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Lighthouse · L'Agulhas, Cabo Ocidental
Cape Agulhas Lighthouse
Red-and-white lighthouse first lit in 1849, inspired by the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the country's second-oldest operational lighthouse, with a museum in the keepers' house.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Cape Agulhas Lighthouse
The Cape Agulhas lighthouse was first lit on 1 March 1849, after years of requests to reduce shipwrecks at the continent's southern tip. Colonel Charles Michell's design was inspired by the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt, and the 27-metre sandstone tower rises from the middle of the former keepers' house.
It was the third lighthouse built in South Africa and the second-oldest still in operation, after Green Point in Cape Town. It was decommissioned in 1968 when the sandstone walls deteriorated, then restored and relit in 1988.
The keepers' house houses a museum about the country's lighthouses, with lenses, lamps and historic equipment. About 71 steps and steep stairs lead to the upper gallery, with views of the coast and Cape Agulhas.
The lighthouse is within Agulhas National Park and is the starting point for the walk to the marker of Africa's southernmost point.
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
From 45 minutes to 1.5 hours.
Best time
On a clear, less windy day, for the view from the top. Check the museum opening times.
How to get there
It sits on the seafront, at the southern edge of the village of L'Agulhas, within walking distance of the center.
Tip
The final stairs are steep and narrow; those with a fear of heights may stay in the museum.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Cape Agulhas Lighthouse
When was the Cape Agulhas lighthouse built?
It was first lit on 1 March 1849.
Can you climb the Cape Agulhas lighthouse?
Yes, via about 71 steps and steep stairs to the gallery.
What is in the lighthouse museum?
Lenses, lamps and equipment about the history of South Africa's lighthouses.