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Dassen Island

Three African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) on Dassen Island  © Salimfadhley, License

Dassen Island

Dassen Island is a proclaimed nature reserve and is approximately 4km long and 2km wide, making it South Africa's second largest coastal island.

The island is flat with a granite base and huge round boulders along the coast. It is home to some 68000 African penguins, as well as the Angulate tortoise, Gronovi's dwarf burrowing skink, marbled leaf-toed gecko, feral cats, European rock rabbits and rock hyrax (dassies). Dassen Island provides a safe haven for many penguins, which in 2010 were moved from "Vulnerable" to "Endangered" status. The island is a birder's paradise, with a massive range different species of birds to find.

Although the island is not open to the public, tours around the island can be arranged (so remember to pack your binoculars and zoom lens).

Where: Dassen Island lies in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 55km north west of Cape Town and 9km off Yzerfontein.


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