Dates:  13 – 16 October 2011
Location:  Boulders Beach Lodge parking area, Simon’s Town

The Simon’s Town penguin festival promises a weekend of fun for kids and adults alike in celebration of a group of very special ‘Capetonians’ who, sporting their black and white tuxedo’s, charm the crowds with their endearing mannerism.

To remind us all that 2010 is the International year of Biodiversity – the festival theme is ‘All Creatures Great and Small’.  Come dressed for the occasion and stand a chance to win a prize for your outfit.

The highlight of the weekend is the release of rehabilitated African penguins back into the wild to celebrate African Penguin Awareness Day on the Saturday morning – to officially declare the festival open.  Times and the location of the beach release will be announced in the press closer to the time.  It is truly a day of celebration as penguin lovers across the globe host their own activities to celebrate these wonderful creatures and to raise awareness about their fragile status in the wild.

For the 10th consecutive year Boulders Beach Lodge and Restaurant continues to raise funds for SANCCOB (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) at an annual auction.  SANCCOB is the sole beneficiary of this prestigious event where business people and individuals bid with their hearts in a show of generosity – to raise funds for the conservation of these precious penguins.

Educational Weekend provisional program –
Co-hosted by  SANParks and SANCCOB’s Education Department.
Location:  Boulders Beach Lodge and parking area, Simon’s Town
The weekend is aimed at children primarily and SANParks puts up a great show for the kids.  SANParks and SANCCOB’s Education Department, are joined by their partners in conservation, to provide innovative educational entertainment.

The 2010 line-up includes -
·    African Penguin Awareness Day – 2 October 10am  :  SANCCOB releases rehabilitated African penguins back into the wild
·    Meet SANCCOB’s African penguin ambassador
·    Snake show
·    Raptor show
·    Jumping castle
·    Games i.e. pop a balloon
·    Food stalls
·    And more…!!

SANCCOB saves seabirds 365 days a year.  Since they started in 1968 SANCCOB has admitted more than 86 000 seabirds.   To find out more about the valuable rehabilitation and emergency services which they provide, visit www.sanccob.co.za.  SANCCOB runs educational programmes, with a special outreach to children in the poorer communities in and around Cape Town, offers centre-based tours for groups, is actively involved in research, contributes towards advocacy on seabirds and has a Training Institute.

Should you wish to donate towards the auction, or to support SANCCOB financially, please contact the SANCCOB Fundraiser, Margaret Roestorf at             021 557 6155

This is one event not to be missed! Enjoy the SA Navy Band Dry Dock Concert in the evening and then spend the rest of the weekend watching the naval display. There will be so much in the way of activities that we recommend booking your bed in Simon’s Town ASAP!

There will be various events in the main arena that both young and old will find entertaining. Some of the standard attractions to look forward to during the festival include:

South African Navy ships and submarines will be open for public viewing, Tug rides, flea market, children’s activities, Gun Run Display, Navy Band performance, SA Navy Precision Drill, ship boarding display by the Maritime Reaction Squadron, Lynx & Oryx Helicopters display, live cannon firings, South African Navy diving display, Dry Dock concert, Right of Entry Parade through Simon’s Town, Navy Choir performance, Night Gunnery Shoot and more…

Entrance to the festival is free and gates will open daily at 10am until 6pm.

Bring your families and have fun with all the Navy personnel!

Information kindly supplied by The Grosvenor Guest House - The Grosvenor Guest House offers a relaxed and beautiful environment to the discerning traveller. A choice of executive, luxury guest house or self catering accommodation in a relaxed and secure environment with the most spectacular views of the ocean and the South African Naval Base.

When: DATES TO BE CONFIRMED (Sunday, 01 April 2012 to Tuesday, 03 April 2012)
Where: Simons Town

Simons Town Penguin Festival

Penguins are such delightful creatures and the Simons Town Penguin Festival is a celebration of this proud little animal.

On Saturday come down to the beach for the annual African penguin Awareness Day beach release, come and watch these little guys waddle back to their natural habitat.

