Brazil
Argentina
Bolivia
Chile
Colombia
Ecuador
Guyana
French Guiana
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
Paraguay
Peru
Suriname
Uruguay
Venezuela
Germany
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Spain
Finland
France
Greece
the Netherlands
Hungary
Ireland
Iceland
Italy
Luxembourg
Norway
Poland
Portugal
the United Kingdom
the Czech Republic
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Mexico
the Dominican Republic
Fiji
Lighthouse · Gansbaai, Cabo Ocidental
Danger Point Lighthouse
White octagonal lighthouse from 1895 on the southern tip of Walker Bay, facing the reef where the British ship Birkenhead was wrecked in 1852.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Discover
About Danger Point Lighthouse
The Danger Point lighthouse stands on the headland that closes Walker Bay to the south, about 9 km from Gansbaai. It is a 17-meter white octagonal tower with a red lantern, first lit on 1 January 1895. The name, "Danger Point," comes from the reefs hidden under the water; more than 140 ships were wrecked between there and Cape Infanta.
The best known was HMS Birkenhead, a British troop transport that struck a submerged rock on 26 February 1852. Women and children were placed in the boats while the soldiers remained in formation on deck; more than 400 men died. The incident gave rise to the phrase "women and children first." A plaque in front of the lighthouse points to the rock where the waves break.
Bartolomeu Dias passed by in 1488 and called the place São Brandão Point.
When open to the public, the lighthouse offers tours that include climbing to the gallery, with views of the sea and the coastline as far as Hermanus.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
30 minutes to 1 hour.
Best time
On a clear day, to see the Birkenhead rock and the coastline. Check beforehand whether the lighthouse is open for visits.
How to get there
It is at the end of the Danger Point road, about 9 km from Gansbaai town center by car.
Tip
Bring binoculars: in season, from July to November, whales pass close to the point.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Danger Point Lighthouse
What happened at Danger Point?
HMS Birkenhead was wrecked there in 1852 after striking a submerged reef. The rock lies less than 2 km from the point.
Can you climb the Danger Point lighthouse?
When it is open for visits, yes—you can go up to the gallery. Check before you go.
Where is the Danger Point lighthouse?
On the southern tip of Walker Bay, about 9 km from Gansbaai.