:Boulders Beach

{{short description|Beach in Cape Town, South Africa}}

{{About|Boulders Beach in South Africa|the beach in New Zealand|Boulder Beach|the beach near Las Vegas, Nevada|Lake Mead}}

{{Use South African English|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox landform

| name = Boulders Beach

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| photo = Image:Boulders Beach Suedafrika.jpg

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| photo_caption = African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) at Boulders Beach

| map = South Africa

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| location = Cape Peninsula, Simon's Town, Western Cape

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| coordinates = {{coord|-34.197|18.451|display=title}}

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| type = Beach

| free_label_1 = Patrolled by

| free_data_1 = Table Mountain National Park

| free_label_2 = Hazard rating

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| free_label_3 = Access

| free_data_3 = Kleintuin Road, Simon's Town

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Boulders Beach is a sheltered beach made up of inlets between granite boulders, from which the name originated. It is located on the Cape Peninsula, in Simon's Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It is also commonly known as Boulders Bay.{{cite web | access-date=2014-03-12 | archive-date=2014-03-12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140312224411/http://www.capetown.travel/attractions/entry/Boulders_penguin_colony | url=http://www.capetown.travel/attractions/entry/Boulders_penguin_colony | title=Boulders Penguin Colony | publisher=Cape Town Tourism | url-status=dead}} It is a popular tourist spot because of a colony of African penguins which settled there in 1982. Boulders Beach forms part of the Table Mountain National Park.

These African penguins are only found on the coastlines of Southern Africa (South Africa and Namibia). These penguins are currently endangered.{{cite web|url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/south-africa/110617/african-penguins-endangered-species-cape-town|title=African Penguin; Endangered; Cape Town|publisher=Globalpost.com|date=2011-06-19|access-date=2012-03-30}} As a result, the penguins are under the protection of the Cape Nature Conservation.

Although set in a residential area, it is one of the few sites where this vulnerable bird (Spheniscus demersus) can be observed at close range, wandering freely in a protected natural environment. From just two breeding pairs in 1982, the penguin colony{{Cite web|url=https://bouldersbeachpenguins.com/|title = Boulders Beach Penguins}} has grown to about 3000 birds in recent years. This is partly due to the prohibition of commercial pelagic trawling in False Bay, which has increased the supply of sardines and anchovies, which form part of the penguins' diet.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sanparks.co.za/parks/table_mountain/tourism/attractions.php|title = South African National Parks - SANParks - Official Website - Accommodation, Activities, Prices, Reservations}} as well as the help from former SANDF naval officer, Van the Penguin Man.{{Cite web|url=https://www.capetownmagazine.com/swim-with-african-penguins/0_100_834/amp/|title = See or Swim with African Penguins at Boulders Beach Simon Town}}

Bordered mainly by indigenous bush above the high-water mark on the one side, and the clear water of False Bay on the other, the area comprises several small sheltered bays, partially enclosed by granite boulders that are 540 million years old.

The most popular recreational spot is Boulders Beach, but the penguins are best viewed from Foxy Beach, where newly constructed boardwalks take visitors to within a few metres of the birds. It is also a famous swimming beach, although people are restricted to beaches adjacent to the penguin colony.