Meet the black and white beauties-Penguins in South Africa! Elsie Gabriel

Meet the black and white beauties-Penguins in South Africa!

Elsie Gabriel

Being a literary buff from West Bengal I took pride in not only reading but also trying to experience what I read. Over the years I found that travel added to my  years of reading and reading added depth to my travels.Therefore I would like to share this one travel experience which changed my life.

It’s the most perfect destination in South Africa for your family  to visit other families-only, this time it’s the Penguin families. All hurdled in groups, baby ones, teens and grown ups , they are all there in attendance for you to greet them and meet them. It is a ‘AHA ‘  once in a life time moment which leaves you gaping while you are overwhelmed by the sight of beautiful white beaches filled with black and white creatures, a true sight to behold!

I couldn’t control myself watching them in awe and kept capturing them on my camera from all angles. The fat one’s posed and relented, maybe because they were lazy on a sunny afternoon but the young chicks were shy and made a hurry for cover. Believe me, the sight will leave your children filled with memories with the real pictures of one of Gods most beautiful creatures.

While in Cape Town, do not forget to ask the local guides about the details and whereabouts of these penguin families if you have chosen a self-drive trip. We of course had the luxury of a tour guide cum chauffer all in one to drive us around and hep show off the southern most tipoff Africa in all it’s wonders.  You can not miss it for the world. It is not far at all.  Boulders Beach is located a few kilometers south of Simon’s Town and not far from Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is a popular tourist spot mainly because of this colony of African Penguins that have settled there. Another attraction is the fact that the sheltered area is made up of small coves with white sandy beaches and calm shallow waters. Swimmers can actually enjoy the calm waters right alongside the penguin colony. We did not venture into the water for two reasons, Sheer respect for the frightened Penguins and also because the waters were freezing cold during the summer vacations in May, so if you ever go at all, choose the ‘Diwali’; or ‘Winter ‘Vacations to swim with the black and white birds. Boulders Beach is one of the only places in the world where you can swim with the penguins.

While the penguins are generally not perturbed by people, swimmers should avoid harassing them or getting too close as their beaks are sharp and they will peck or bite if they feel threatened. If you’re not swimming, penguin viewing at Boulders Beach is also easily accessible via the boardwalks that traverse the beaches. You can also hear them braying and  screeching hoarsely to your amazement. Thats why theses Penguins were previously called Jackass penguins because their raucous cry resembles the sound of a tortured donkey, these flightless birds have not always had a good relationship with people .To spend the day with them is awesome where you learn that man and animal can live peacefully, conservation in South Africa takes over completely to save guard these tiny penguins. The story of the African penguins at Boulders Beach is one of remarkable urban colonisation, but the species as a whole faces many threats and these aquatic flightless birds are listed as endangered. Climate change has affected fish stocks, and increased severe weather incidences have depleted penguin chick numbers.  

We must spread the word that these are very rare creatures and must be saved before they get extinct. Like their less fortunate cousins, the flightless dodos that were hunted to extinction on Mauritius  but penguins can swim, so hopefully they live survive to live on not only in the heart of South Africa but in your kids hearts . Whenever I visit Mauritius I only see the Dodo’s on stamps and little statues only to my dismay. So cherish the Penguins and their habitat is my message to you as I write this. Think about it, if you ever plan a trip educate and teach your children and fill them with memories of little penguins which they will cherish for a life time and pass on may be to their next generation too.

Boulders beach in South Africa ..what a wonderful gift of nature to man!

A Western Cape holiday experience is like no other. Its spectacular beauty is unique as is the huge range of fun and varied activities on offer. Of course you can drive on to see the Congo caves and Ostrich farms nearby too.

How to get there –You can fly directly to Capetown in South Africa! Boulders Beach is located in Simon's Town, just over the hilly peninsula from Cape Town. It's easily accessible by bus, car, taxi or train.

Best time to visit -In January the juvenile penguins are moulting on the beach and adults are feeding-up for the breeding season, which lasts from February to August. Penguins feed at sea for much of September and October so the number of birds on the beach is lower.

Where to stay-The Cape Town area, including nearby Simon's Town and Fishhoek, has a wide variety of accommodation available from budget to luxury options.