Lighthouses of Eastern South Africa

The Republic of South Africa occupies the southern end of the African continent, including the famous capes of Good Hope and Agulhas. Dutch and British colonists struggled to control the country for many years, but by the mid 1800s the entire coastline was under British control. As a result, South Africa's lighthouse heritage is chiefly British.

This page describes lighthouses of the eastern half of the country, including the provinces of Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal. Lighthouses of Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces are on the Western South Africa page.

Lighthouses in South Africa are operated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (NPA). Some are still staffed. Many of the more accessible light stations are being developed for tourism by a Transnet subsidiary called Salato (South African Lighthouse Adventure Tour Operations). Thanks to Salato, about a dozen lighthouses are now open to the public, and more may be opened in future years.

ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume D of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 112.

General Sources
Lighthouses of South Africa
An outstanding site, posted by Simon Baillie-Cooper, with extensive data, historical information, and photos. The site is frame-based, so links to individual lighthouses are not provided.
Lighthouses of South Africa
A blog by Joe Viljoen; this very valuable site has photos and recent information on nearly all South African lights.
Lighthouses of South Africa
Excellent photos posted on Trekearth.com by Joe Viljoen.
Online List of Lights - South Africa
Photos posted by Alexander Trabas.
Leuchttürme in Südafrika
Photos posted by Bernd Claußen.
Afrikanische Leuchttürme auf historischen Postkarten
Postcards from the collection of Klaus Huelse.

Port Elizabeth Light
The Hill Lighthouse, Port Elizabeth, August 2002
Creative Commons photo by Nick Boalch

Eastern Cape Province Lighthouses

Western Cacadu District Lighthouse
*** Cape St. Francis (Seal Point)
1878 (Joseph Flack and W.B. Hays). Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); white flash every 5 s. 28 m (92 ft) brick tower with lantern and gallery, rising from a 1-story keeper's house; original 2° Fresnel lens in use. Entire lighthouse painted white. Fog horn (Morse code "C," short-long-short-long, every 30 s). Hannes Steyn has a good photo, Viljoen has a photo, and Google has a good satellite view. South Africa's tallest masonry lighthouse still has one resident keeper. Salato is developing the site; a gift shop and tea room are open, and overnight accommodations are planned. A marine and land wildlife rescue center operated by Ajubatus Marine and Wildlife Rescue is also located at the light station. Located at the end of the R330 highway about 30 km (20 mi) south of Humansdorp. Site manager: Ajubatus Marine and Wildlife Rescue. ARLHS SAF-039; Admiralty D6386; NGA 32148.

Port Elizabeth (Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality) Lighthouses
*** Cape Recife
1851. Active; focal plane 28 m (92 ft); continuous white light, intensified by three long (2.8 s) white flashes, separated by 27 s, every 117 s; a red sector is shown over the very dangerous Thunderbolt Reef to the south southeast. 24 m (79 ft) octagonal brick tower with lantern and gallery, attached to 1-story keeper's house. Fog horn (Morse code "B," long blast followed by three short blasts, every 30 s) in 3-story square cylindrical fog signal tower attached to the other end of the keeper's house. Two additional 2-story keeper's houses. Lighthouse painted with black and white horizontal bands; lantern dome painted red. Raz Barnea's photo is at right, Trabas has an excellent photo, a closeup of the lantern is available, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. South Africa's third oldest lighthouse guards one of the most dangerous points along the coast at the southern entrance to Nelson Mandela Bay (Algoa Bay). The light station is adjacent to the Cape Recife Nature Reserve and is surrounded by a very broad sandy beach. Salato offers tours of the lighthouse and operates a gift shop. Located off Marine Drive about 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Port Elizabeth. Site open, tower open to guided tours. ARLHS SAF-009; Admiralty D6390; NGA 32144.
*** Port Elizabeth (The Hill, Donkin Reserve)
1861 (rebuilt in 1930). Inactive since 1973. 26 m (86 ft) octagonal tower with lantern, gallery, and four buttresses, rising from a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted white, lantern dome red. Near the lighthouse is a sandstone pyramid built as a memorial to the wife of Sir Rufane Donkin, the city's founder; the city is named for her. Nick Boalch's photo is above, a good photo and a 2008 photo are available, the Baillie-Cooper site has excellent photos, Viljoen has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. The original lighthouse had a height of 17 m (55 ft); Klaus Huelse has a postcard showing the tower's early appearance. In or about 1930 the lighthouse was raised to its present height and substantially rebuilt; the buttresses were added at that time, giving the tower an Art Deco design. Huelse also has a postcard view from shortly after this renovation. Built high on a hill behind the harbor, the light was replaced in 1973 by the Deal Light (next entry). The keeper's house now houses the city's tourist information center. Located in the Donkin Reserve near the center of Port Elizabeth. Site open, tower open for climbing. Site manager: Nelson Mandela Metropole. ARLHS SAF-013.
Port Elizabeth Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); two very quick red flashes every 6 s. Approx. 14 m (46 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower with gallery. No closeup photo available. Graham Hobbs has a distant view along the breakwater, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the main breakwater of Port Elizabeth. Site probably closed. Admiralty D6404; NGA 32116.
* Port Elizabeth Range Front
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 36 m (118 ft); quick-flashing red light. 31 m (102 ft) square pyramidal skeletal tower, painted with red and white horizontal bands. No photo available, but Google has a satellite view. Located on the waterfront near the Albany Street interchange on the M4 expressway. Site open, tower closed. Admiralty D6403; NGA 32124.

