There’s a long, winding road that slithers it’s way along the edge of the Atlantic that leads to the village of Kommetjie, home of Fin Whale Beach House. It’s been likened to a snake and (appropriately) leads to “snake head” – Slangkop – where a lighthouse has been burning for more than a century, warning passing ships of the danger of the rocky shoreline that has seen many a wreck over the ages.

Slangkop Lighthouse began operating in 1914 after being commissioned by Sir Francis Hely-Hutchinson, the governor of the Cape of Good Hope and didn’t become fully automated until 1979. Today, its light shines for 33 nautical miles out to sea, 41m above high tide. It’s one of South Africa’s oldest lighthouses, and emits four flashes every 30 seconds with a candlepower brightness of 5-million!

There are guided tours available of the lighthouse, taking you up the steep internal staircase from the base to a high, wire mesh balcony next to the light itself. The lighthouse is made from cast iron and is painted white, being the tallest cast iron tower in the country. Originally it was manned by three lighthouse keepers but these days there is only one senior keeper caring for it, washing the lighthouse windows.

The lighthouse tours look at the history of lighthouses on the South African coast and shed light on why South Africa is one of the only nations that still retains the services of lighthouse keepers. It’s an absolute “must do” during any stay at Fin Whale Beach House and will give you fresh appreciation for this wonderful landmark and the valuable role it performs.