January 26th, 2009 
Sheila Simkin A visit to the Penguin Colony at Simon’s Point was included in the day trip out to Cape Point. This colony of South African Penguins, also known as Black-footed Penguin or Jackass Penguin, began in 1983 when a pair of penguins were spotted on Boulder’s Beach near Simon’s Town and they began to lay in 1985. Since then, the colony has grown rapidly and there were 2,350 adult birds in 1997.
It wasn’t long before Simon’s Town had to restrain the birds from wandering through town, destroying gardens, and pooping everywhere by fencing off Cape Peninsula National Park. We’ve been fortunate enough to see penguins in Patagonia, the Galapagos, and Antarctica and you wouldn’t believe how noisy these little guys are, braying like jackasses. It’s no wonder that this species was once called “Jackass Penguins.”
Cape Peninsula National Park has boardwalks that lead over the dunes and vegetation and winds through these raucous penguins for great viewing. The penguins are completely unafraid of people and we were advised not to get too close as they bite.
Penguins are the cutest, most entertaining little “birds” with distinct personalities and I could stand and watch for hours. Making their way to and from the sea, always in a single file, braying….walking between the visitors…ignoring the humans except when they wanted to get a better look at us…
…one looked pretty scraggy with molting feathers…View image… and two penguins even found time to do a little mating…View image…
African penguins only grow to 68-70 cm/26.7-27.5″ tall and have a black stripe and spots on the chest. Interacting with penguins is memorable and this particular viewing in a warm climate made it even more unique. I always envision penguins sitting in the snow or on an ice floe in Antarctica thanks to one of my favorite (very old) children’s books called “Chilly Willy the Penguin” and had to insert one of my Antarctic penguin videos below. They are just s-o- cute!
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