Hi, I'm Eric.

I’m an avid world traveler, photographer, software developer, and digital storyteller.

I help implement the Content Authenticity Initiative at Adobe.

ericscouten.com

Subscribe / Follow · Now

ericscouten.com

Subscribe / Follow · Now

Search Results

South Africa and Lesotho Day 11: Penguins and Table Mountain

5 March 2026 • 167 km / 104 mi (map)

Added to Eric Scouten :: Travel on 14 April 2026
South Africa 10

We are back in Cape Town for the remaining time we have in South Africa. The weather forecast was nice today, especially in the afternoon, so we decided to explore the Cape itself and Table Mountain.

We started off down the east side of the Cape and saw this fun view overlooking False Bay.

Muizenberg, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa · by Lisa Rozmyn

And then we stopped for a walk on the beach in Simon’s Town, a bit farther south.

Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa · by Lisa Rozmyn

Oh, but this wasn’t just any beach, it’s a beach with penguins!

Boulders Beach, Table Mountain National Park, Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa

One penguin …

An African penguin with black-and-white plumage and a pink patch above its eye stands on pale sandy ground, with scattered green vegetation and a dense leafy bush behind it, light rain streaking through the air.

Boulders Beach, Table Mountain National Park, Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Many penguins …

A colony of African penguins gathered on smooth grey granite boulders beside a calm sea, with kelp-strewn rocks in the shallows and hazy mountains under a cloudy sky in the distance at Boulders Beach.

Boulders Beach, Table Mountain National Park, Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa

They are so adorable and playful.

Boulders Beach, Table Mountain National Park, Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa · by Lisa Rozmyn

An African penguin lies resting on sandy ground among low green coastal vegetation, its black-and-white plumage dotted with water droplets and a pink patch visible above its eye. Behind it are blurred green shrubs and pale sand at Boulders Beach.

Boulders Beach, Table Mountain National Park, Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa

A colony of African penguins gathered on a sandy beach among large granite boulders and seaweed-covered rocks, with several more penguins swimming in the kelp-strewn ocean and waves breaking onshore in the background.

Boulders Beach, Table Mountain National Park, Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Boulders Beach, Table Mountain National Park, Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa · by Lisa Rozmyn

An African penguin sitting in a burrow dug into pale sandy ground, its black-and-white plumage and pink eye patch clearly visible as it looks to the left. The surrounding sand is scattered with bits of dark twigs and debris, with a piece of pink material at the top edge.

Boulders Beach, Table Mountain National Park, Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Boulders Beach, Table Mountain National Park, Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa · by Lisa Rozmyn

Boulders Beach, Table Mountain National Park, Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Boulders Beach, Table Mountain National Park, Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Boulders Beach, Table Mountain National Park, Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa

And who can resist penguin chicks?

Boulders Beach, Table Mountain National Park, Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Several African penguins stand on pale sandy ground scattered with rocks, twigs, and dried plant debris, with two birds near a nest made of sticks and three more nearby including one partly visible at the bottom left.

Boulders Beach, Table Mountain National Park, Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Boulders Beach, Table Mountain National Park, Simon’s Town, Western Cape, South Africa

After seeing the penguins and getting some lunch in Simon’s Town, we proceeded down to the tip of the Cape.

Cape of Good Hope, Table Mountain National Park, south of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Cape of Good Hope, Table Mountain National Park, south of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

A rugged, rocky coastline at the Cape of Good Hope, with a sandy, scrub-dotted foreground giving way to a sparkling blue ocean and breaking waves. Dark hills slope down to the shore on the right under a bright blue sky scattered with white clouds.

Cape of Good Hope, Table Mountain National Park, south of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Cape of Good Hope, Table Mountain National Park, south of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa · by Lisa Rozmyn

And then it was time to visit Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain. First, a view of Cape Town itself.

An elevated view from a scrub-covered mountain slope in Table Mountain National Park looking down over the city of Cape Town, with its downtown high-rises, sprawling residential suburbs, and harbour stretching toward the deep blue waters of Table Bay under a vast clear sky with scattered clouds.

Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

And then … see that little dot up there in the crevice of the mountain? That’s a cable car. We went there!

Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa · by Lisa Rozmyn

Here’s the view on the way up:

Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa · by Lisa Rozmyn

Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa · by Lisa Rozmyn

Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa · by Lisa Rozmyn

And, oh my goodness, the views from up top are chef’s kiss!

Almost everyone we knew who knew Cape Town insisted that we make time for Table Mountain. This is why.

A sweeping view from the rugged cliffs of Table Mountain looking out over a rocky mountainous coastline, with steep grey rock faces and green slopes dropping down to the ocean on the right under a mostly clear blue sky with wispy clouds.

Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

A view from atop Table Mountain looking out over rugged cliffs and distant peaks, with a town, the sea, and a hazy coastline visible far below under a bright blue sky scattered with white clouds. In the foreground sit weathered grey rocks and a dry-stone wall, with a small bird perched on one of the boulders.

Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

The rock formations up top had some … shall we say, conveniently … shaped carve-outs in them to hold my glass of wine while I took other pictures.

Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Looking to the north from Table Mountain, we can see the infamous Robben Island. Nelson Mandela was held here along with many other political prisoners for many years.

Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

An aerial view from the heights of Table Mountain looking down over Cape Town, with the dense city and harbour spread along a curving bay under a vast clear blue sky. Rocky outcrops sit in the foreground, green mountain slopes flank the right, and the ocean stretches to the horizon on the left.

Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

We stayed for sunset on the mountain top. So worth it …

A view from the cliffs of Table Mountain at sunset, looking out over rugged sandstone ridges that drop steeply toward the ocean, with distant mountain silhouettes and a band of low clouds glowing gold along the horizon.

Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

A high vantage point on Table Mountain looking out over the ocean at sunset, with the sun glowing low over a thick bank of clouds on the horizon and a clear gradient sky above. Dark cliffs and slopes fall away on the left toward a coastal town below, with shrubs silhouetted in the foreground at right.

Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

The distinctive cone-shaped peak of Lion’s Head rises above the slopes of Table Mountain National Park at sunset, with a low bank of clouds hovering over the ocean and a glowing orange horizon beyond. City lights of Cape Town are visible at the lower right along the coastline.

Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

An elevated twilight view over Cape Town from Table Mountain National Park, with the illuminated city center and waterfront glowing along the bay below a vast, clear gradient sky fading from deep blue to warm orange near the horizon. A dark hill rises on the left and distant mountains line the far shore, with a couple of stars visible overhead.

Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

We have one more full day in South Africa and then we must begin our journey home. We are sad to contemplate the end of this journey.

around Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa · 167 km / 104 mi
(Mouse over or tap on the markers to see the photos there. Use the

button to adjust the map’s position and zoom.)

South Africa and Lesotho Day 12: Robben Island →

← South Africa and Lesotho Day 10: Safari, Part 2