A highlight of every trip to South Africa is spending time with African penguins, watching them rocket through the waves, shuffle across the sand, and meeting the individuals who now live in our partners’ sanctuaries.
Most penguins who arrive at a sanctuary are rescued, rehabilitated, and released back into the wild. But a few are simply too vulnerable to survive on their own. For them, a sanctuary becomes a safe home and a true second chance. Some even find new mates and raise chicks who, once strong enough, are released to the ocean. Others step into the role of ambassadors, helping humans fall in love with their species.
We’d love for you to meet some of these remarkable resident birds. They’re swift and elegant in the water, a little wobbly on land, and absolutely unforgettable.
Each penguin has a unique story. Happy Feet found love twice. Disci has many physical limitations, but has fathered many African penguin chicks that were released into the wild. Sandy, rescued in 2017, doesn’t let blindness stop her from living a full life. Click an image to discover who’s a towel thief, a nest-building champ, a shark bite survivor, or has become a surprise parent.
