Cape Town Central Tours
Penguins At Boulders Beach, Simonstown from Cape Town
5
Penguins At Boulders Beach, Simonstown from Cape Town
By Mike Brown Tours
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
This is a private tour for up to three friends or family and nobody else.
We travel along the beautiful Atlantic seaboard towards Hout Bay and over the world famous Chapmans Peak Drive, one of the great ocean drives where we stop several times to take in the spectacular scenery and some photos.
We then drive through Noordhoek towards Simonstown, a naval town with its array of old historical buildings, interesting shops and good restaurants. You may wish to take a stroll down the main street before heading off to visit the African penguin colony at Boulders Beach a few kilometres away.
We spend about 45 minutes to an hour with the penguins on the boardwalk above the beach. In the warmer months it may be possible to swim with them at the beach.
We return to Cape Town via Kalk Bay and Muizenberg, if time allows we can also include a stop at for some wine tasting at Groot Constantia, the oldest wine estate in South Africa. Sometimes we reverse the direction depending on traffic.
Ages 12-80
Duration: 4h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
More
- Private transportation
- Private guide
- Bottled water
What's not included- ENTRANCE FEES TO BOULDERS BEACH AT R170 pp
- WINE TASTING, GRATUITIES, PURCHASES
- Entry/Admission - Boulders Beach Penguin Colony
- Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.Pickup details
- All centrally located Cape Town hotels, vacation apartments, guest houses
Hotel pickup offeredDuring checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 139085P4- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travellers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 139085P4
Itinerary
- 1We can include this as part of the Cape Point tour, or make it a half day tour to Simonstown, which in itself is a quaint seaside town which is the headquarters of the South African Navy. It is a historical town with a number of restored old buildings and the penquins are on the outskirts of Simonstown in a protected area on Boulders Beach. During summer one can actually swim with the penquins when they co-operate.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- M291JNkatherines0 contributionsWonderful experience with Mike!Mike was our guide for our quick 3-day trip to Cape Town and we cannot recommend him highly enough!! He was completely accommodating of whatever we wanted to do, and arranged everything ahead of time so we did not even have to think about any logistics. He is also super knowledgeable and took us to see things that we did not even think of when planning our trip, and had excellent restaurant and wine recommendations! We would have been COMPLETELY lost without him, but because of him we had a truly wonderful trip to Cape Town. Thank you Mike for a wonderful and memorable few days!! We had the best time!Written 10 September 2024
- michaelpC1986MK0 contributionsBreathtaking experienceThe views are amazing, the care from this tour is top notch. If in Cape town again I would do it again. Went to Chapman's Peak, and Table Mountain, and went around Fish Hoek. Really had a great day. Never had a better tour in all my lifeWritten 23 April 2024
- g_o_n_n_e_r_m_a_x0 contributionsExceptional experienceI hired Mike for my entire 5 day stay. Very personalised service. Each day was depended on the weather and therefore flexible to ensure the best experience. I feel like I did everything Cape Town had to offer. Mike has contacts for anything you want to do and sorts everything out to the last detail. He picked me up and dropped me off to the airport. He picked me up and dropped me off to the hotel everyday. I was in regular contact with him before the trip, where he recommended my hotel, etc. Every evening he recommended a lovely restaurant. This is a top class personal service and Mike is also a fun person to spend 5 days straight with. This is a highly recommended way of visiting Cape Town and not to miss anything in a short period of time!Written 26 August 2022
- rossandkathgethitche0 contributionsThanks from the Joneses“Having spent two days exploring Cape Town and it’s surroundings with Mike I would not hesitate to recommend his services. From the planning stages, when he was swift to answer questions and listen to our requests for certain activities and visits, to the actual time in his company, which was fun, informative and relaxed we had a thoroughly enjoyable experience. He is very knowledgeable and passionate about his country and we came away feeling that we had found a new friend. And, should we return to South Africa we would most definitely contact him to so we could broaden even further our understanding of this complex and beautiful land”Written 9 February 2020
- Trix B0 contributionsThe perfect Tour Guide and HostWe first came across Mike Brown Tours through Viator (which I believe owns Tripadvisor). My wife and I booked a tour and it was Mike Brown who responded to our request. There was no problem booking and Mike answered all our queries promptly as we e-mailed each other. In Capetown Mike arrived on-time, at our hotel, to pick us up and we took our tour to see the South African Penguins at Boulders Beach.The commentary we received on the way, about points of interest and history, was superb and we found Mike to be really friendly and easy to talk to. On arrival he directed us along the several boardwalks to give us the best views of these cute creatures and, as they are so used to humans, we were extremely close to them which enabled us to take some wonderful pictures and video. We were surprised at how loud the 'call' of these penguins was as they are so small. After this Mike took us on a scenic tour to round off this half day. We were so impressed by Mikes knowledge, courtesy, helpfulness and willingness to 'tailor-make' any tour that we booked him again (twice). Highly recommended. Thanks very much Mike ,, Mick & SandraWritten 7 February 2020