Other activites on the day include live shows, craft stalls and fun rides, all with the aim to raise money for SANCCOB. If the weather is good why not jump into the water and swim around with the pengiuns? Or take part in the various games or anything that floats boat competition.

There is a full weekend of events planned, so make sure you don’t miss out.

When: DATES TO BE CONFIRMED (Sunday, 02 October 2011 to Monday, 03 October 2011)
Where: Simons Town
Times: 10h00 to 17h00
More Info: Telephone SANCCOB on +27 (0)21 557-6155

Please Note: Dates for this event to be confirmed.

“Simonites” who live in this unique and attractive town will affirm that the best times of the year in Simon’s Town are the early and late winter months. These are the months when the rest of the Cape Peninsula is cold, wet and windy!

The secret lies in the fact that Simon’s Town is one of only three or four sea-side towns in South Africa that are north-facing, and Simon’s Bay is also sheltered from the strong north-west winter winds by the Cape Peninsula mountain chain on its northern and western aspects.

The climatic advantages of this sheltered bay, compared to the storm ravaged Table Bay, were appreciated by Simon van der Stel when in 1687 he personally surveyed and named Simon’s Bay. His recommendation to the Dutch East India Company (VOC), that Simon’s Bay become the winter harbour for their ships, was only implemented in 1744 after many sailing ships had been storm-wrecked in Table Bay. The Royal Navy also appreciated the safe shelter of Simon’s Bay and moved the headquarters of the Cape Fleet there in 1814. Simon’s Town has remained the main South African Naval Base ever since.

The historic village faces the sheltered bay with its placid waters which change colour with the tides and temperatures of the sea, or reflect the pale pink and silver shades of sunset. In winter the sun rises in splendid morning colours over the Hottentots-Holland Mountains across False Bay, and bathes Simon’s Town in warm winter sunshine for a far longer day than in most other places in the Cape Peninsula.

Of course it does rain occasionally in winter, but the long, cold and dreary days, associated with the Cape in winter are few. Even the strong, sometimes gale-force, north-west winds do not cause the havoc and damage seen along the Atlantic coast and in Table Bay.

The residents of Simon’s Town therefore seldom find it necessary to light a home fire or indoor heater in winter. In the mornings they sit on their sun-filled balconies overlooking the calm waters of Simon’s Bay, the busy harbour and the yacht basin. When the rain does come, it is usually very welcome!

The town centre is quiet in winter and parking is not a problem! Some residents may appreciate the absence of tourists, but most are happy to share this secret season and to welcome our visitors all year round.

What is there to do in Simon’s Town in the so-called off-season? For a start, Simon’s Town offers a large selection of restaurants and places to stay. There are two excellent hotelsin Simon’s Town and a third in Glencairn, while numerousB&B or self-catering establishments offer a wide choice of alternative accommodation. Most are listed on this website. The town also offers a wide selection of excellent restaurantsfrom five-star establishments to casual dining at smaller eateries, or “fish and chips” on the town jetty.

Winter is a time for walking, and from Simon’s Town you can walk south along the sea shore towards Cape Point, or north towards Fish Hoek and Muizenberg. The more energetic can walk up the Red Hill road, or via mountain steps, to the signal station andJust Nuisance’s grave on the plateau above the town. Long Beach provides a wonderful walk at sunset or the early morning, and a walk along Willis Way will take you past the Penguins, Boulders Beach and the Golf Course, with changing views across False Bay.

The Historic Mile, extending from the railway station to the Old Burying Ground, is a gentle one and a half kilometre walk. It passes many historic buildings such as Admiralty House and the newly-restored Palace Barracks, the ornate dockyard gates, the British Hotel and Jubilee Square, the centre of the town with a wonderful view over the yacht basin, and the life-size statue of that famous dog, Just Nuisance!

