Cape of Good Hope Old Lighthouse
Discover the cape Point Old & New Light Houses:
After the crash of the Portuguese cruise liner Lusitania in 1911, the old Cape point lighthouse was laid to rest due to enormous confusions it caused on the sailors by the fact that they were not able to see the light signal due to mist covering the lighthouse. It was one of the contribution factor to so many ships wrecks due to poor visibility. So many ships were able to avoid the whittle rock found under the waters of cape of Good hope. The original lighthouse was built in 1859 on Da Gama Peak, the summit of Cape Point, 238m above sea level. This made it very ineffective in mist which mandated the establishment of the second lighthouse at 87 meters. The newer lighthouse, built in 1914, is the most powerful on the South African coast and still in operation to this very date.
Highlights:
- Take the Dutchman Funicular to explore the Cape
- Amazing view point of the Cape Point & Cape of Good Hope
- Amazing and beautiful hiking trails
- Instagram worthy photos at the lighthouse
- Two oceans Restaurant and Deli onsite
- Baboons encounter at any given time
Why Go?:
Your day visit to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, will not be considered complete if you skip a stop the the actual Old lighthouse. The top highlight of your Cape of Good Hope experience is at this point. You can reach the top by taking a 15 to 20 minutes hike or use the Dutchman funicular, a kind of a small train which runs from the lower station to the upper station.
When to Go?:
The best time to visit the Cape of Good hope old light house for a perfect sightseeing and clear visibility is September to April. You can still enjoy a great day out on a nice winter day as the cape of Good hope in general is a destination of all year round. Heavy winter rain and hostiles weather conditions make the viewing point visibility very poor due the mist which forms around the area.
Where to Go?:
- Optional hiking trail of about 20 minutes each way from the parking, offers great views
- The Dutchman Funicular offers an amazing experience to explore the Old Light House
- No access to the new lighthouse ( Its a protected area)
- Amazing sunset spots all around the old light house
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