South Africa - penguins

[kelley182]

Can anyone comment on the difference between seeing penguins at Boulder Beach vs. Betty's Bay.  Several people have told me that Betty's Bar is far superior and that the penguins there are very interactive whereas the ones in Boulder Beach are sort of far away and could care less than you're there.  However, my friend who is going on the trip with us said that her friend who lives there says that she gets up close to the penguins at Boulder Beach.  I would think that someone who lives there would know but so many other people keep telling me that Betty's Bar is so much better for penguin viewing.

Does anyone have any recs about this?

TIA!

[tinabelcher]

I've only been to Boulder Beach, so I can't compare the two, but I can share my experience. At Boulders you walk along a boardwalk to get to the beach and along the boardwalk we saw several penguins in the bushes and sand that were close enough to touch. Once you get to the end, there's a viewing platform where you can watch the penguins and there are tons! You aren't interacting with them, but they're right in front of you and are really entertaining to watch, especially if you're an animal lover. 

[Deleted]

I'm not really sure what you mean by the penguins"could care less that we're there." They've penguins in their pretty natural habitat, not circus animals, so they don't really pay attention to humans in either location.

At Boulders beach there is a board walk type path that leads you to the beach. On that path you will be very close to penguins if they're building nests or just relaxing. But it's not like they pay attention to you. Once you get to the end of the boardwalk, the beach where they go in and out of the water is somewhat far away, but there is plenty of activity and you will get nice pictures. But you can't go up to the penguins or anything like that.

At Bettys Bay, I don't remember the board walk path being the same as Boulders, so I don't think you get as close in that respect that you do at Boulders. But the beach where you watch the penguins might be slightly closer than the one at Boulders. And I think there are some large rock formations where the penguins climb up closer to you. But I'm not really sure, just going by memory. I've been to Boulders Beach a bunch and only Bettys Bay once. 

Anyway, I personally wouldn't make a trip to Bettys Bay just to see the penguins. However, it is a nice stop on the way from Hermanus. Hermanus is a nice day or overnight trip (there is a nice hiking trail there, cute places for lunch, bird watching, whale watching, shops, etc) and then you can stop at Bettys Bay on the way back.

If you're not going to do that, just see the penguins at Boulders Beach.