Boulders Beach is a sheltered beach made up of inlets between granite boulders, from which the name originated. It is located on the Cape Peninsula, in Simon's Town, in the southern region of Cape Town, South Africa. It is also commonly known as Boulders Bay. The beach is a popular tourist spot because of a colony of the endemic and critically endangered African penguins which settled there in 1982. Boulders Beach forms part of the Table Mountain National Park. Although set in a residential area, it is one of the few sites where this vulnerable bird (Spheniscus demersus) can be observed at close range, wandering freely in a protected natural environment. From just two breeding pairs in 1982, the penguin colony has grown to about 3000 birds in recent years. This is partly due to the prohibition of commercial pelagic trawling in False Bay, which has increased the supply of sardines and anchovies, which form part of the penguins' diet. as well as the help from former SANDF naval officer, Van the Penguin Man. Bordered mainly by indigenous bush above the high-water mark on the one side, and the clear water of False Bay on the other, the area comprises several small sheltered bays, partially enclosed by granite boulders that are 540 million years old. The most popular recreational spot is Boulders Beach, but the penguins are best viewed from Foxy Beach, where newly constructed boardwalks take visitors to within a few metres of the birds. It is also a famous swimming beach, although people are restricted to beaches adjacent to the penguin colony. In 2024, Boulders was ranked as the 2nd best beach in the world in the Golden Beach Awards, for its combination of natural beauty and African penguins. In 2025, Boulders was ranked the 12th best beach in the world by The World’s Best, for its warm water, penguins, safe swimming spots, and combination of leisure and wildlife conservation.