Cape Recife Light, January 2005
Creative Commons photo by Raz Barnea
* Deal
1973 (?). Active; focal plane 27 m (89 ft); white flash every 10 s. 22 m (72 ft) triangular skeletal tower with lantern and gallery. Lantern painted red. Viljoen has another photo, and Google has a satellite view. Somewhat easier to see than to visit, this lighthouse stands on the shore next to the northbound entrance ramp to the N2 expressway at the Burman Road interchange on the north side of Port Elizabeth. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SAF-043; Admiralty D6400; NGA 32108.

Eastern Cacadu District Lighthouses
Bird Islands
1852. Active; focal plane 29 m (95 ft); two white flashes every 20 s. 26 m (85 ft) square cylindrical stone tower with lantern and gallery, rising from the center of a 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted red with a white horizontal band at the top of the tower and a large white cross on the front face. Trabas has an excellent photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The Bird Islands were declared a marine protected area in 2004, and there is a proposal to include them in a Greater Addo National Park. Located on the largest of four small islands in Algoa Bay 62 km (39 mi) east of Port Elizabeth. Accessible only by boat; the island is closed to visitors now but may be opened to guided ecotours in the future. Site and tower closed. ARLHS SAF-002; Admiralty D6412; NGA 112-32104.
DT>*** Great Fish Point (Great Fish River)
1898. Active; focal plane 85 m (279 ft); white flash every 10 s. 9 m (30 ft) octagonal cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. the vertical faces of the tower are painted alternately black and white; lantern painted white with a red dome. Rotating aerobeacon. Viljoen has a closeup photo, Leonora Parker has a 2007 photo, Sue Hoppe has a closeup, Trabas has a distant view by Capt. Peter Mosselberger, and Google has a satellite view. The lighthouse was built to warn ships away from a series of dangerous reefs offshore. Salato has developed the site with a visitor center and gift shop, two cottages for overnight accommodations, a swimming pool, and a meeting hall popular for weddings. Located on a headland at the mouth of the Great Fish River, off the R72 highway 25 km (15 mi) northeast of Port Alfred. Site open, tower open to guided tours. ARLHS SAF-046; Admiralty D6416; NGA 32096.

East London (Amatole District) Lighthouses
*** Hood Point
1895. Active; focal plane 55 m (180 ft); four white flashes, separated by 4.2 s, every 40 s. 14 m (46 ft) cylindrical brick tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern dome painted red. 1-story keeper's house and other buildings. Viljoen has a closeup photo, Danie van der Merwe has a photo, Huelse as a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This is the landfall light for the port of East London. Salato has partially developed the site with a visitor center and gift shop, plus a facility for meetings and weddings. Located on a headland about 5 km (3 mi) south of downtown East London. ARLHS SAF-050; Admiralty D6420; NGA 32092.
East London South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 16 m (52 ft); red flash every 2 s. Approx. 13 m (43 ft) round strongly conical white concrete tower mounted on a large square white concrete base. No closeup available; there's a distant view from across the harbor and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the main breakwater of East London. Site status unknown. Admiralty D6424; NGA 32076.

