SANParks changes fees at Boulders Beach on 1 November

SANParks changes conservation fees at Boulders Beach in Simon's Town on 1 November 2026. The site, managed within Table Mountain National Park, remains accessible, but travellers from Western Europe should check the applicable tariff before entering the African penguin colony.

SANParks changes fees at Boulders Beach on 1 November

The new tariff period begins on 1 November 2026 and runs until 31 October 2027. The change applies to conservation fees at Boulders Beach and other SANParks destinations, with different categories for South African residents, Southern African Development Community nationals and international visitors.

SANParks states that rates increase annually on 1 November and lists Boulders Beach among the Table Mountain National Park gates where visitors can buy entry tickets. A SANParks ticket guidance also confirms that an entry ticket for the site includes access to the beach. The change is therefore a practical budget and planning point for visits during November 2026 and the following tariff year.

Two recent reports identify Boulders Beach among the Cape Peninsula destinations affected by the new tariff. The published tariff report places the change on 1 November 2026, while The South African also names the site and the 2026 to 2027 period.

Why the fee change matters at the penguin colony

Boulders Beach is part of Table Mountain National Park and is managed by South African National Parks. The park authority describes the colony as a land-based colony of endangered African penguins in Simon's Town.

The Boulders section contains three beaches, one penguin viewing area and three boardwalks. The paths allow visitors to observe the birds while keeping people away from the nesting and viewing areas. That layout gives the tariff change a direct connection to the visitor experience: entry covers a protected coastal site rather than a single stretch of sand.

The colony was established in 1983, and SANParks records the African penguin as endangered. Granite boulders shelter the cove from currents, wind and larger waves, while Foxy Beach provides the main boardwalk viewing area. The relationship between the protected landscape and the penguin habitat is central to the way the site is managed.

Visiting Boulders Beach: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The revised SANParks conservation-fee period begins at Boulders Beach on 1 November 2026 and continues until 31 October 2027.
• The fee change does not announce a closure. Entry tickets remain linked to the selected destination, and SANParks says access can be subject to visitor capacity.
• The site includes three beaches, one penguin viewing area and three boardwalks within Table Mountain National Park.
• Boulders Beach is in Simon's Town on the Cape Peninsula, and the visitor area is reached from the Simon's Town and Cape Town side of the coastal road network.
• Visitors should stay on the boardwalks in the viewing area, avoid touching or feeding penguins, and take care around the granite shoreline.
• South Africa's official currency is the South African rand, and English is one of the country's official languages.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Boulders Beach

When does the SANParks fee change take place at Boulders Beach?

The new conservation-fee period begins on 1 November 2026 and runs until 31 October 2027.

What is Boulders Beach?

It is a protected coastal site in Table Mountain National Park with an endangered African penguin colony, three beaches and three boardwalks.

Where is Boulders Beach and how do you get there?

The site is in Simon's Town on South Africa's Cape Peninsula and can be reached from the Simon's Town and Cape Town side of the coastal road network.