The Umhlanga Lighthouse - Durban

Umhlanga's beach is dominated by its distinctive twenty one meter high lighthouse. The Umhlanga lighthouse is situated on the picturesque promenade and was completed in 1954 and has since become an area landmark. The Umhlanga lighthouse was built to replace the old Bluff lighthouse which was commissioned in 1869, but had to be abandoned due to its rapid rate of deterioration.

The Umhlanga lighthouse's beam is emits a light equivalent to six hundred thousand candles flashing three every twenty seconds, and can be seen from as far as twenty four miles away at sea during visible conditions. The circular tower, with its red top literally serves as a "guiding light" leading vessels through some of South Africa's most treacherous coastline and warning them of hidden dangers. The flashing light of the Unhlanga lighthouse also welcomes ships sailing into Durban's harbour, while the fixed red light serves as a warning device for ships that are anchored too close to the shore. When the red light is visible, it suggests that the ships anchors have probably dragged, and is too close to shore. Strangely, the Umhlanga lighthouse has never had its own lighthouse keeper. Instead, the lights are operated from the nearby Oyster Box Hotel, which has been the official warden over the years. The lighthouse controls are located in the hotel office where staff monitor the controls, and report to Portnets Lighthouse Service.