Clifton BeachesvsBoulders Beach Penguin Colony
Clifton Beaches and Boulders Beach are both endorsed by professional reviewers writing for major publications. On balance, Boulders Beach ranks significantly higher than Clifton Beaches. Boulders Beach scores 89 with endorsements from 6 reviews including Michelin Guide, Fodor's and Time Out.
Clifton Beaches
Lonely Planet
Condé Nast Traveler
Travel + Leisure
Fodor's
Michelin Guide Lonely Planet
Clifton Beach, Off Victoria Rd., Cape Town, 8005, South Africa
From $0/night
Lonely Planet Top Choice
"Giant granite boulders break up the four beaches at Clifton... they're almost always sheltered from the wind, they offer top sunbathing spots." Full review
Condé Nast Traveler "The four beaches of Clifton (named 1st through 4th) on the Atlantic coastline are impossibly beautiful." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Clifton is actually made up of four beaches: the inventively named Clifton 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. These are Cape Town's most popular beaches, filled with sun-seekers in the summer months. " Full review
Fodor's "Some of the Cape's most desirable houses cling to the slopes above the beach, and elegant yachts often anchor in the calm water beyond the breakers." Full review
Michelin Guide 1 Star
"The tropics in Clifton? You could almost believe it from the nearly white sand and the turquoise sea lined with granite blocks that give these beaches an air of paradise." Full review
Lonely Planet "The fourth of the four sheltered beaches strung along Victoria Rd at Clifton is popular with families." Full review
Boulders Beach Penguin Colony
Frommer's
Time Out Lonely Planet
Afar Magazine Travel + Leisure
Atlas Obscura Michelin Guide Fodor's Afar Magazine Afar Magazine
Kleintuin Rd, Simon's Town, South Africa
From $0/night
Frommer's "You can swim at either Seaforth Beach or Boulders Beach, which the penguins visit, but the best place to view them is from the raised boardwalk overlooking Foxy Beach." Full review
Time Out "Cape Town's biggest penguin colony makes its home here in a protected cove, with visitors getting the rare opportunity of swimming alongside them." Full review
Lonely Planet Top Choice
"Some 3km southeast of Simon’s Town, this picturesque area, with enormous boulders dividing small, sandy coves, is home to a colony of 2100 delightful African penguins." Full review
Afar Magazine "No matter how many times you visit Boulders Beach, seeing the African penguin colony in Simon's Town will always make you smile. The park itself is run by South Africa National Park..." Full review
Travel + Leisure "Boulders Beach is home to a colony of African penguins, and kids and adults alike delight in watching them flop and frolic on the shore. Don't get too close though—they can bite." Full review
Atlas Obscura "This African beach is home to thousands of rare mainland penguins that are known for their annoying voice. " Full review
Michelin Guide 2 Stars
"After swimming in the transparent waters at Boulders Beach, near Foxy Beach, you can observe the large colony of Cape penguins." Full review
Fodor's "This series of small coves lies among giant granite boulders on the southern outskirts of Simon's Town." Full review
Afar Magazine "Cape Town's penguins come to Simon's Town to breed. In the early 1980s, an enterprising pair mated for the first time on Boulders Beach, and their tuxedoed descendants now number several thousand." Full review
Afar Magazine "They made Boulders their home in 1982 and you'll be surprised by how residential the setting is, and how fascinating these birds are when you have the chance to view them at such close range." Full review
i
Be sure to ask where swimming is and isn't allowed and then keep your eyes peeled for a few new friends and want to get a good look at you.
