Eastern Cape Coast: Cape St Francis

Where is it?

Latitude: 34° 12’ 44.79” S
Longitude: 24° ’50 ”11.92 E

How to get there:

Travel along the N2 from Port Elizabeth past Jeffery’s Bay, proceed to Humansdorp and along the R330 to Cape St. Francis.

Seal Point Lighthouse, or Cape St Francis Lighthouse as it is better known, is situated on a relatively small outcrop of rocky coast known as Seal Point, some 80km south of Algoa Bay, and approximately 30km from the town of Humansdorp in the Eastern Cape.

Of interest

Cape St Francis Lighthouse was commissioned on 4 July 1878. The 28-metre circular masonry tower supports a lanternhouse and 2nd order revolving lantern consisting of 8 catadioptric lens panels. The lighthouse was declared a National Monument in 1984.

The lighthouse is located within the eastern sector of the Cape floristic region, a floral kingdom internationally recognised for its spectacular diversity. The vegetation supports a diversity of bird, rodent and other small animal population. It is for this reason that efforts are being made to have the area declared a Private Nature Reserve.

On offer

• Guided tours of the lighthouse
• Curios and memorabilia on sale
• “Boma Tea Garden”
• Marine & Wildlife Rescue Centre (in the process of being established)
• Future accommodation being planned