When you think of visiting Cape Town, a lighthouse isn’t usually at the top of the list, unless you really love lighthouses.
But, did you know, several lighthouses in and around Cape Town still stand. They are prominent and important features of the coastal landscape.
Meet three towers that have saved many a ship from being lost at sea!
Cape Town’s lighthouses
The lighthouses in and around Cape Town are standing testaments to South Africa’s maritime history. And a few of these lighthouses are quite the high achievers when it comes to their place within this history. They are definitely worth a visit, even if you’ve never really been too phased about them.
Greenpoint Lighthouse a.k.a ‘Moaning Minnie’
Green Point Lighthouse is on Beach Road in Mouille Point. It’s praised as the oldest working lighthouse, and the “first solid lighthouse structure”, in South Africa. Its inaugural lighting was on 12 April 1824. The German architect Hermann Schutte designed it. It’s 16 meters tall and its light range is reportedly 25 nautical miles. While it’s open to the public, it’s advised to contact them for more information about visiting hours.
A fun fact is that it was nicknamed “Moaning Minnie” by neighbourhood residents because of the particular sound the foghorn made. Also, don’t be confused with the actual Mouille Point Lighthouse in Granger Bay, which was built in 1842 and decommissioned in 1906. Most of it has been demolished except for its base.
Milnerton Lighthouse
Milnerton Lighthouse is on Woodbridge Island in Milnerton, a suburb in Cape Town. It dates back slightly later than the older lighthouses. It was commissioned on 10 March 1960. It’s a distinct, white, cylindrical shape, standing 21 meters tall, and looks out over the magnificent oceanic scenery and Table Mountain. Its light reportedly stretches 25 nautical miles. While it’s closed to the public, it’s a must-visit area and has become a hotspot for taking stunning scenic photographs!
Slangkop Lighthouse
Standing 33 metres tall is Slangkop Lighthouse in Kommetjie, a town just over 40 kilometres from Cape Town. Standing as the tallest cast-iron lighthouse, it is also one of the oldest lighthouses in South Africa. It was reportedly due for completion in 1914, but due to World War I, it was first lit up in 1919. Its light stretches 33 nautical miles.
The lighthouse is open to the public and offers guided tours, including a climb up the spiral staircase, which leads to the top of the lighthouse, providing magnificent views. As always, it’s advised to contact them to learn more about visiting hours.
While this is not an exhaustive list, these are three lighthouses you can include in your Cape Town itinerary. As an extra, be sure also to check out Cape Point’s lighthouses; the older one dates as far back as 1859.
