Nestled in a sheltered cove between Simon's Town and Cape Point, Boulders has become world famous for its thriving colony of African Penguins and magnificent wind sheltered beaches.

Although set in the midst of residential area, it is one of the few sites where this vulnerable bird can be observed at close range, wandering freely in a protected natural environment.

The name derives from a cluster of large granite boulders breaking the coastline and providing numerous sheltered inlets and reefs. The origin of these boulders can be traced back some 540 million years when molten granite formed the base of the overlaying Table Mountain sandstone. The erosion of the surrounding softer material exposed the rounded granite boulders.

Boulders forms part of the Table Mountain National Park. It incorporates Table Mountain and the Peninsula mountain chain from Signal Hill to Cape Point.

Bordered mainly by indigenous bush above the high-water mark on the one side and clear waters of False Bay on the other, the area comprises a number of small sheltered bays, partially enclosed by granite boulders.

From just two breeding pairs in 1982, the penguin colony has grown to about 3000 in recent years. This is partly due to the reduction in commercial pelagic trawling in False Bay, which has increased the supply of pilchards and anchovy, which form part of the penguin's diet.

The most popular spot is Boulders Beach, but the penguins are best viewed from Foxy beach, where newly-constructed boardwalks take visitors to within a few meters of birds.

Of the 1.5 million African Penguin population estimated in 1910, only 10% remained at the end of the 20th century. The uncontrolled harvesting of penguin eggs and guano scraping, nearly drove the species to extinction.

Because of their donkey-like braying they were previously named the Jackass Penguin. Since several species of South American penguins produce the same sound, the local birds have been renamed African penguins, as they are the only example of the species that breed in Africa.

A penguin can swim at an average of seven kilometers per hour and can stay submerged for up to two minutes. Their diet consists mainly of squid and shoal fish such as pilchards and anchovy.

Their enemies in the ocean include sharks, Cape fur seals and on occasion killer whales. Land based enemies include mongoose, genet and domestic cats and dogs.

Their black and white colouring is a vital form of camouflage- white for underwater predators looking upwards and black for predators looking down onto the water.

Although the African Penguin breeds throughout the year, the main breeding season starts in January. They are a monogamous species and the lifelong partners take turns to incubate their eggs and to feed their young.

Peak moulting time is during December, after which they head out to sea to feed. They return in January to mate and begin nesting form about February to August.

Penguins have very sharp beaks and can cause serious injury if they bite or lunge.

Whales, seals, sharks and dolphins are often found in the sheltered bays around Boulders. From August to December the Southern Right Whale and Bryde's Whale are frequent visitors to this coastline.