all while being treated to breathtaking vistas. Not to mention, you can enjoy a swim and bask in the sun alongside our adorable, shuffling companions.
Experience the spectacle of African Penguins in the wild through our half-day trip to Boulders Beach. Relish in the opportunity to unwind, explore and blend in with the hospitable marine birds, all while being treated to breathtaking vistas. Not to mention, you can enjoy a swim and bask in the sun alongside our adorable, shuffling companions.
Duration:
5 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Maiden’s Cove Braai Area - The first stop on this 5-hour half-day tour is Maiden’s Cove. Take in the breathtaking views of the Atlantic seaboard and marvel at the majestic Twelve Apostles Mountain range, Camps Bay beach, and the luxurious penthouses of both international and local residents.
- Chapman’s Peak Drive - Next, we proceed to…
- Maiden’s Cove Braai Area - The first stop on this 5-hour half-day tour is Maiden’s Cove. Take in the breathtaking views of the Atlantic seaboard and marvel at the majestic Twelve Apostles Mountain range, Camps Bay beach, and the luxurious penthouses of both international and local residents.
- Chapman’s Peak Drive - Next, we proceed to Chapman’s Peak Drive, arguably one of the finest marine drives in the world! With stunning ocean views set against a mountain backdrop, each turn offers a new, awe-inspiring sight.
- Boulders Beach Penguin Colony - This is the tour’s highlight. Your guide will provide an overview of the area and give you plenty of time to explore the beach. You’ll learn about the endangered African penguins that inhabit the beach. These penguins roam freely and are comfortable around humans. Observe them from a designated viewing point as they go about their day.
Enjoy some free time to relax on the beach or explore the surrounding landscapes. On sunny days, take a dip in the refreshing waters.
- Boyes Drive - After hours of exploration, enjoy the coastal drive back to Cape Town with a stop at Boyes Drive in Muizenberg, which offers stunning views of the False Bay coast. It’s also a great spot to watch both local and international surfers tackle Cape Town’s waves.
What's Included
- Toll fees at Chapman’s Peak Drive included
- Complimentary bottled water on board
- Convenient hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Toll fees at Chapman’s Peak Drive included
- Complimentary bottled water on board
- Convenient hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle
What's Not Included
- Restaurant meals and drink
- Tips/ Gratuities (optional)
- Entrance to Boulders Beach Penguin Colony (215 ZAR per adult, 105 ZAR per child)
- Restaurant meals and drink
- Tips/ Gratuities (optional)
- Entrance to Boulders Beach Penguin Colony (215 ZAR per adult, 105 ZAR per child)
Location
Maiden's Cove Braai Area
Maidens Cove
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(266 Ratings)
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Lucy_w
Sep 19, 2025
Great trip! Would reccomend - We loved this trip with Patrick! He was so professional and relaxed and the group was so informative. Would really recommend
Review provided by Viator
Paul_b
Sep 17, 2025
Great trip, amazing guide, would definitely recommend - Great half day trip, we chose to stay at Boulders Beach to see the penguins but there is an option to add the Cape. Our guide, Bizo, was amazing, friendly, very knowledgeable and happy to answer questions. The route was fabulous, seeing both the west and east coast, the views are to die for.
Review provided by Viator
Ernest_b
Sep 12, 2025
Don’t miss out! - Beautiful views and knowledgeable driver!
It you want great pictures and an opportunity to learn more about local culture this is for you!
Review provided by Viator
Alexander_t
Sep 2, 2025
Penguins at Boulders Beach - Perfect overview and time with penguins. Isra was our guide and did a great job pointing out facts/sights and meeting us on time.
Review provided by Viator
Luyanda_s
Aug 6, 2025
Fantastic - Nairobi National Park half-day tour was an absolute delight. I have been on many safari’s but Francis made this experience unique and enjoyable by being so flexible and accommodating. Highly recommend
Review provided by Viator
Bha718
Jun 20, 2025
A Multitude of Penguins awaits at Boulders Beach - This was an easy and seamless way to spend some time at Boulders Beach. We were picked up by our driver directly from the hotel. Along the way, we got some history of the Cape, and had a few stops for pictures at some picturesque landscapes. The highlight of our day was the stop off at Boulder's Beach. The guide will not accompany you onto the beach, which is fine for me as I like a more self-directed pace. The African penguins were everywhere along the beach, and we had ample opportunity for photos and to watch them from above. There are also some hyraxes in the shrubbery, which were a cute bonus. We then walked to a nearby cafe and waited for pickup.
Of note, there is an option to combine this with a trip to the Cape of Good Hope if you like, but we opted to stay at Boulder's Beach. I feel as though we would have been rushed if we went further, the beach is the only option that allows you to spend more time observing the wildlife at your leisure. Perhaps a full day tour would be better if you want to combine with other Cape options.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nupurbasu12
Jun 19, 2025
Great visit to see the penguins - Isra was a great guide, he arrived on time and took us to see a lot of great places. He told us so many things about the area during the drive and it was really cool to hear the stories and history of the place. The penguin encounter was great, he dropped us off at the place and we had freedom to roam around on our own and see the penguins.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shane_g
May 23, 2025
A great experience - Although it was a little hard to find our departure point and guide, the tour was great! Chris was great to us! He was knowledgeable and flexible. He drove us back to our hotel after our long trip to the departure point which was great and gave us great insight and where to see the penguins the best.
Review provided by Viator
Julia
Jun 3, 2025
Very poor timing all day - First we were told the tour started at 9 but the van showed up at 8:10 and left before we could settle something as we were still eating breakfast. We had to call Viator and they showed back up. There was no notification at all that they had changed the time on us. We also only had 14 minutes to see the penguins before we were ushered back to the van but we spent 45 minutes at a lighthouse. The highlight of the tour was the penguins but we had hardly any time at all with them and had to pay extra for the entrance fee. There are also many entrance fees you have to pay on top of the tour fee so it ends up being much more. I’ve never written a negative review or a tour before but this one calls for it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
James_h
Jul 2, 2025
Very disappointed with the company. - As soon as I knew my cruise ship was going to be late.
I contacted the company for a rescheduling,
but they did not get back to me, and took my money with no refund.
I won’t recommend this company.
Review provided by Viator
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