LH0002

Did You Know?

The Cape St Blaize Lighthouse is situated on the western headland of Mossel Bay, overlooking the Indian Ocean. It was completed in 1864 and is one of the oldest lighthouses in South Africa. The lighthouse was designed by the colonial architect Charles Michell and built from local stone, with its tower standing about 20 metres tall. Its light, originally a fixed white light, was first lit on 15 March 1864, and it was later converted to a flashing light. The lighthouse is named after the Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu Dias, who first landed at Mossel Bay in 1488, and the headland itself was called Cape St Blaize by early Portuguese sailors, likely after the saint on whose feast day they sighted the coast. The lighthouse remains an active navigational aid, and the surrounding area is part of the Cape St Blaize Nature Reserve, which includes a well-known cave and walking trails. The site is a provincial heritage resource and is managed by the South African National Parks or the local municipality, with the lighthouse itself being a popular tourist attraction.

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