I went kayaking along the sea front in Cape Town last week with Kaskazi Kayaks (who I very much recommend, and their Instagram is awesome). The underwater world in the western Cape is one full of all manner of ocean creatures and so I've been anxious to get out on the water. 

Well a kayak safari is a great way to see some of these marvellous animals. I saw a sun fish, penguins, seals, and dolphins. The seals and dolphins were having great fun playing in the waves, and you can get a great view from the kayak as you are so close to the water level. 

You also get an awesome view of Table Mountain and the city behind you as you move out to sea. 

It cost R400 (roughly £22) and we were on the water for at least a couple hours. I really recommend this as something to do one morning. 

I did take my GoPro, but a combination of the wide-angle not producing much more than the occasional black dot on a sea of blue, along with my over-excitement every time I saw anything, meant my photos from the experience aren't the best. So you'll have to go for yourself!

Photos by Kaskazi Kayaks. 

I visited the famous Boulders Beach Penguin colony a few days ago after arriving in Cape Town. I have move out here for the next 14 or so months to study a masters degree in Conservation Biology at the University of Cape Town. 

Boulders Beach was one of the first things I wanted to do here in Cape Town because 1) I've never seen wild penguins before and 2) you'd have to be crazy to not want to see penguins on a beach. 

It's a really beautiful spot with clear and beautiful water, white sand, and a whole lot of penguins. The species in the African penguin. They're very comical birds, waddling up the sand and panting to cool themselves down sat on their eggs. But when they get in the water, they couldn't be more graceful. From the viewing platform you can see them swimming in the shallow water, and then bumble in the waves and start walking up the beach. 

You can walk along the boardwalk, and then go down onto a small section of the beach and spend the whole day there if you want - go swimming, sun bathe, or just watch the penguins. There are a lot more of them near the boardwalk viewing platform because people can't get on the beach there, and so they can nest there peacefully. 

Prices: 

R152 (roughly £8.55 or US$10.99) for a standard ticker

R39 for a South African resident (have to prove this with SA ID card/drivers license)

I think it's worth the R152. You can walk a small section of the board walk for free and you will most likely see penguins there to the side among the trees, but to see them in or around the water you need to pay. 

Although you will see lots of penguins there, they are an endangered facing great declines due to human encroachment on their habitat, over-fishing of their food, and the success of their main predator, the cape fur seal.