Sharon and Andy's World Tour 2006

Thursday, we decided to investigate what Simon's Town is best known for - the penguins of Boulders Beach. Setting off early, we took a gentle stroll through the town (already hot at 08:30!) and up to the penguin reserve.

It's quite weird wandering along boardwalks amongst sand dunes or scrubby woodland to suddenly be confronted by one, two and then hundreds of penguins!

They are so cute to look at, but in the reserve you can't really get up close (and, no, I'm not some kind of penguin-pervert). No, for the real penguin experience you have to walk a bit further on to Boulders Beach itself. This is just like any other beach except that half of the sunbathers are penguins...

If you're a penguin fanatic, forget the sub-zero icy wastelands, just come to South Africa and you can share your choc-ice with them (actually, that's forbidden).

Ooh, by the way, the local pub in Simon's Town is called the 'Two and Sixpence' and they have a two-for-one happy hour between five and six. Trust us. We know.