Lighthouses

Western Cape Coast : Slangkoppunt

Where is it?

Latitude: 34° 08’ 54,59” S
Longitude: 18° 19’ 11,89” E

How to get there:

Slangkoppunt Lighthouse is situated on the western side of the Cape Peninsula, close to the village of Kommetjie. It is ±45 minutes drive from Cape Town

Of interest

Commissioned on 4 March 1919, Slangkoppunt is the tallest cast iron lighthouse on the South African coast. Its name is derived from the Slangkop hill directly behind the lighthouse.

This coastline has many reefs and headlands that stretch far out into the ocean resulting in huge waves that have wrecked many a fine vessel. The more famous vessels that have to come to grief in this area, were the SS Kakapo that ran ashore on the southern end of Chapmans Bay in 1900 during a north west gale, the SS Clan Munroe wrecked a little to the north of the lighthouse in 1905, the Oakburn wrecked on Duiker Point in 1906 in thick fog (two crew drowned), and the SS Maori wrecked in thick fog in 1909 (thirty-two lives were lost).

Within walking distance from the lighthouse are three graves. They are the graves of sailors believed to have come from the wreck of the Maori.

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