Lighthouse Adventure Tourism:
Soft adventure tourism has a new draw-card:
The Lighthouse Experience.
No longer having the sole purpose of guiding sailors to safety, lighthouses are now shining a light on new tourism opportunities that will help ensure the survival and maintenance of these attractive beacons of the beach.
There are four lighthouses along the Eastern Cape coastline which form part of a national tour stretching from Cape Town to Durban. The national tour comprises of eight lighthouses.
The Great Fish Point lighthouse on the the Sunshine Coast - a mere 25 km from Port Alfred - offers fully equipped, serviced, luxury self-catering accommodation, while serving its nautical function. The light flashes once every 10 seconds and has an approximate candlepower of
500 000 candles with a range of 32 sea miles. This remarkable beacon, situated only 800m off the shoreline is adorned with superb mechanisms, brass and copper cogs and intricate cast iron mouldings. It challenges the brave to climb the winding stairs leading to the tower 260 feet above sea level.
The lighthouses not only offer unique accommodation a stone's throw away from the crashing surf, but also serve as mini-museums showcasing South African port authority history.
This novel concept will please both beach tourists and maritime enthusiasts alike while on-site coffee shops and conference facilities are envisaged to encourage multi-faceted support of the venture.
Three other lighthouses in the Eastern Cape include Hoodpoint in East London, the Cape St Francis lighthouse and Cape Recife in Port Elizabeth. These are open between 10h00 and 15h00 Monday to Friday.
For further information please visit: www.npa.co.za/Salato/SalatoMain.htm
