Some members of the seniors had not visited Boulders Beach or the penguins in 15 years. Others had not been there since school. One lady was so determined not to miss out that, after missing the bus, she had her husband race after it so she could still make the day!
Cape Town, South Africa (09 September 2026) – To welcome spring and kick off Heritage Month, Guardians of the Deep and the Table Mountain National Park Marine Unit arranged a visit to Boulders Penguin Colony for the Forever Young Seniors Club through the SANPark’s SET Department.
Despite being locals who live in Cape Town and surrounds, many of the seniors had not been there in a very long while. Some had not visited the beach or penguins in 15 years. Others had not been back since their school days and had never had the chance to bring their own children along.
The group spent the morning at the Boulders Visitor Centre, learning about the African penguin, the pressures the species is facing, and the many ways our own choices can affect the coastal and marine life around us.
The seniors also got to see how the area itself has changed over the years, from how the space has improved to the vital conservation work being done at the colony.
Guardians of the Deep is a Cape Town environmental conservation organisation that works with local communities through environmental education, nature-based outings and conservation programmes.
The team educates local communities about the natural world around them and the role we can all play in protecting it. Learning is a life-long quest that starts in childhood and continues well into our senior years – the organisation makes a point to reach all generations, old and young.
“At Guardians we think it’s really important that education is not only available to children at school, that it continues throughout our lifetimes and we keep learning. So, it’s important that we give the opportunities to the seniors clubs and community groups,” says Sally Silverwright, Founder of Guardians of the Deep.
After seeing the penguins, the seniors shuffled down to Seaforth Beach where the rest of the day dipping toes into the water, relaxing, and singing ‘Forever Young’ under the trees.
Isn’t that just so special? You’ll see all of that wholesomeness in the video below.
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Cape Town is surrounded by beautiful natural spaces that people travel the world to see, but enjoying them is not always equally easy or affordable for the people who live here. How wonderful would it be if more locals had regular opportunities to experience these places for themselves?
It is much easier to understand why these places and species matter when you have had the chance to experience them.
Seeing an African penguin up close, learning what threatens it and understanding how everyday choices filter down into the ocean can connect a few dots that are much harder to join from a distance.
That is a big part of what Guardians of the Deep works so hard to do. The team brings people into nature, helps them understand it and, from there, gives them more reason to care about what happens to it.
Guardians of the Deep thanked SANParks for helping make the special day possible.
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