Green Point Lighthouse

Green Point Lighthouse is a square tower painted with red and white diagonal bands that rises 16 meters above a single-story keeper's house. It emits a white flashing light every 10 seconds that can be seen from up to 25 nautical miles away along the Cape Town coast.

Governor Sir Rufane Shaw Donkin commissioned this structure in 1821, and it became the first solid lighthouse on the South African coast when completed in 1824. This early maritime marker shaped shipping safety in the region for many decades.

Local residents nicknamed this lighthouse "Moaning Minnie" after its foghorn was installed in 1926 because of the distinctive sound it produced. The name stuck because people heard it so often that it became part of their everyday experience in the area.

The lighthouse is easy to reach and visible from various points around Green Point, making it an accessible landmark to visit. Keep in mind that clear weather offers the best views and the surrounding area has rocky terrain.

In its early years, the lighthouse used Argand lamps powered by sperm whale oil that could only be seen 6 nautical miles away. This primitive technology illustrates how much navigation methods have changed since then.

Location: City of Cape Town

Inception: 1824

Height: 16 m

GPS coordinates: -33.90141,18.39994

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:44