- 969stepheno0 contributionsDecmember Christmas visit 2019Mike brown, what a gentleman. We had 2 tours with mike to cape point and much more! Secondly to the winelands and all around stellenbosch and franschoeck. Absolutely superb, mike is such good company and his knowledge about his native land is fantastic. He looked after myself, my wife and my 6 year old like we were family. We will return to cape town and we will plan another trip with mike! We came away from both trips having made a new friend which we will keep in touch with, thanks mike Stephen, bev and esmay xxxWritten 17 January 2020
- 841alpe0 contributionsGreat Private Tour for Cape TowmMike is very punctual and curtious. Showed up exactly when he said he’d pick us up. Really knowledgable and took his time while driving us through the Peninsula and providing us with all the facts, history and local stories. He did not mind (actually offered)) going out of the regular route when we wanted to go see particular places of interest off of the regular route. He really likes what he is doing and that shows in his work. I highky recommend Mike if you’re looking for a private tour in Cape Town.Written 18 November 2019
- JakobV6110 contributionsVery knowledgeable and friendly guide.Mike brought us safely through the cape, and we got to see all the sights. He has a passion for what he's doing, we were really in good hands.Written 18 September 2019
- Goodlife0200 contributionsMike Brown toursThis guy really knows his stuff. He took us on a road trip for three days around Cape Town. He knew a lot about the history of the country. He took very good care of us. We told him what we wanted to do and he made the reservations. Truly a private guide. He also had good recommendations for places to eat. Would definitely recommend.Written 16 September 2019
- Priyo230 contributionsThe best personalised tour you can haveMike's time management is excellent and knows Cape Town and many not-so-kown histories. He will feel you very comfortable within few minutes with him and takes care of your needs during the trip with him. He is even ready to walk an extra mile for you with a smile in his face. I would suggest any small family to take his trip while in Cape Town.Written 15 September 2019
- 7Anu40 contributionsA nearly perfect vacationWe went for a family vacation and just came back from SA. Mike is an excellent tour operator. He tried to give his best, even out of the way. We book Mike's private tour for Cape Town. After completing the tour I asked him about a specific shop and he immediately took us there without any complain. We are really glad having him as our guide at CT. We definitely recommend "THE MIKE BROWN TOUR EXPERIENCE" for our friends and families.Written 9 September 2019
- Isabell07110 contributionsBest Capetown tourIt was an excellent experience. Mike adjusted to our wishes and showed us everything we haven't seen in Capetown. We really enjoyed our time and were impressed at the end of the day! He really wanted us to have seen Capetown with its rich and poor sides. Pascal and I absolutely loved it. Thank you, Mike, for the great experience! Greetings from Germany.Written 2 August 2019
- Companion359741255540 contributionsGreat TourMy GF and I met Mike accidentally in a cafe but we’re happy & lucky we did. We had just arrived in Cape Town & didn’t know much about what to do He took us on a great day long tour along the coast to see the penguins & Cape Hope. He even bought us ice cream. He’s a great guy, nice roomy car, he knows his stuff. We had a great day with him & highly recommend him. It felt like we were hangin out with a friend. He’s very professional & goes the extra mile to assure we are happy. Book a tour with Mike Brown. You’ll thank yourselves later that you didWritten 26 June 2019
- Adventure673886573830 contributionsWonderful three full daysMike is an excellent guide. Extremely knowledgeable, punctual, caring with a flexible approach to each day. If the weather changed then when necessary so did our plans to ensure the best of experiences. Can’t recommend him enough. Extremely comfortable vehicle.Written 25 June 2019
- mark a0 contributionsCape Peninsula TourMy wife and I booked Mike from literature in our hotel, a leap of faith. We needn't have worried. Mike turned up as arranged on time, well dressed and driving a top of the range SUV. We had beautiful weather for our day with Mike, he immediately set us at ease as he is not only an expierienced knowledgable guide but a very nice guy. Between us we planned our day and off we went. Our first stop was Simonstown where we asked Mike to join us for lunch, we asked if he knew where the best oysters could be found and of course he did. Next we visited the penguins at Boulders beach, he parked close to the viewing areas and gave us plenty of time to enjoy what has to be a must on a trip to Cape Town. We then took a fantastic scenic drive back to our hotel. A wonderful and memorable day, thank you Mike.Written 12 June 2019
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
More to explore in Cape Town Central
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
12 reviews
Excellent
12
Very good
0
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Matt H
5 contributions
Oct 2019 • Couples
My wife and I had a great time on our Simonstown/Boulders Beach tour with Mike. Mike is incredibly accommodating and is very knowledgeable regarding the area. Highly recommend.
Written 9 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks Matt,
I really showing you and Grace to a small part of our city.
Written 12 October 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
oransome
Zurich, Switzerland1 077 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
Penguins in a warm country. So out of place.
