cape st francis lighthouse tours

TOURS
Lighthouse Tours
 
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The Rehabilitation Facility is situated in the grounds of the Seal Point Lighthouse and visitors to the centre will  have the opportunity to undertake a guided tour of the Lighthouse.

We are grateful for the commitment and co-operation that we have receive from Transnet. This partnership has not only provided vital employment opportunities in the area but also ensures that the Seal Point Lighthouse is a shining light in the provision of tourist and conservation related activities. 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

NO TOURS ARE POSSIBLE AT PRESENT AS TRANSNET IS BUSY WITH MAINTENANCE WORK TO OUTSIDE BALUSTRADES AND STAIRCASES.

 

NameSeal Point
Structure 28 metre circular masonry tower painted white
Other Features  
Date Installed 4 July 1878
Description
Seal Point lighthouse is situated approximately 30 km from Humansdorp and 100 km from port Elizabeth and is home to the tallest masonry building, standing 27.75 meters high. The focal plane is 36 meters above sea level and the light has a range of 28 sea miles.

Joseph Flack, a civil Engineer and architect who was employed by the Cape Colonial Government at the time was instrumental in building this majestic building. He was also involved in building Robben Island. Joseph Flack, who came from Maidstone, Kent, England died on 14 November 1876. W.B. Hays took over on 29 November of the same year and the light was lit for the first time on 4 July 1878.

It was equipped with a three wick burner and had an intensity of 15 000 candles, providing a single white flash every 20 seconds. On 17 May 1906 the flash rate was changed to one flash every 5 seconds and a petroleum vapour burner was fitted, increasing the candle power to 120 000 candelas. Today the character of the light is once every five seconds with an intensity of 2 750 000 candelas and a range of 28 sea miles.

Named after the patron saint, Cape St Francis is now becoming a popular tourist Mecca. In 1959 a ship the Lady Head was wrecked in the bay at the mouth of the Kromme River and its is believed than a population of swans that inhabit the estuary came from the ship.

Today the lighthouse has one Senior keeper with a modern radio beacon, fog signal and fog detector. As Seal Point lighthouse continues to watch over the coast and has done for almost 123 years there have been fewer shipwrecks.

LIGHT DETAILS
Light TypeRevolving electric
Light CharacterOne flash every 5 seconds
Light Range 28 sea miles
Light Power 2 750 000 CD
Height of focal Plane
36 metres above high water

POSITION
Position
34 12 44.79 South, 24 50 11.92 East
 
 
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cape st francis lighthouse tours