Good news for Cape Town's penguins: Boulders colony records encouraging population increase

Visitors planning a trip to Boulders Penguin Colony near Simon's Town have another reason to add this iconic Cape Town attraction to their itinerary. South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced encouraging results from the 2026 annual African penguin census, with the colony recording its highest breeding pair count in recent years.

The latest survey counted 790 breeding pairs, an increase of 92 pairs compared to the 698 breeding pairs recorded in 2025. While conservationists caution that the African penguin remains critically endangered, the figures offer a welcome sign that one of South Africa's best-known penguin colonies continues to show resilience.

Why the increase matters

Based on the latest census, Boulders is now home to an estimated 2,528 individual African penguins, representing around 8–9% of South Africa's entire African penguin population.

With fewer than 10,000 breeding pairs remaining worldwide, every successful breeding season is significant. The increase at Boulders is particularly encouraging because many other African penguin colonies continue to decline.

Scientists stress that a single year's increase should not be interpreted as a full recovery. However, it does indicate that ongoing conservation measures are helping to stabilise one of the species' most important breeding sites.

A must-visit wildlife experience in Cape Town

Located within Table Mountain National Park, Boulders Penguin Colony is one of the few places in the world where visitors can observe endangered African penguins from specially designed boardwalks while minimising disturbance to the birds.

The sheltered beaches, enormous granite boulders and clear False Bay waters make the area one of Cape Town's most popular wildlife attractions, attracting visitors from around the globe throughout the year.

Although penguins can be seen year-round, each season offers something different. Depending on when you visit, you may observe nesting adults, fluffy chicks or groups of penguins returning from the ocean after feeding.

Ongoing conservation remains essential

The annual census was conducted by a collaborative team including SANParks, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the City of Cape Town, Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB), Cumic Rangers, volunteers and other conservation partners.

Researchers continue to monitor the colony using internationally recognised census methods to track long-term population trends.

African penguins still face numerous threats, including:

• Declining sardine and anchovy populations
• Environmental and climate variability
• Habitat changes
• Predation
• Disease
• Human-related pressures

To help safeguard the species, conservation efforts at Boulders include habitat management, rehabilitation of injured and sick birds, disease monitoring, scientific research and environmental education programmes.  

 

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Cape Town: Water supply disruption at Boulders Penguin Colony in the Table Mountain National Park! [update]

update (07 March 2025): Water supply at  the Boulders Penguin Colony in Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town has been restored. All facilities are now fully operational. 

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that the Boulders Penguin Colony in Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, is currently experiencing a water supply disruption due to a burst pipe in the Simon’s Town area. As a result, the ablution facilities are temporarily out of service. The City of  Cape Town is on-site and has closed the waterline to carry out necessary repairs. Updates will follow as the situation develops.

The Boulders Penguin Colony is one of Cape Town's most iconic attractions, located near Simon’s Town. It is home to a thriving colony of African penguins (Spheniscus demersus), a species classified as endangered due to threats such as habitat loss, overfishing, and pollution.

Cape Town: Cases of bird flu detected in the Boulders Penguin Colony! [update #2]

update (05 October 2022): According to SANCCOB, at least 28 penguins in the colony have died from the disease since the middle of August 2022.

update (22 September 2022): According to Daily Maverick's "Our Burning Planet", as of 20 September 2022 more than 10 penguins have already died from the disease.

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced an outbreak of the high pathogenicity avian influenza (bird flu) in the Boulders Penguin Colony in the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) in Cape Town. The Western Cape Veterinary Services and the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB) have confirmed that four new bird flu cases and seven suspected cases of bird flu have been detected. There a currently an estimated 3000 penguins in the breeding colony, so the affected numbers are still very low at this stage. SANParks, Western Cape Veterinary Services, City of Cape Town, SANCCOB and other seabird rehabilitation centres, are closely monitoring the situation and will assess the need for further action.
SANParks and its conservation partners are taking precautions to reduce the spread of the virus. This includes limiting access to the Boulders Penguin Colony, including researchers, and applying strict disinfection of footwear when staff leave the colony. Dead and sick birds will be removed and transferred to SANCCOB for assessment and possible testing.
SANParks decided that closing the Boulders Penguin Colony to visitors is not justified at this stage, but visitors must stay on designated boardwalks. SANParks is requesting visitors to look out for any suspected bird flu cases by reporting sick and/or dead birds to Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) park management on 021 786 2329/021 780 9100 or SANCCOB 021 557 6155.

Birds affected with bird flu are weak and may look tame, cannot fly, show signs of tremors or twitches and seizures or loss of balance, and one or both eyes may be droopy or cloudy. Please do not approach, touch or handle the birds. Visitors should shower, change and clean their shoes and clothes before visiting other seabird colonies or poultry farms to prevent contamination from one site to another.
Avian influenza virus is spread between birds by faeces and other body excretions and by people handling sick birds. Even though the virus is unlikely to infect humans, precautions should be taken. Gloves and masks should be worn if handling birds. Any equipment, including vehicles and protective clothing that could be contaminated, should be disinfected.