Wild Coast (OR Tambo District) Lighthouses
* Cape Morgan
1964. Active; focal plane 60 m (197 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 12 m (39 ft) square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery. The tower is unpainted metal; lantern painted red. Sue Martin's photo is at right, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse and the next two are the only major lights on South Africa's Wild Coast, a rugged coastline between East London and the KwaZulu Natal border. Located on a promontory about 5 km (3 mi) east of Morgan's Bay. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SAF-037; Admiralty D6434; NGA 32064.
M'bashee (M'bashe) Point
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 46 m (151 ft); three white flashes every 38 s (in an unusual pattern, the flashes are separated by 5 s, 16 s, and 16 s). 14 m (46 ft) square skeletal tower with lantern and gallery. Lighthouse painted white, lantern dome red. Viljoen has another photo, and Google has a satellite view. Located in a remote area on the east side of the mouth of the M'Bashee River. Accessible by 4WD over a gravel road about 60 km (38 mi) long. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SAF-053; Admiralty D6438; NGA 32060.
Cape Morgan Lighthouse
Cape Morgan Light
photo copyright Sue Martin, courtesy of Josh Whyte
used by permission
* Cape Hermes
1904. Active; focal plane 55 m (180 ft); white flash every 3 s. 13 m (43 ft) octagonal stone tower with lantern and gallery, painted black with white trim; lantern and gallery painted white. 1-story keeper's house and other station buildings. Baillie-Cooper's site has several photos, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. This appears to be a staffed light station. Located on a headland just south of Port St. John's. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SAF-035; Admiralty D6442; NGA 32056.
South Sand Bluff (2)
Date unknown (recent; station established 1931). Active; focal plane 75 m (246 ft); white flash every 10 s. 10 m (33 ft) round cylindrical white concrete tower with gallery, adjacent to a 1-story brick equipment building. This lighthouse replaced a skeletal tower, which was still standing at last report. Viljoen has a photo showing both towers, and Google has a satellite view of the station. Located in a remote area not far south of the KwaZulu Natal border. Probably accessible by 4WD. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SAF-059; Admiralty D6446; NGA 32052.

KwaZulu Natal Province Lighthouses

Hibiscus Coast (Ugu District) Lighthouses
*** North Sand Bluff (Port Edward) (2)
1999 (station established 1968). Active; focal plane 38 m (125 ft); two white flashes, separated by 3 s, every 10 s. 22 m (72 ft) cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern painted red. Two modern cottages provide overnight accommodations. Hugh Glen has a good 2008 photo, Viljoen has a photo, and Google has an indistinct satellite view. Salato has developed the station; in addition to the cottages there is a small maritime museum, a gift shop, a coffee shop, swimming pool, and playground. Located on a bluff among seaside cottages north of the Umtamvuna River in Port Edward, the southernmost point of KwaZulu Natal. Site open, tower open to guided tours. Site manager: North Sand Bluff Lighthouse Complex. ARLHS SAF-019; Admiralty D6448; NGA 32048.
*** Port Shepstone (2)
1892 (relocated here in 1906). Station established 1895. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); white flash every 6 s. 11 m (36 ft) cast iron with lantern and gallery, painted in a black and white checkerboard pattern; lantern painted white. Viljoen has a closeup, Trabas has a great photo, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse was relocated from Scottburgh, about 65 km (40 mi) to the north. Salato has developed the station with a gift shop and tea room, and accommodations are planned for the future. The Hibiscus Coast Tourism Information Office is also part of the station. Located on a headland on the southern side of the mouth of the Umzimkulu River in Port Shepstone. Site open, tower open to guided tours. ARLHS SAF-021; Admiralty D6450; NGA 32044.

