Going along our country’s beautiful coastlines, you may be fortunate enough to spot one of the historical lighthouses that have ensured ships safe passage to our shores for many years. Here are five of South Africa’s most iconic lighthouses.
Green Point Lighthouse — Mouille Point, Cape Town
This lighthouse was first lit in 1824, making it the oldest operational lighthouse in South Africa. The large, square red and white-striped building burns a light that can be seen by sailors for 25 nautical miles (46.3km). The lighthouse’s foghorn, installed in 1926, can be heard all over Green Point when sounded. It is said this structure is haunted by a past lighthouse keeper, Mr W.S West.
Roman Rock Lighthouse — False Bay, Cape Town
This False Bay lighthouse near Simon’s Town is South Africa’s only one built on a single rock in the middle of the ocean. The building of the structure began in 1857 and took four years to complete. Conditions were only good enough to work on the site for one week every month, as the frequent gale force winds and high sea levels made for impossible working conditions.
The lighthouse was first lit in 1861 and underwent renovations in 1922. Originally, keepers of the lighthouse lived there with their assistants, but in 1919 the building became fully automated.
uMhlanga Lighthouse — uMhlanga, Durban
Built on the site of the Bluff lighthouse, which had deteriorated to the point of no return, this Durban landmark took four days and 19 hours to build. It stands at 21m tall and its light can be seen for 24 nautical miles (44.45km) around.
The lighthouse is fully automated and in its entire history, it has never had a keeper. The original controls for it were once in the Oyster Box Hotel’s office but were removed from it in 2007.
Cape Recife Lighthouse — Algoa Bay, Port Elizabeth
This structure is situated 11km from PE inside the Cape Recife Nature Reserve. It was completed in 1851 to deter ships from the treacherous Thunderbolt Reef. Its first keeper was a Capetonian named Henry Switzer, who managed the lighthouse along with his assistant, Henry Jenkins. Painted with large black and white stripes, the octagonal tower stands 24m tall and emits a red light.
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Seal Point Lighthouse — Cape St Francis, Eastern Cape
This historic structure is South Africa’s tallest masonry lighthouse, standing at an impressive 27.75m on the second southernmost tip of Africa in Cape St Francis Bay. It has been in operation since 1878 and was declared a national monument in 1984. The circular lighthouse is equipped with a lantern house and second-order revolving lantern that has eight catadioptric lens panels.
Image: Teagan Cunniffe
