Slangkop Lighthouse in Kommetjie

I hope to one day have the opportunity tick off all the lighthouses on the South African coast on my list of places visited.  A lighthouse is just such a powerful symbol and the fact that each one is unique means that when you visit one its not a case of saying "just another lighthouse".  In January I had the opportunity to tick the Slangkop Lighthouse in Kommetjie on the Cape Peninsula off my constantly growing list of places to visit.  

The 33 meters high (41 metres above sea level) Slangkop - translated into English as Snake Head - is the tallest cast-iron tower on the South African coast.  It was opened in 1919 and looks out over the village of Kommetjie with its surfers, fishermen and divers.  Its main purpose is to steer ships heading either towards Cape Point or Table Bay around the dangerous rocks and hidden reefs of this coastline. 

The lighthouse has a 5 000 000 candle power light that flashes four times every 30 seconds and can be seen up to 33 sea miles out to sea.  As with all the lighthouses on the South African coast it has been automated.  On our visit there was a sign up stating that they are busy with restoration work on the lighthouse so it wasn't open to the public at the time.  Pity though cause I would have loved to climb up to the top.