Table Mountain National Park: SANParks reopens Sivermine Gate, Boulders & Newlands and Oudekraal Picnic Sites!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that Silvermine Gate 1 situated within the Cape Town's Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) will reopen today (23 September 2020), while the Boulders section and the Oudekraal picnic site and the Newlands picnic site will only reopen on 24 September 2020 (National Heritage Day). Rangers will be positioned at entry points to check that visitors are compliant with Covid-19 regulations stipulated by South Africa's National Coronavirus Command Council (NCCC). 

The following protocols have been put in place at Silvermine:

• Gate entry times will be 07:00 - 18:00 with exit time at 19:00 pm daily.
• No mask, no entry.
• Limitations of visitor numbers may be imposed at the Picnic site at sergeant ranger’s discretion.
• Free standing braai gas stoves are not permitted at the picnic site and we encourage guests to make use of the existing braai facilities.  
• Maintain social distancing by at least 1.5m at all times.
• No alcohol and no Gazebos permitted on site.

The following protocols have been put in place at Boulders:

• Entry times at Boulders will be 08:00 - 16:00.
• The curio shop will be open for these times as well.
• Visitors will be screened upon entry. No mask, no entry.
• Limitations for the boardwalks are 45 people at any given time with a maximum of 45 people on the beach.
• Visitors are requested to respect penguins and to remain in the boardwalk at all times.
• Maintain social distancing by at least 1.5m at all times.

The following protocols have been put in place at Newlands and Oudekraal Picnic Sites:

• Please note these two picnic sites will open for the National Heritage Day only and will reopen again on 01 October 2020.
• Entry times at Newlands and Oudekraal will be 08:00 - 16:00.
• Visitors will be screened upon entry. No mask, no entry.
• Newlands will take a maximum of 350 people while Oudekraal will take a maximum of 250 people only.
• Free standing braai gas stoves are not permitted at the picnic sites and we encourage guests to make use of the existing braai facilities.  
• Maintain social distancing by at least 1.5m at all times.
• No alcohol and no Gazebos permitted on site.

New gate technology for Table Mountain National Park & West Coast National Park temporarily delayed!

According to a press release by South African National Parks (SANParks), the implementation of the new online gate ticket booking system for Table Mountain National Park and West Coast National Park has been temporarily delayed. The new gate technology enables visitors to buy digital tickets on-line prior to their arrival at the National Parks; these digital tickets will then be scanned at the entrance gates for quick access. SANParks is currently in the process of ensuring that the new system functions optimally and without glitches before opening the system to the public.
Pleast note that differential tariffs at Cape Point and Boulders Penguin Colony Gates in Table Mountain National Park will still be implemented on 01 November 2018.

South Africa: New gate technology for Table Mountain National Park & West Coast National Park!

South African National Parks (SANParks) is set to introduce a new gate access technology at Table Mountain National Park and West Coast National Park on 01 November 2018. The new gate technology enables visitors to buy digital tickets on-line prior to their arrival at the National Parks; these digital tickets will then be scanned at the entrance gates for quick access.

The new system also caters for tour operators who in the past had to purchase group tickets from SANParks offices. They too will have access to an online portal through which they can purchase digital tickets according to their respective group sizes.

Table Mountain National Park: Bird flu outbreak at Boulders Penguin Colony!

update (12 April 2018): As of 09 April 2018, the deaths of four penguins have been confirmed to be as a result of bird flu and 18 penguin deaths are suspected to be linked to the disease.

Due to an outbreak of bird flu (H5N8 strain) in the penguin colony at Boulders Beach in Cape Town's Table Mountain National Park, South African National Parks (SANParks) has implemented the following precautions:

• With the exception of visitors on Boulders Beach boardwalk, nobody may access the main breeding colony.
• In instances where staff need to go off boardwalks to collect injured birds or hats, camera lens, caps etc dropped by visitors they will limit their access to essential work and then sterilise their boots afterwards - gum boots have been issued and are easier to clean than the normal boot.
• Monitoring routes used for moult/nest counts have been reviewed to ensure that staff and Penguin monitors do not walk through the main breeding colony.
  

Western Cape Veterinary Services, CapeNature, SANParks, South Africa's Department of Environmental Affairs, City of Cape Town, SANCCOB and other seabird rehabilitation centres and private veterinarians are working in close cooperation to monitor the situation and perform further testing. While the virus is highly pathogenic to chickens and other poultry, the impact on wild seabirds is not that well understood (so far 1 tern and 2 penguins from Boulders have come back positive for H5N8). Closing the colony to visitors is not justified at this stage.
Even though the virus is unlikely to infect humans, precautions should nevertheless be taken.

Tips for visitors:

• Visitors must stay on designated board walks
• Visitors should change shoes and clothes if visiting other seabird colonies or poultry farms to prevent contamination from one site to another

Cape Town: Conservation fees for Cape Point & Boulders penguin colony set to drop next year!

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced that from 01 November 2018 differential Conservation fees for Table Mountain National Park gates (TMNP) will take effect. As a result, conservation fees for Cape Point and for the Boulders penguin colony in the Table Mountain National Park will get cheaper for South African citizens, SADC citizens and foreigners with a SA residency permit.

Cape Point:

• South African Citizens and Residents (with ID): R76/person
• SADC Nationals (with passport): R152/person
• International visitors: R303/person
  

Boulders penguin colony:

• South African Citizens and Residents (with ID): R39/person
• SADC Nationals (with passport): R76/person
• International visitors: R152/person