Want to adopt a penguin? Aw, cute. How can you say no?! Especially with a quirky name such as jackass penguin (more commonly known as the African penguin).
Located on the West Coast Way Cape Way Route
West Coast Way is Your Route To Nature
West Coast Way is your ultimate gateway to experiencing the natural beauty and cultural richness of the Cape West Coast of South Africa. As a premium tourism brand, we offer six uniquely themed trip plans that promise an unforgettable journey: Cape, Culture, Foodie, Tractor, Berg, and Wild.
Discover over 101 incredible things to see and do with West Coast Way:
Savour the delights of wine, craft beer, olives, and Rooibos tea tastings. Indulge in authentic Weskus cuisine and the traditional braaivleis (barbecue). Feel the thrill of swinging into Citrusdal on a zipline or challenge yourself with Cederberg bouldering. Rejuvenate in natural warm pools and embark on serene cruises across lagoons and rivers. Explore the diverse landscapes of nature reserves and a National Park, or embark on exciting game drives. Hone your skills in archery and angling, or amp up the excitement with sandboarding and quad-biking. Enjoy horse riding, immerse yourself in the unique San culture, and experience the vibrant Riel dancing. For water sports enthusiasts, kite- and windsurfing, surfing, and kayaking trips await. Go beach hopping, learn about bees and whales, and delight in birdwatching in a twitcher’s paradise – all within South Africa’s renowned wildflower reserve.
For more information on the best places to visit on the West Coast, road tripping routes, hikes, tours, and trails, explore westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777. Follow us on on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn @WestCoastWaySA.SANCCOB is the first stop on the West Coast Way Cape Way Route. Table View before you get to Blaauwberg Nature Reserve. SANCCOB is a registered non-profit organization whose primary objective is to reverse the decline of seabird populations through the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of ill, injured, abandoned and oiled seabirds, especially endangered species like the African penguin.
Visit SANCOOB Today!
Visiting SANCCOB (the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds) is a great idea for a bunch of reasons — whether you’re passionate about wildlife, conservation, or just want a meaningful experience. Here’s why:
1. Rescue and Rehabilitation — SANCCOB rescues and rehabilitates injured, sick, and oiled seabirds, especially Critically Endangered African Penguins. By visiting, you support their vital work helping birds recover and return to the wild.
2. Conservation Education — They offer fascinating tours that teach you about marine ecosystems, seabird behaviour, and the threats these birds face — like oil spills, lack of food availability, and climate change. It’s eye-opening, especially for kids and families.
3. View the Birds — You can observe penguins and other seabirds (without disturbing them). Some birds are permanent residents due to injuries, and you’ll get to learn their individual stories.
4. Support a Cause — Your entrance fee or donation helps fund their rescue operations, veterinary care, and research — making you part of the conservation effort.
Adopt a penguin at SANCCOB:
Your adopted penguin makes donkey-like braying sounds when trying to communicate. It can dive underwater for up to 2 and a half minutes. How cool is that?!
Not only will you have an interesting topic of conversation at your next dinner party – I have my own penguin, but no, ahem, you can’t see it, but you will be helping to save an entire species as there are only 25 000 African penguin pairs left in the wild which makes the African penguin an endangered species.
Once you have adopted your penguin chick (the cost involved is R700 only) from SANCCOB, the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, you can choose a name for it. SANCCOB, a non-profit organization, will give you an adoption certificate with a photo of the new member of your household (albeit in absentia) and a brief history relating to your very own happy-footed chick.
Penguin chicks eat up to eight sardines a day but luckily for you, SANCCOB will take care of that as well as of the little one’s health.
Your penguin will grow until it’s about 60 cm tall and weigh up to 3.6 kilograms. It will have a short tail, flipper-like wings and webbed feet that look like it’s made for dancing. It will be covered in dense waterproof feathers. On the belly the feathers are white and on the back, it is black to help it with camouflage.
SUPPORT SANCCOB: +27 21 557 6155
About SANCCOB:
SANCCOB has been active since 1968. Since then they have saved 95 000 seabirds, treated 24 species, reared 2407 penguin chicks (yours could be number 2408!) and have seen a 19% increase in the African penguin population.
SANCCOB has two centres in South Africa, one in Table View near Cape Town in the Western Cape and one at the Seal Point Lighthouse in Cape St. Francis, Eastern Cape.
SANCCOB has a 24-hour rescue service for sick and injured birds and abandoned chicks. In the event of an oil spill, their workload increases tremendously. Apart from rescues, they are also responsible for rehabilitation and rearing of birds from penguins to cormorants, albatrosses, gannets, petrels, oystercatchers and pelicans. Apart from the African penguin, the Bank Cormorant and the Cape cormorant are also endangered.
In addition to the above, SANCCOB also provides environmental education to children and adults; they provide internships to adults, and they are involved in ongoing research.
Find SANCCOB on the West Coast Way Cape Way Route
Open Monday – Friday
Distance from Cape Town: 23km
Where: 22 Pentz Drive, Table View, Cape Town 7441
Coordinates: 33.8338° S, 18.4913° E
Contact: (c) +27 (0)21 557 6155 | [email protected] | sanccob.co.za
West Coast Way is Your Route To Nature
West Coast Way is your ultimate gateway to experiencing the natural beauty and cultural richness of the Cape West Coast of South Africa. As a premium tourism brand, we offer six uniquely themed trip plans that promise an unforgettable journey: Cape, Culture, Foodie, Tractor, Berg, and Wild.
Discover over 101 incredible things to see and do with West Coast Way:
Savour the delights of wine, craft beer, olives, and Rooibos tea tastings. Indulge in authentic Weskus cuisine and the traditional braaivleis (barbecue). Feel the thrill of swinging into Citrusdal on a zipline or challenge yourself with Cederberg bouldering. Rejuvenate in natural warm pools and embark on serene cruises across lagoons and rivers. Explore the diverse landscapes of nature reserves and a National Park, or embark on exciting game drives. Hone your skills in archery and angling, or amp up the excitement with sandboarding and quad-biking. Enjoy horse riding, immerse yourself in the unique San culture, and experience the vibrant Riel dancing. For water sports enthusiasts, kite- and windsurfing, surfing, and kayaking trips await. Go beach hopping, learn about bees and whales, and delight in birdwatching in a twitcher’s paradise – all within South Africa’s renowned wildflower reserve.
For more information on the best places to visit on the West Coast, road tripping routes, hikes, tours, and trails, explore westcoastway.co.za or call West Coast Way on 0861 321 777. Follow us on on Instagram, Facebook, X and LinkedIn @WestCoastWaySA.