Stony Point 4
Stony Point Nature Reserve

Map of Reserve area

Located in Betty's Bay, Stony Point is home to a unique colony of African penguins.

Where to Stay

What to Do

The main purpose of visiting Stony Point is to witness the thriving African penguin colony located there. The boardwalk through the colony affords the public the opportunity to see the penguins close up, without disturbing their daily activities.

There are also four species of cormorant (Bank, Cape, Crowned and White-breasted) that breed and nest on the rocks near the colony, which can be viewed.


Also present in the colony are three species of cormorant; the Crowned cormorant, Cape cormorant and Bank cormorant, all of which breed on the outer rocks. There are also Hartlaub’s Gulls and Kelp Gulls which forage in the colony, while the Rock Hyrax, more commonly known as the Dassie, can be seen on the surrounding rocks.

The colony lies on the site of the old Waaygat Whaling Station, which was used to harvest and process whale meat in the early to mid 1900s. Remnants of the infrastructure for this long-defunct industry can still be found at the site.

There is also a community restaurant adjacent to Stony Point, which sells refreshments and food during the day.

View our Penguine booklet here.

How to Get There

From Cape Town, take the N2 north. Just before Sir Lowry's Pass, turn right on to Sir Lowry's Pass Road. At the T-junction in Gordon's Bay, turn left on to the R44 (Clarence Drive), following the road along the coast, past Rooi Els and Pringle Bay. Turn right at the first sign for Betty's Bay, on to Porter Road. Follow Porter Road for 2.5km, then turn right on to Crassula Avenue. Turn right on to Disa Road at the four way stop 600m down Crassula Avenue, and then follow the signs to Stony Point, which will be on your left. The trip from Cape Town should take between 70-90 minutes, depending on the traffic in Somerset West.

Stony Point Nature Reserve contact information

Operating hours: 08h00 - 16h30 (last permits issued at 16h00, gates close at 16h30 sharp)
Reserve office phone number: 087 087 3001
Emergency number: 082 453 0835 (Answering machine will refer to officer on duty)
Cellphone reception: Yes

GPS: 34 37 14.21 S, 18 89 32.65 E

BETTY’S BAY | The Stony Point land-based penguin colony, operated by CapeNature, is the third-largest breeding colony of African Penguins in the world and has been showing a measurable increase in breeding pairs. A thoughtfully constructed boardwalk allows visitors to meander through the reserve and closely observe the penguins in their natural habitat.

Conservation Fees

Adults

R30 (Wild Card accepted)

Children

R20 (Wild Card accepted)

Visitors Gallery
Events Calendar
2 Feb 2024
World Wetlands Day 2024
23 Sep 2023
7 Sep 2023
1 Sep 2023

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