Cape Columbine Lighthouse - Cape West Coast
Cape Columbine Lighthouse - Cape West Coast
Situated on a prominent headland, approximately 5 kilometers from the popular little fishing village of Paternoster, on a massive granite boulder called Castle Rock a few hundred meters above the sea, is one of the last manned lighthouses built in South Africa, the Cape Columbine Lighthouse.
Prior to it being built in 1936 a number of ships ran aground off this coastline. In 1876 a troopship, SS Saint Lawrence landed up on the rocky coastline, with no loss of life. In 1910 the SS Lisboa, a Portuguese steamship ran aground en route from Angola to Cape Town with 250 passengers and 50 crew on board. Three more ships, namely the SS Haddon Hall in 1913, the SS Malmesbury 1930, and the SS Haleric in 1932 ran aground before the decision was made to erect the lighthouse.
The Lighthouse was commissioned on the 1st October 1936 and was named after the barque Columbine, which was wrecked there on 31 March 1829. The town of Paternoster was even named after the heartfelt prayers of the shipwrecked Portuguese sailors and means Our Father. Today the lighthouse is the first one to be seen by ships coming from South America and Europe and stands approximately 30 km from Vredenburg on the West Coast. This lighthouse was one of the first lighthouses along the South African coastline to receive three navigational safety devices, which were a foghorn, a radio beacon and a lens designed for use with incandescent light bulbs.
There are guided tours of the lighthouse offered as well as, curios and memorabilia on sale, a conference facility that can accommodate at least 30 persons in banquet style and 100 persons in cinema seating style. The large premises lends itself ideally for special events, as there is plenty of space for erecting a marquee tent, where weddings and wedding receptions and other events may be held. There is also a swimming pool and Jungle Gym for the kids.
Directions
Take the R27 from Cape Town to Vredenburg
Your journey will be about an hour and a half and you will travel through some very scenic areas past Yzerfontein and Langebaan and Saldanha.
Then continue to Vredenburg, through the quaint Paternoster.
Visiting Hours
Mondays to Fridays 10:00 to 15:00
Weekends and Public Holidays
May to September - By reservation only
October to April 10:00 to 15:00
Please note that there are discounted rates for under 12, Pensioners, Adult Tour Groups, Students (with ID cards) and School Groups.
For more information, rates, and bookings please contact: Central Reservations Office Tel: +27-21-4492400
Accommodation Near Cape Columbine Lighthouse - Cape West Coast
Hocus Pocus @ Paternoster
Self Catering House, Cottage, Chalet Accommodation in Paternoster
3.3km from Cape Columbine Lighthouse - Cape West CoastHocus Pocus is a self catering cottage (sleeps 4) in Bek Bay, Paternoster. Simple but functional architectural style house based on the historical West Coast Fisherman's cottages as seen all around Paternoster. …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
Die Opstal House with Apartments
Self Catering Apartment, Flatlet Accommodation in Paternoster
3.3km from Cape Columbine Lighthouse - Cape West CoastDie Opstal House with Apartments has gone in for a little facelift! It is a purposely designed functional architectural style house based on a historical West Coast Fisherman's cottage with 5 apartments around the swimming pool. …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
Anemoi
Self Catering Rooms With Communal Kitchen in Paternoster
3.9km from Cape Columbine Lighthouse - Cape West CoastAnemoi is a large home split in half to create a guest area with two suites that can be rented separately or together. They only share a kitchen. A single suite sleeps to but rented out entirely it can sleep 4. …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
Farr Out
Self Catering Apartment, Flatlet Accommodation in Paternoster
4km from Cape Columbine Lighthouse - Cape West CoastFarr Out (TGCSA 4 Star) provides both bed and breakfast and self catering accommodation just a few minutes drive from Paternoster. It's not what you would call far, but when you arrive in this sandy bushveld wilderness, you do feel pleasingly remote. …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
Thalassa
Self Catering House, Cottage, Chalet Accommodation in Paternoster
4.2km from Cape Columbine Lighthouse - Cape West CoastThalassa offers self catering accommodation on the beachfront in Voorstrand, Paternoster. The endless sandy beaches invite you to go on long walks. Quite often one can spot dolphins, seals and whales. Bird life is rich and the sacred ibis can also be seen …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
La Mer
Self Catering Apartment, Flatlet Accommodation in Paternoster
4.2km from Cape Columbine Lighthouse - Cape West CoastLa Mer is a flatlet offering self catering accommodation in Voorstrand, Paternoster on the Cape West Coast. The name La Mer means 'the sea' offers guests the opportunity to stay right on the beach in the peaceful fisherman's village of Paternoster. …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
J'aime la Mer
Self Catering House, Cottage, Chalet Accommodation in Paternoster
4.3km from Cape Columbine Lighthouse - Cape West CoastJ'aime la Mer (I Love the Sea), offers up to 4 guests the opportunity to stay right on the beach in the beautiful fisherman's village of Paternoster. Only fifteen meters from the high-water mark, this ideally situated free standing self-catering cottage.. …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
Viskraal
Self Catering House, Cottage, Chalet Accommodation in Paternoster
4.6km from Cape Columbine Lighthouse - Cape West CoastViskraal is an ideal self catering holiday home in the beautiful village of Paternoster on the Western Cape coastline. It features 3 bedrooms and sleeps 6. It is only 100 metres from the beach and easy walking distance to restaurants, shops and pharmacy. …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
LekkeBly Boutique Loft
Self Catering Apartment, Flatlet Accommodation in Paternoster
4.8km from Cape Columbine Lighthouse - Cape West CoastSet on South Africa's wild West Coast, in the authentic fishing village of Paternoster, LekkeBly Boutique Loft is a new establishment offering luxury accommodation at affordable rates. It is approximately 300m from the main beach Mosselbank. …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
Aloe Halt
Self Catering House, Cottage, Chalet Accommodation in Paternoster
4.8km from Cape Columbine Lighthouse - Cape West CoastAloe Halt offers up to 6 guests the opportunity to stay in a spacious, yet intimate cottage about 160m from the beach. Walkways ensure easy access to the beach. Relax on the patio and enjoy the birdlife attracted by the various indigenous aloes in the gar …see more for bookings / enquiries and info.
- Cape Columbine Nature Reserve - Cape West Coast (0.13km)
- Paternoster Heritage Festival - Paternoster, Cape West Coast (4.01km)
- Oep vir Koep - Paternoster, Cape West Coast (4.38km)
- Crayfish & Seafood Festival - Paternoster, Cape West Coast (4.73km)
- Groot Paternoster Private Nature Reserve - Cape West Coast (9.25km)
- Swartriet Private Nature Reserve - Jacobs Bay, Cape West Coast (13.63km)
- Shelley Point Golf Club - St Helena Bay, Cape West Coast (16.13km)
- Weskus Mall - Vredenburg, Cape West Coast (16.28km)
- Stompneusbaai Lighthouse - nr St. Helena Bay, Cape West Coast (17.71km)