North Sand Bluff (left) and Port Shepstone Lights; Salato photos
* Ifafa (Ifafa Beach)
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); three white flashes every 30 s. 23 m (75 ft) triangular skeletal tower with gallery. The tower also carries a triangular slatted daymark. Google has an indistinct satellite view. Located on a bluff at Ifafa Beach, a coastal resort about 100 km (60 mi) southwest of Durban. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SAF-016; Admiralty D6452; NGA 32040.
* Green Point (Clansthal)
1905. Active; focal plane 85 m (279 ft); two white flashes every 15 s; a continuous red light is shown over the Aliwal Shoal to the east southeast. 21 m (69 ft) cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, painted with red and white horizontal stripes; Fresnel lens in use. Viljoen has a closeup photo, Huelse has a historic postcard view, and Google has a satellite view. The Aliwal Shoal is one of the most notorious reefs of South Africa's Indian Ocean coast. In 1892 two cast iron towers were installed to warn of the shoal; one was at Scottburgh and the other on the north side of the Mahlongwana River just south of Umkomaas. These towers proved inadequate, so this taller lighthouse was built at a location between the two older towers. The Scottburgh Light was relocated to Port Shepstone (previous entry) and the Mahlongwana Light was reinstalled at Cape St. Lucia (see below). Located on a bluff above the R102 coastal highway near Clansthal, a small settlement between Scottburgh and Umkomaas, about 60 km (37.5 mi) southwest of Durban. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SAF-014; Admiralty D6454; NGA 32032.

Durban (eThekwini Municipality) Lighthouses
* Cooper (Durban Bluff)
1954. Active; focal plane 133 m (436 ft); white flash every 10 s. 21 m (69 ft) concrete tower, painted red with a white horizontal band. A closeup photo is available, Viljoen has a photo, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse is named in honor of South Africa's longtime lighthouse engineer H.C. Cooper. It was built on the Durban Bluff, a long seaside ridge on the south side of the city. Huelse has a postcard view of the original Bluff lighthouse, built in 1867 at the north end of the bluff above the harbor entrance. It was replaced by a buttressed tower similar to the Hill lighthouse at Port Elizabeth. The second lighthouse was demolished in 1942 because it stood in the line of fire of coastal defense artillery. The modern lighthouse is about 5 km (3 mi) southwest of the original light station; accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SAF-011; Admiralty D6458; NGA 32020.
Durban South Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 14 m (46 ft); two white flashes every 5 s. 10 m (33 ft) square skeletal tower with gallery centered on a round 1-story concrete equipment room. Equipment room painted white; the skeletal tower is a metallic brown. Trabas has a photo by Capt. Peter Mosselberger, another photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the south breakwater at the mouth of the Umgeni River. Accessible only by boat. Site and tower closed. ARLHS SAF-061; Admiralty D6464; NGA 31978.
* Anglo-American Building
1986. Active (privately maintained); focal plane 144 m (472 ft); white flash every 7 s. Light mounted on a tall mast atop a 26-story glass and steel office building on the Durban waterfront. Trabas has a photo of the light tower by Capt. Peter Mosselberger, and Google has a good satellite view. The building is called 88 on Field; it is also known as the Anglo-American Building after its owner, Anglo-American Properties Services. Located at 88 Field Street, Durban. Site open. Admiralty D6461; NGA 31974.
* Umhlanga Rocks
1954. Active; focal plane 24 m (79 ft); three white flashes every 20 s. 21 m (69 ft) cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. The upper 1/4 of the lighthouse, including the lantern and gallery, is painted red; the lower 3/4 is painted white. Adam Ross's photo appears at right, the Baillie-Cooper site has many photos, Rory MacKay has a 2008 photo, and a Google satellite view is available. This lighthouse and the Cooper Light together replace the old Bluff Light as the lights guiding ships into Durban's harbor. The lighthouse is located on the beach in a popular seaside resort. Located about 15 km (9 mi) north northeast of downtown Durban. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SAF-027; Admiralty D6480; NGA 31968.
Umhlanga Lighthouse
Umhlanga Rocks Light, November 2006
Creative Commons photo by Adam Ross

