Expedition 🇿🇦 South Africa
African Penguin in South Africa
The donkey-brays of Boulders Beach — a black-footed penguin that breeds on South African shores and swims into cold Atlantic currents.
The species
The African penguin — also called the jackass penguin for its braying call — is the only penguin that breeds on the African continent. Black band across the chest, pink glands above the eyes, and a waddling commute from sea to burrow make colonies at Boulders Beach and Betty's Bay unforgettable.
Habitat in South Africa
Rocky coastlines and offshore islands of South Africa and Namibia hold African penguin colonies. They need sheltered bays for breeding and cold, fish-rich waters nearby — and are now largely dependent on protected areas as populations crash.
Where to spot one
Boulders Beach
Cape Town
Boardwalks through a breeding colony of African penguins — close enough to hear them bray.
Kruger National Park
Mpumalanga & Limpopo
Classic African savanna — lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo on self-drive or guided safaris.
Addo Elephant National Park
Eastern Cape
Elephants, buffalo, and black rhino in thickets — malaria-free and family-friendly.
Table Mountain National Park
Cape Peninsula
Fynbos endemics, dassies on the summit, and the Cape of Good Hope where two oceans meet.
Conservation status
African penguins are Endangered, devastated by overfishing, oil spills, and guano harvesting that destroyed nest sites. Sanccob rehabilitation centres and marine protected areas are critical to their survival.
Free on iOS
Log the African Penguin in South Africa
Spot one in the wild — scan it in Catch'Um to log your common discovery.