If you don't have children with you Boulders might be a bit of a disappointment as it has been spun to be more than it is. The Penguins are now plentiful and relatively friendly so close encounters are possible. Simonstown itself is one of the most charming and jacked up small towns in the Republic so go for a walk. Another aspect of Boulders is related to the Boer War. Look for the stone at the turn off from the main road where the POW's are said to have had to line up to obtain their post.

We heard that there´s a part where you have to pay to see the penguins, but we drove ourselves and just walked straight onto a smaller beach off to the side where there was a whole group of curious, friendly penguins we could just sit and watch. Very entertaining.

A visit to Cape Town wouldn't be complete without a trip to Boulders Beach. Plenty of penguins to see via the raised viewing area, or go further along to go down onto the secluded beach where you can get up close to any penguins that are on the beach, and they've always been there every time we've been.

... or you will miss them! The first time I was here, I paid to use the boardwalks and see a whole lot of the famous African Penguins. Very touristy, yet I like to support the national park system. The second time, however, I passed up the boardwalks and followed the trail. The little buggers came out of nowhere! They were right up to the fence, some out in the open, and seemingly entirely unafraid of humans though there are signs warning of penguin bites if you encroach. This is a must-do for the Cape Town area!