Along the way you will find inviting places to enjoy a cup of coffee, or a pancake, and perhaps take time to browse in several antique and curio shops. From Jubilee Square the road ascends slightly to pass the Dutch Reformed Church, where the music of the original South African Anthem, “Die Stem” was composed. The Historic Mile ends at the Old Burying Ground on the right with a fine view of the Harbour and the Martello Tower on the left. The Old Burying Ground which dates from 1813 has many graves of historic interest, including those of Boer Prisoners of War, some of those who perished in the Birkenhead tragedy, and of many young seamen lost at sea. A little further on Seaforth road leads down to the penguin colony.

The South African Navy is an integral part of Simon’s Town and although the harbour and dockyard are closed to visitors, the comings and goings of our own ships and visiting vessels are visible from almost anywhere in the town, and dockyard tours are arranged from time to time. The colourful yacht basin, home of the False Bay Yacht Club, lies alongside the harbour and the old Cable Restorer, docked on the outer harbour wall with its restaurant, “The Roaring Forties”, is available for special functions.

Should inclement weather occur, this is an ideal time to visit one of our several museums. The Simon’s Town Museum in Court Road is one of the best small museums in the country and the Naval Museum alongside it is of special interest. There are also the Toy Museum and the Heritage Museum nearer the centre of the town. The Bronze Age Foundry has a superb gallery, where bronze castings of international standard are on exhibition and for sale, and there is also a permanent Art Gallery in the Quayside Centre. The Simon’s Town Public Library, situated on the main road opposite the Police station, has attractive reading rooms and a large collection of books and magazines.

For the more adventurous, what better than a trip on the Bay? The Spirit of Just Nuisance operating from the town jetty offers cruises with an excellent commentary around the inner bay and harbour.Boat trips to Seal Island, Cape Point & whale watching (June-November) leave from the same jetty. A guided kayaking excursion to visit the penguins by sea is also highly recommended. Visitors are always welcome at the Simon’s Town Country Club which offers bowls and squash and has a formidable golf links. There are several safe beaches where some intrepid Simonites swim all year round, despite the cold water!

Close to the town several interesting and scenic routes explore the “Deep South”. Red Hill road provides spectacular views over False Bay, and of Simon’s Town and the harbour lying in the shelter of the Simon’s Berg. At the top of Red Hill a road turns off to the signal station and the grave of Just Nuisance, and then winds down towards the Atlantic Ocean. An impressive array of very large stone sculptures for sale stands alongside the first T-junction and is well worth a visit.

From here one road leads straight on to the entrance of theCape Point Nature Reserve and Cape Point, while the right hand fork brings you to the picturesque village of Scarborough and then along the seaboard, with the huge Atlantic rollers breaking below, to Kommetjie. Here it is worth visiting the impressively tall Slangkop Lighthouse, open to visitors, and also the famous Kommetjie surfers’ beach. The road continues in a north-westerly direction towards Fish Hoek, but you can turn right at the crossroads, and return to Simon’s Town via Glencairn.

Cape Point and the Nature Reserve can also be reached by simply continuing along the Simon’s Town main road passing the golf course and Miller’s Point, after which the road ascends to the Park entrance. Baboons are almost always encountered along this road. Enjoy their antics, but please do not feed or tease them!

The friendly people of Simon’s Town will be happy to share their secret season with you, whether it is as a day visitor or a longer stay. We know that you will be back, or perhaps even wish to join the many who have been fortunate enough to make Simon’s Town their home.

Selection of photographs taken from the recently published book
Simon’s Town – Views from the Bay by Boet Dommisse and Dave Hurwitz

The historical centre of Simon’s Town

Boulders Beach is located a few kilometres to the south of Simon’s Town, in the direction of Miller’s Point. Here small coves with white sandy beaches and calm shallow water are interspersed between boulders of Cape granite. There has been a colony of African penguins at Boulders Beach since 1985. There is no record of the birds having lived here prior to that date, so their decision to settle in an area already well-utilized by humans is remarkable. There are only three penguin populations on the mainland in southern Africa; the others are close to Hermanus at Stoney Point and Betty’s Bay.