Most people associate penguins with Antarctica, but colonies of African penguins (also known as jackass penguins or black-footed penguins) live in South Africa. African penguins are closely related to the penguins of South America and the Galapagos Islands, all of which make a braying noise like a donkey. They favor cold water, so even if the air temperature is hot, they can use the icy waters of the Atlantic to cool off.
A day trip to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve should include a stopover at the penguin colony on Boulders Beach at Simon's Town. The beach is sandy and covered with large boulders and is accessible via a boardwalk.
I visited Boulders Beach in January, and the penguins were mostly on their nests. We saw a few young who still had their down feathers, and others who were molting. It was fun to watch the cute little animals waddle across the beach or gracefully swim.
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