Northern KwaZulu Natal Lighthouses
* Tugela Bluff (2)
2007. Active; focal plane 35 m (115 ft); four white flashes every 30 s. 21 m (69 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery. Tower painted white with narrow black horizontal bands, lantern painted red. Hannes Steyn has a 2008 photo. This new lighthouse replaced a skeletal tower. Located on the north side of the mouth of the Tugela River, about 100 km (60 mi) northeast of Durban and 10 km (6 mi) southeast of Tugela. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SAF-062; Admiralty D6481; NGA 31972.
Durnford Point (2)
Date unknown (recent). Active; focal plane 49 m (161 ft); four white flashes, in a 3+1 pattern, every 40 s. 12 m round cylindrical white concrete tower with gallery, attached to a 1-story concrete equipment building. Viljoen has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse has replaced a skeletal tower. Located on the coast about 25 km (15 mi) southwest of Richard's Bay. Site status unknown. ARLHS SAF-045; Admiralty D6482; NGA 31964.
* Richard's Bay North Breakwater
Date unknown. Active; focal plane 15 m (49 ft); two green flashes every 5 s. 12 m (39 ft) slender concrete tower with a small lantern and gallery. Tower painted with black and white horizontal bands; lantern is red. A photo is available, and Google has a satellite view. Located at the end of the north breakwater at Richard's Bay; accessible by walking the breakwater. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SAF-068; Admiralty D6483.45; NGA 31960.
* Richard's Bay
1979. Active; focal plane 72 m (236 ft); three white flashes every 15 s. 11 m (36 ft) square cylindrical white concrete tower with a circular "watch room," lantern and gallery. Google has a satellite view. Located atop a bluff about 3 km (2 mi) northeast of Richard's Bay. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SAF-057; Admiralty D6483; NGA 31944.
Cape St. Lucia (2)
1892 (relocated here in 1915). Station established 1906. Active; focal plane 113 m (371 ft); two white flashes every 10 s. 8 m (26 ft) cast iron tower with lantern and gallery, adjacent to 1-story keeper's house. Lighthouse painted with black and white horizontal stripes. The lighthouse is adjacent to a large 1-story building. The Baillie-Cooper site has two photos, Viljoen has a closeup photo, and Google has a satellite view. This lighthouse is a sibling of the Port Shepstone Light. Both lights were relocated from the Aliwal Shoal area near Scottburgh; this one was originally on the north side of the mouth of the Mahlongwana River, just south of Umkomaas. The original lantern has been replaced by a lantern of modern design. Apparently located atop a forested sand dune about 20 km (13 mi) south of St. Lucia. Site status unknown; this is not an easy site to reach. ARLHS SAF-040; Admiralty D6484; NGA 31940.
Cape Vidal
1985. Active; focal plane 65 m (213 ft); white flash every 10 s. 23 m (75 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted yellow; lantern painted red. Keeper's house nearby. The Baillie-Cooper site has three photos, and Google has a good satellite view. The unusual yellow color of this lighthouse was chosen to provide good contrast with the green forest behind the tower. The Cape Vidal area is popular with wildlife enthusiasts and scuba divers. Located about 35 km (22 mi) north northeast of St. Lucia. Viljoen reached the light by a long drive through a wildlife reserve followed by a 3 km (2 mi) hike on the beach. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SAF-041; Admiralty D6485; NGA 31936.
* Jesser Point (Sodwana)
1986. Active; focal plane 61 m (200 ft); four white flashes, separated by 4 s, every 40 s. 11 m (36 ft) round cylindrical concrete tower with lantern and gallery, painted white; lantern painted red. Viljoen has a closeup photo, and Google has a good satellite view. The Sodwana Bay area, near the lighthouse, is very popular with scuba divers; it has the southernmost coral reefs of Africa's east coast. Located on a promontory at the south end of Sodwana Bay. Accessible by road. Site open, tower closed. ARLHS SAF-051; Admiralty D6486; NGA 31932.

Information available on lost lighthouses:

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Notable faux lighthouses:

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Posted June 2, 2005. Checked and revised June 19, 2009. Lighthouses: 28. Site copyright 2009 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.