Who doesn’t love a penguin?
Few experiences can elicit the elation I felt swimming with the dusky dolphins in Kaikoura, New Zealand a few years ago, but I think those dolphins may have found some competition at Boulder’s Beach in Cape Town, South Africa.
Like a toddler in an oversized tuxedo shirt, every move and mannerism of penguin’s life is just…awkward, in about the cutest way imaginable. Waddling to the crashing waves at the shore, it’s easy to tell that the penguin is unsure of when to make his move. When he does, it’s usually a faceplant into the sea, like someone given a push with their ankles and wrists tied up. Slightly uneven ground makes for a comical display of pushing, shoving, and body bumps as each penguin vies for its space on the crowded beaches or rocks. Back and forth from the shore to the sea, a tumble here, a tumble there, such is the life of a penguin.
A colony of these loveable goons have made their home in and around Boulder’s Beach, on the outskirts of Cape Town. Walkways have been put in place to protect both the animals and the humans (turns out, the penguin bite if you piss them off). Watching from slightly above the beach is a spectacle in and of itself, but the real fun requires a bit of swimming during high tide. Boulder’s Beach itself is exactly what you might think, a small stretch of sand scattered with massive, almost round boulders seemingly dropped directly into the sea. I’d never experienced a beach quite like it, and if it weren’t for the penguins, I’d be quite content staring at the natural serenity of it all. Upon arrival at the beach, we spotted just a few penguins hanging out on a nearby boulder, but were a bit disappointed in the fact that there weren’t many penguins, but also that the tide seemed to block off most of the beach. Due to the white-capped and wavy sea, not to mention the sharks in the area, kayaking around wasn’t exactly an option, so naturally (after some encouraging), we took the plunge into the chilly waters to swim in between the boulders in search of some new penguin friends.
As always, as soon as the slight turn off the beaten track is taken, rewards await. Wading through the Boulders, we eventually found ourselves on an even smaller stretch of sand, this one inhabited with dozens of goofy new friends. The penguins paid us no almost mind as we sat on the sand and watched them go about their business surrounding us. Groups waddled around while others took turns with their morning laps, losing all awkwardness as soon as they found themselves under the water, darting faster than you ever thought a penguin could swim. Taking another dip, I watched the little guys spiral past me in the water, not exactly happy about my presence, but clearly not disturbed either. We sat on the shore for as long as we could, simply watching the quirkiness of another exotic to our American eyes, but normal to Africa animal, with the standard beautiful backdrop to boot. It seems as though, no matter where you are, from top to bottom, this continent simply excels when it comes to its display of wildlife in picturesque surrounds.
Swimming lessons complete, the city life was calling our name…