Cape Vidal Lighthouse

About Cape Vidal Lighthouse

A river, a forest and an ocean are all individual attractions that a good getaway can be planned around. Where there is river, brown earthy soil; where there is ocean, a blue coastal swell; where there are trees, green leaves to swing under.

The unspoilt Zululand coast thought it would spoil its visitors with the best of three. Banks, beaches and branches; brown, blue and green. Despite the triple tourist teaser something was missing... something bright... something that could be seen for miles day or night... something yellow! Thus in 1985 the Cape Vidal Lighthouse was built north of the brown Umfolosi River, on the shores of the blue Indian Ocean, amidst the green Cape Vidal Forestry Reserve.

A twenty three meter high lighthouse made of a round reinforced concrete tower was coated in a distinctive yellow paint to guarantee its visibility against its forest dense background and ocean deep foreground. This very ocean portion is the undiscovered burial ground of the ship Dorethea that rumour suspected smuggled gold, history confirmed ran ashore and the lighthouse warns against.

The light beacon is fitted with a radio beacon (call sign ZP) and is powered by a triple mutual diesel alternator set. Its revolving sealed beam is visible from twenty five nautical sea miles. Sixty-four meters above the high water mark one flash is emitted every ten seconds with a light power of six hundred and ninety thousand candelas over the sea surface. So when you need to relax because you can't see the wood for the trees this little yellow tower will cast perspective on the situation. Bright by day; light by night.