Simon’s Town

Simon’s Town’s main thoroughfare

This pretty coastal town is South Africa’s main naval base and consists of lovely Victorian buildings, quaint streets and walkways and a fascinating history. Simon’s Town is a little further along the False Bay coast from Muizenberg towards Cape Point, and is some 40km from Cape Town, which means it’s a great destination for day trips from the Mother City – either by car or by train.

Named after the governor of the Dutch settlement, Simon Van Der Stel, who arrived in the Cape in 1679, Simon’s Town is South Africa’s third-oldest settlement. The governor chose it as a safe alternative to the stormy Cape coast during the turbulent winter months.

Simon’s Town is steeped in history, and a visit to Simon’s Town Museum, +27 (0)21 786 3046, to get your bearings is a must. The Old Residency was built for the governor of the Dutch East India Company and in its heyday included a brothel and slave quarters. One of the most popular exhibits at the Simon’s Town Museum is a statue of Able Seaman Just Nuisance, a beer-drinking great dane which was adopted by the Royal Navy in World War II.

Next door, you’ll find the South African Naval Museum, +27 (0)21 787 4686, which celebrates the naval history of Simon’s Town with displays of the inside of a submarine and a ship’s bridge that moves with a simulated rocking motion.

Enjoy the well-preserved Victorian buildings as you wander down the town’s Historical Mile along St George’s Street.

Just off St George’s Street, you’ll find Jubilee Square, where friendly cafés and quirky shops abound. Photograph the famous statue of Just Nuisance and visit the nearby Quayside Mall which overlooks the harbour, from where boats depart regularly on trips to Seal Island and False Bay.

Within walking distance of Jubilee Square you’ll find Seaforth, one of the best swimming beaches in Simon’s Town. There’s also a beach-side restaurant which is a perfect spot for enjoying sundowners. Long Beach is another option; it’s not great for swimming but is a good place to take a long walk.

Boulders is Simon’s Town’s most famous beach, with its colony of about 3000 African penguins. This exquisite beach contains huge, rounded rocks (hence the name “Boulders”), and there are numerous coves and rock pools that beg to be explored.

Find out about the penguin colony at the visitors’ centre (at the entrance gate to Boulders Beach), but please note there is an entry fee to spend time with these endearing yet endangered sea birds.

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