Cape Town: Boulders Beach Penguins & the Breathtaking Cape of Good Hope Coastline

We wanted to take our kids on a real African adventure, and South Africa felt like the perfect place to start, especially now that they’re teenagers and totally ready for something bigger than a “normal” vacation. Cape Town ended up being the best beginning to our trip because it has everything: ocean views, wildlife, scenic drives, and experiences you just can’t recreate anywhere else. We stayed near Boulders Beach, and I’m not even kidding—every time we walked out of our hotel, there would literally be a penguin under our car or standing next to it. Can you imagine that? It was unreal. My kids were in absolute heaven.

Boulders Beach

Boulders Beach was absolutely one of the highlights of our whole trip, watching the penguins up close in the nesting areas. Seeing them with eggs and babies was so special and honestly just remarkable. We also saw a bunch of mongooses there, too, which made it even more fun. I recommend spending a couple hours at Boulders Beach because there is so much to see, and it’s one of those places you don’t want to rush through.

Since we stayed closer to Boulders Beach, we really leaned into the nature side of Cape Town, and it was amazing. One of our favorite places to eat was Dixie’s Restaurant & Bar. We went twice because it was that good. It had the best laid-back vibe and everything from pizza to steak to clams, so it was perfect for everyone. A lot of locals were there, too, which always makes me feel like we found a real gem, and we ended up chatting with people at nearby tables, which made it even more fun.

One day, we took a drive up to Hout Bay Harbor to see the seals, and it was such a great stop. You can even take a tour boat out to see the seals (and more), which would be such a fun add-on if you have the time. We grabbed lunch at Mariner’s Wharf Harbour Front Emporium and had fish and chips—the kind of meal that just tastes better after a morning of exploring.

Another day, we went out to the Cape of Good Hope, and let me tell you—it was a full-on wildlife experience. When we first got there, we stopped at the visitor center to have lunch and then got chased by a baboon with a baby on its back because we had a bottle of water in our hand. We jumped in the car as fast as we could, and then we ended up sitting there for almost an hour watching it happen over and over to other people.

Mommy and baby who chased people at the Cape of Good Hope

We also saw a wildcat while driving, and at one point the road was literally covered with baboons and they instantly started coming up to the car. It was wild. At the end of the day, we watched the sunset on the beach there while an ostrich walked by like it was no big deal. Everyone wanted to jump out of the car for a picture but, as a mom, I was panicking, so of course we kept our distance and just enjoyed the moment.

Wildcat at Cape of Good Hope

Even the nights felt like an adventure. Driving back to the hotel after dinner, we’d spot porcupines along the road, and we’d see baboons sitting up on the walls around town like they were just hanging out watching traffic go by. It honestly felt like we were in a nature documentary the entire time, even when we were “just heading back for the night.”

Something else that was so interesting: Locals kept telling us how this area used to be known for great white sharks, and how for years people came specifically for that. But they explained that over time, the great whites have mostly moved on from some of these coastal spots, and sightings aren’t what they used to be. It was one of those conversations that made the trip feel even more real—hearing how nature changes over time, and how the ocean life and wildlife here are always shifting.

This was only the beginning of our adventure because, after Cape Town, we were off to Kruger National Park, then Victoria Falls in Zambia, and then Dubai. We got so caught up in the nature side of Cape Town that we really didn’t see much of the city itself. We did drive by the colorful beach houses of Muizenberg, but we didn’t get a chance to do the Table Mountain cable car or even a safari outside of town, and it’s definitely something I’d love to go back and experience next time.

Top 10 things to do in Cape Town (nature & views edition!)

1. Visit Boulders Beach to see the penguins (and the nesting areas)

2. Drive out to Cape of Good Hope and explore all the stops and viewpoints

3. Watch the sunset at Cape of Good Hope beach

4. Visit Hout Bay Harbor to see the seals

5. Take a boat tour out to Seal Island

6. Drive Chapman’s Peak Drive for the most incredible coastal views

7. Stop at Muizenberg Beach to see the colorful beach houses

8. Eat fish and chips at Mariner’s Wharf Harbour Front Emporium in Hout Bay

9. Explore Simon’s Town for cute shops and easy meals near the beach

10. Ride the Table Mountain cable car

One big tip: Really plan out your days because everything is pretty spread out, and the driving is what takes up a lot of time. It’s not hard, it just adds up.

Also, keep snacks and water in the car (and hold onto them around baboons), and give yourself extra time for stops because you’ll constantly want to pull over for views, wildlife, and photos.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Cape Town page.