The annual Simon’s Town Penguin Festival is taking place this Saturday, 13 October 2012, in celebration of the delightful tuxedoed birds that have become such an icon of Simon’s Town. The Penguin Festival coincides with African Penguin Awareness Day and is hosted by SANCCOB, one of South Africa’s leading marine NPOs, and South African National Parks (SANParks).
SANCCOB has invited members of the public to attend a beach release at Seaforth Beach at 10am. A number of African penguins will be waddling back into their natural habitat after being rescued from the SELI 1 oil slick that occurred off Table Bay on Saturday, 1 September 2012. Come along and show your support for these little feathered friends and the heroes who saved them.
The festival is open from 10am – 3pm in the Seaforth parking lot, in front of Boulders Beach Lodge and Restaurant on Bellevue Road. It promises to be loads of fun for everyone with exhibitions, games and great prizes to be won. Festivalgoers can look forward to a cooking demonstration by a celebrity SASSI chef, a snake and reptile show, birds of prey show, live spider exhibit, treasure hunt, food stalls, and an exciting Edu-Zone for the kids. Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet and take pictures with SANCCOB’s famous ambassador penguins.
Staying in Simon’s Town
If you don’t live in Cape Town and can’t attend the festival, I highly encourage you to visit this side of the world at some stage. Located on Cape Town’s Southern Peninsula, Simon’s Town is the perfect spot for a summer holiday. With stunning views across False Bay, the village is as rich in natural beauty as it is in history and character. Wake up to a gorgeous sunrise and take a short stroll to visit the penguin colonies at Boulder’s Beach. Take a drive to Cape Point and explore the Table Mountain National Park. Enjoy birdlife, fishing, and whale-watching on your doorstep. Cape Town city centre is only 40km away and you can enjoy some of the world’s most scenic coastal routes to get there. Although it has a village atmosphere, Simon’s Town is sophisticated and elegant, and offers a variety of luxurious accommodation.
The Grosvenor Guest House offers a fine selection of tastefully decorated guest house and self-catering accommodation with the most spectacular views of the ocean and the South African Naval Base. All of the spacious, sun-kissed rooms are sea-facing and have en-suite bathrooms. A stunning pool deck offers magical sea views over the bay, and the protected patio is the ideal place for enjoying delicious breakfasts. Find out more…
Mariner Guesthouse is a 4-star eco-friendly guest house perched on the mountain above the harbour, offering breath-taking elevated views over the False Bay peninsula. Guests can enjoy luxuriously spacious en-suite rooms with balconies that afford panoramic sea views. Enjoy the cosy fireplace in the lounge, delve into a tasty breakfast on the open veranda, and fill your lungs with fresh coastal air. The beaches and shops are only a short walk away. Find out more…
Felsensicht Holiday Home is a superbly located house that offers ultra-modern, 4-star self-catering accommodation for up to 6 guests. With 180° view of False Bay stretching from Muizenberg in the north to Cape Point in the south, guests can enjoy scenic delights from the large house, which is beautifully furnished and fully-equipped with all the day-to-day essentials. The three-bedroom house is ideal for families and friends. Find out more…
If you can’t make it to the Penguin Festival this weekend, I sincerely hope you get the chance to stay in Simon’s Town at some point and spend some time visiting these fascinating birds!
