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Agulhas Visit the lighthouse on the southern-most tip of Africa!
Built in 1848, the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse was only the second one to be built in South Africa. Today the lighthouse is a national monument, housing the unique lighthouse museum and a small rustic restaurant.
The coastline here is a graveyard of shipwrecks. The sea off Cape Agulhas has long been notorious with sailors for winter storms and massive rogue waves, which can even sink large ships. The Arniston (1815), Cooranga (1964), Elise (1879), European (1877), Federal Lakes (1975), Geortyrder (1849), Gouritz (1981), and Gwendola (1968) are just a few of the vessels lost along this coast. Showpieces from some of these shipwrecks are on display at the Bredasdorp Shipwreck museum.
Owing to the hazards and following the loss of numerous vessels, notably the Arniston, the lighthouse was built. Seventy-one steps lead up to the top of what is now the second oldest working lighthouse in southern Africa. Stone mined from an adjacent limestone quarry provided the raw materials for its construction.
Visitors to the area can still see the Meisho Maru 38 wreck on the shores of Cape Agulhas. Remains of ancient stone fish traps used by the Khoisan people can be seen to the east of the lighthouse.
Need to know? The entrance fee to the lighthouse is R15 for adults and R7.50 for kids (2 – 11 years). This entrance fee is in line with other Transnet National Ports Authority’s lighthouses which are open to visitors.