The Boulders Penguin Colony in Simons Town is home to a unique and endangered land-based colony of African, or Jackass, Penguins and was established in 1983.
I woke up earlier than usual knowing a full day of touring the Cape awaited starting with Table Mountain then out to the Cape of Good Hope. Plus the possibility to see penguins at Boulders Beach on my way back to Moon Glow Guesthouse near Simon’s Town. How could I not stop to see penguins. It was late, I had to hurry and my camera’s memory card was full after only a few shots.
So I returned the next day, my last day in South Africa. Nice having the Wild Card for free access into South Africa’s National Parks.
These little tuxedo clad critters are a hoot. Or should I say “heee hawww” because African penguins were formally called “jackass penguins” because of their loud braying like a donkey.
They make nests on the beach by digging a hole with their flippers. I have to assume the female does most of that because she appeared to be orchestrating the design work while the male waddled off in search of more nesting materials. Obviously not any easy chore with so much competition.
Not everyone gets to nest right on the beach. Scattered plastic jugs with numbers, so they’ll know the right address.
Listed as a vulnerable species in South Africa, the first pair of penguins made a nest at the Boulders in 1984 probably due to the return of their primary food source of pilchards, or sardines, that had previously been fished out. By 2002 the colony of adults reached about 3300. Fences were erected to keep the penguins out of neighborhood yards and raised boardwalks built to keep us out of the colony. In 1998, the Boulders colony became part of the Cape Peninsula National Park securing this sanctuary.
I had to laugh at the comical penguins, and people’s comments as they attributed human characteristics. Does that waddling walk remind you of anybody?
Cuteness overload. I wanted to take one home but didn’t want to pay for an extra seat and there’s no sardines in Arizona, other than canned.
This entire African adventure sadly came to an end. Always hard to leave a newly discovered place. Goodbye, I’ll be back.
Local entertainment on the streets.