sand | The Five Foot Traveler

Boulders Beach is one of the most unique, pristine beaches I have ever encountered. What makes it any different from say, De Hoop Nature Reserve? Well, there are PENGUINS! And it’s not like they’re hiding – they’re basking in the sun only a few feet away from you, they’re swimming alongside you in the water, and they’re waddling over to check you out. We were there on a weekday, leaving the beach virtually secluded; it felt like our own private getaway for the morning.

Travelers Tip: Hit the beach Monday-Friday because the beach gets crowded with locals on the weekends.

Most tourists head right for the Boulders Beach Observatory and miss the actual beach entirely. DO NOT SKIP IT! If anything, skip the Observatory, or at least leave it for last as it’s a total tourist trap. While you get to see hundreds of penguins on the beach, you also get to see hundreds of tourists. If you only have time for one aspect of Boulders, choose the beach.

After what felt like ages driving from Outdshoorn to De Hoop Nature Reserve, we finally made it without breaking down. We passed four broken down cars along the way…

Travelers Tip: As soon as you arrive at the De Hoop reception area, the receptionist will try to sell you on a “stunning” 3.5 km hike. It was neither a hike nor stunning, so do yourself a favor and skip it.

De Hoop is known for its white sand dunes. It’s 16 km farther on tricky dirt roads, but completely worth it. I knew there was a reason I wanted to go to De Hoop. We exited our car, walked a few feet, and were greeted with beautiful, sweeping white sand dunes juxtaposed against a turquoise and dark blue ocean – literally, the ocean’s blue was split like water and oil. De Hoop is hands down the nicest beach I have ever encountered, and the sand was so unbelievably fine that you couldn’t feel it on your body.

Travelers Tip: Bring a picnic and eat it in the shaded areas while absorbing the spectacular views.

If you’re continuing along the Garden Route, you should take a photo at the obligatory pit-stop – Cape L’Agulhas, the southern-most tip of Africa where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet.