Tintswalo Boulders

Head onto the clear waters of Simon’s Town for a stand-up paddling session that keeps you close to the coastline. After a short safety briefing, you’ll step onto the board and begin paddling across sheltered bays, with the shoreline never far away. The water is often transparent enough to spot fish below, while granite boulders and distant peaks frame your route.

The pace allows time to adjust your balance, refine your strokes and take in the changing colours of sea and sky. Conditions are suitable for beginners, yet engaging enough to keep experienced paddlers focused throughout the session.

Visit the Simon’s Town Heritage Museum to understand how this small coastal town was shaped by naval history, migration and everyday life. Inside the former residence, rooms are arranged to reflect different eras, from early fishing communities to the impact of the navy and apartheid. You’ll move through photographs, documents and personal objects that explain how people lived, worked and adapted over time.

Displays focus on real stories rather than grand narratives, giving context to the streets and harbour you see outside. The visit is compact but informative, making it an easy addition to a day spent walking through Simon’s Town.

Explore a coastal bird rehabilitation centre near Boulders to understand how endangered African penguins are protected. The visit explains why penguins are rescued, from oil pollution to fishing pressures and what happens once they arrive for care. You’ll see how birds are assessed, fed and monitored before being returned to the ocean. Staff outline how release decisions are made and how penguins are tracked afterwards.

The focus stays on practical conservation work rather than display, showing the scale of effort required to support declining populations. This visit adds context to seeing penguins in the wild and highlights why ongoing protection remains critical.