The home of the Penguin

13 October 2025 - Boulders Beach; Site 2

Departing Strandfontein I headed along the narrow and seriously busy coastal road to Boulders Beach. A whale sighting in the bay certainly didnt help the traffic and it was really slow going. I was astounded at the number of tour buses in the car park at this now famous site and even more indignant when I was assumed to be a tourist when paying the entrance fee and only when showing my ID did I get the local rate.

Boulders Beach is a sheltered beach with massive and ancient granite boulders and is the home of our endangered African Penguin (they used to be called Jackass Penguin) which are under threat from habitat loss, declining fish population (due to many reasons) and the ever-encroaching human neighbours

Walking down the packed boardwalk, a Southern Fiscal seemed oblivious to the throngs of people.

Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris)

Once at the view site, you had to jockey for a decent position and then try and hold fast - not pleasant at all - but the entrance fees paid by the visitors go a long way toward Penguin conservation initiatives.

So, if you don't like Penguins, this photo heavy post is not for you - but then, who doesn't love Penguins

African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus)

One of the uncommon double-banded forms of African Penguin

A squabble in the surf zone

Watching them descend the sand dune from above the boardwalk was quite comical - but they remained sure-footed

In these three images, I tried to portray the sense of vulnerability as a lone penguin walked along the beach dwarfed by an ancient granite boulder that also protect them from the harsh Cape elements, followed by one exiting the sea with the lone Penguin

People were so focused on the Penguins, almost all missed the Bryde's Whale (if incorrect, please let me know) just beyond the granite boulders.

Bryde's Whale (Balaenoptera brydei)

By now the crowd had tested my patience, so it was time to move on to the final site of the day - Kirstenbosch