This is a lovely thing to do. The little creatures are so cute and engaging. The park is beautifully done; you are very close to the penguins. We were lucky enough to be there during birthing season - end April.
Just fabulous. Allow 30 to 45 mins. There are a couple of cafes there but they are not open early.
About 20 USD per person which is expensive but worth every cent.
This is a lovely thing to do. The little creatures are so cute and engaging. The park is beautifully done; you are very close to the penguins. We were lucky enough to be there during birthing season - end April.
Just fabulous. Allow 30 to 45 mins. There are a couple of cafes there but they are not open early.
About 20 USD per person which is expensive but worth every cent.
Written 21 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg G
Austin, TX515 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
We stopped here as part of day trip on the cape. The penguins are fun to watch and this excursion stop lasted about one hour for us.
Written 21 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks Paolo
Written 27 September 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Debbie B
1 contribution
Aug 2022 • Solo
Great day really fantastic tour guide - penguins are amazing. All round great day out particularly liked the hike
Written 28 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much.
Written 30 August 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Isabel H
2 contributions
Apr 2021 • Friends
did the Boulders Beach day tour and full 4-day garden route tour as a female solo traveler and Mike is an outstanding tour guide! He is a true local and knows the best and secret hidden spots - he is very well structured and designed and planned both tours to the last detail. My highlights were Boulders Beach, Plettenberg Bay, Outeniqua Mountains, Tsisikamma National Park and many more - Mike even accommodated last minute requests such as visiting an animal sanctuary off route. His attention to detail and good taste in hotels and restaurants were the icing on the cake and the tours really exceeded my expectations! Mike also ensured my dietary requirements were met and planned the day accordingly. Both tours were in 2019 and this review is long overdue - I hereby want to thank Mike for putting together such a remarkable tour and making my trip to South Africa unforgettable - and for being such a pleasant company on my solo trip! I recommend Mike’s tours to anyone - also his restaurant recommendations are top notch! Thank you Mike for everything, I hope you are well and I will be in touch again for a another tour when I am back in SA 😊
Written 7 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Isabel, this is fantastic. I am really appreciative of the review, especially after nearly 3 years. I am certainly well and hope you are too. Looking forward to catching up when you next come down this way!
Written 29 March 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
dan s
31 contributions
My husband & I were lucky to find Mike through Viator, everything went smoothly, when we first contacted Mike, he responded at once, we agreed on the time and place of pick up, he was right on time. The car was clean and comfortable, he was nice enough to offer us cold water.
During the drive we both felt relaxed since Mike was an excellent driver🤗
I like that he explained the exact route we were taking and showed it on the map🙂
On our way to Boulders beach, we passed alot of interesting spots, Mike gave us a rich background about each and everything we passed by, he even told us alot of interesting stories that we enjoyed🙂
When we reached our destination, he explained to us alot about the penguins behaviors which was really interesting.
Mike is a very relaxed and knowledgable guide, I really recommend him especially for long tours🤩
Thanks Mike
During the drive we both felt relaxed since Mike was an excellent driver🤗
I like that he explained the exact route we were taking and showed it on the map🙂
On our way to Boulders beach, we passed alot of interesting spots, Mike gave us a rich background about each and everything we passed by, he even told us alot of interesting stories that we enjoyed🙂
When we reached our destination, he explained to us alot about the penguins behaviors which was really interesting.
Mike is a very relaxed and knowledgable guide, I really recommend him especially for long tours🤩
Thanks Mike
Written 23 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks Dania, I'm so glad you enjoyed yourselves.
Thank you for the kind words and I hope to see you again.
Regards Mike
Written 24 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mark
London5 contributions
Jan 2020
We were only in Cape Town for a couple of days but Mike helped organise a fantastic itinerary for us at short notice. Although Mike was unavailable on the day he arranged for his wife Di to act as our tour guide for Table Mountain, Boulders Beach and the scenic drives inbetween. Di was a great host with a warm and entertaining personality and we had a wonderful day seeing all the amazing sights.
When booking, Mike was really quick to respond and help find a solution and even pre-booked Table Mountain passes for us. I'd certainly recommend Mike Brown Tours to anyone visiting Cape Town.
When booking, Mike was really quick to respond and help find a solution and even pre-booked Table Mountain passes for us. I'd certainly recommend Mike Brown Tours to anyone visiting Cape Town.
Written 12 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much for the kind words Mark.
I'm glad you enjoyed yourselves and had a great onward journey. I'll pass this on to Di.
Regards
Written 16 February 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jenny P
2 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
We had a great time visiting the penguins with Mike! He was an excellent tour guide, very attentive and showed us the best views of the areas we went through en route to Boulder’s Beach, which made the day even better. We would highly recommend!
Written 10 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much Jenny.
I'm glad you enjoyed the tour, hope to see you again!
Written 11 December 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Top rated
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.