St Croix Island
A granite island in Algoa Bay that was once one of the world's largest African penguin breeding sites. Best viewed from a boat circling the island.
St Croix Island lies in the middle of Algoa Bay, within the marine section of Addo Elephant National Park. It was named in 1488, when the Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias erected a cross here. The island once hosted tens of thousands of pairs of African penguins. Numbers have since declined, but it remains an important breeding site, and landing is prohibited. Licensed boats leave from the Gqeberha harbour and take about 2 to 3 hours to circle the island and watch the penguins. Along the way you often see bottlenose dolphins and seals, and between June and November humpback and southern right whales may also appear. Trips are cancelled in rough seas, and anyone prone to seasickness should take medication beforehand.
Opening hours
Boats usually depart in the morning, weather and sea conditions permitting
Nearby sights
- Red Location Museum
- Hobie Beach & Boardwalk
- Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
- Kings Beach
- Bayworld
- Route 67
- Donkin Reserve
- No. 7 Castle Hill Museum