If you thought penguins lived only in the icy North and South Poles, think again.
Did you know that many of the Marine Big Five (including these adorable birds) can be found on the African continent?
If you don’t believe it, keep reading this article — it’s definitely for you!
Here are the places where you can spot the Marine Big Five, penguins included!
Where can you see penguins? The answer is Boulders Beach, in South Africa
Boulders Beach is located just outside Cape Town and can easily be reached by car while exploring the Cape Peninsula.
If you love wildlife, we can guarantee that visiting the penguins at Boulders Beach will be a fascinating moment and just one of the many unique animal encounters you’ll enjoy during your stay in South Africa.
This picturesque area, with enormous boulders dividing small sandy coves, is home to a colony of around 3,000 delightful African penguins.
A boardwalk leads from the Boulders Visitor Centre, at the far end of Foxy Beach in the protected area — part of Table Mountain National Park — to Boulders Beach, where you can step down onto the sand and mingle with the darting penguins.
Don’t be tempted to pet them, though: they have sharp beaks that can cause serious injuries.
Most of the colony, which originated from just two breeding pairs in 1982, seems to prefer Foxy Beach, where, like laid-back and slightly scruffy supermodels, these birds cheerfully ignore the armies of tourists snapping photos from the viewing platforms.
The busiest months are from December to February, while weekends around midday are usually crowded too. To avoid the crowds and improve your chances of finding parking, it’s best to arrive early in the morning, when there are fewer penguins around.
Another option is to visit in the late afternoon, around two or three hours before closing time, depending on the season.
Read also: What to see in Botswana: 5 places you absolutely can’t miss
Why are there penguins in South Africa?
When visiting South Africa, you may wonder why a colony of penguins lives in such a warm country rather than in icy Antarctica. These are African penguins, formerly known as jackass penguins because of their braying call, and they are found only in South Africa and Namibia.
As mentioned in the previous section, the penguins chose to settle at Boulders Beach in 1982 and, according to the latest count, between 2,000 and 3,000 penguins live in this natural habitat.
However, these animals are currently on the brink of extinction and are protected by Cape Nature Conservation.
Where to spot the other Marine Big Five
Cape fur seals
Few ocean dwellers are cuter and cuddlier than the Cape fur seal. Luckily, if you want a close-up and personal encounter, the coasts and waters around Cape Town are full of these beauties.
Whether you’d rather put on a swimsuit and dive in beside them or admire them from a safe, dry distance, there are plenty of options in and around Cape Town.
The easiest way to see Cape fur seals doesn’t even require getting on a boat. Head to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, where you may find them napping and sunbathing along the pier or on their dedicated platform. Although seals are very sociable in the water, the presence of humans can make them very nervous on land, so make sure to keep a respectful distance.
Dolphins
The waters around Cape Town are home to a wide variety of dolphin species. Bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, Heaviside’s dolphins, and dusky dolphins are all known to make appearances, depending on the time of year.
Their numbers peak during the annual sardine run. This period, between May and July, marks the migration of billions of sardines, which in turn attract up to 18,000 hungry dolphins.
Of course, you can always grab a pair of binoculars and try your luck spotting them from shore. Although land sightings aren’t especially frequent, you may catch sight of one of the most playful species: bottlenose dolphins, in particular, love surfing the waves.
Whales
The very traits that unfortunately made whales appealing to whalers (they move slowly, like staying close to the water’s surface, and are very curious about human boats) also make them excellent animals to observe and admire in all their majesty.
The best time to see whales is during mating season, between June and October, as they tend to spend the rest of the year feeding around Antarctica.
There are several land-based viewing points that will allow you to spot southern right whales from afar. Walk or drive along Boyes Drive, overlooking False Bay, or head to Cape Point.
Great white sharks
The area around Cape Town is one of the best places on the planet to search for these toothy giants, especially because some of the animals mentioned earlier are among the great white shark’s favourite foods.
Although it’s possible to see them all year round, you’re more likely to spot good numbers when the water visibility is better, so between June and September.
But if you really want to improve your chances of seeing them, you need to head to Gansbaai.
Gansbaai lies around a two-hour drive southeast of Cape Town, but it’s well worth the trip if you want to make the most of your great white shark experience. The waters off this small fishing village are home to the famous Shark Alley, one of the largest populations of great white sharks in the world.
Read also: Safari in Namibia: when to go? The best times of year to visit an incredible country
Conclusions
In this article, we’ve seen where it’s possible to observe penguins (without going to Antarctica) and the other Marine Big Five.
By the way, did you know that we’ve organized an amazing tour that, as luck would have it, stops right at Boulders Beach?
