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The African Penguins colony at Foxy Beach, Simonstown on the Cape Peninsula is only one of three mainland colonies of penguins in all of Southern Africa. The other mainland colonies of African Penguins are at Stony Point at Betty's Bay in the Overberg and at Sylvia Hill in Namibia.
The Foxy Beach / Boulders Beach colony is the most easily accessible penguin colony to Cape Town. A visit to Foxy Beach / Boulders is often included as part of a Cape Peninsula tour that would include Cape Point Nature Reserve (now part of Table Mountain National Park, as is this penguin reserve).
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The colony is known as The Boulders Beach Colony, even though the viewing platforms and most of the penguins are located at Foxy Beach. Boulders Beach is the "swimming beach" for people, whilst Foxy Beach is for the exclusive use of the penguins. Penguins still visit Boulders Beach though, so it is not that unusual to find oneself "swimming with the penguins". Two viewing decks at Foxy Beach provide excellent observation of the activities and antics of the African Penguins on the beach below. African Penguins are often also seen on the slopes right next to the access paths to the viewing decks.
The entire Foxy Beach / Boulders beach complex is well run by South Africa's National Parks. Parking and access to these beaches is either from the Seaforth Beach parking or Boulders Beach parking areas.
In addition to these mainland colonies there are also a number of penguin colonies on islands scattered around the coastline South Africa and Namibia. The colonies range from most northerly island of Hollams Bird Island off the Namibian Coast to the most north-easterly island being Bird Island in Algoa Bay (close to Port Elizabeth). Other islands where penguins are found include Robben Island, Dassen Island and Dyer Island.
The photographs below were taken at Foxy Beach.
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| Coming ashore at Foxy Beach near Boulders, Simonstown. | The visitors don't seem to disturb the African (Jackass) Penguins in any way. |
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For some additional information visit the National Parks Page
an interesting website and organisation concerning penguins in Southern
Africa can be found at
www.dict.org.za
back to www.travelselection.co.za