Slangkop Lighthouse, Lighthouse in Kommetjie, South Africa

Slangkop Lighthouse is a white cast iron tower that rises about 33 meters above the Kommetjie coastline, with a walkway encircling the lantern chamber at the top. The structure stands on a rocky promontory overlooking the ocean and the surrounding shore.

Construction began in 1914 but was delayed by World War I, with the tower finally becoming operational in 1919. Since then it has served to guide shipping along this section of the South African coast.

The name Slangkop means "snake head" in Afrikaans, after the nearby headland. The tower appears in the Steven Seagal film Mercenary for Justice, and a lighthouse officer remains stationed there even though the light has run unmanned since 1979.

Access to the tower begins at its base and requires climbing interior stairs to reach the lantern gallery. The area can be windy, so warm layers are recommended even on mild days, and sturdy footwear helps on the rocky terrain around the site.

The lighthouse is the largest cast-iron structure built for this purpose in South Africa. Its light flashes four white beams every 30 seconds at 5 million candela, visible about 30 to 33 nautical miles out, and a backup generator keeps it running during power failures.