The Pelican Point lighthouse is back as beacon of safety for shipping in the area. One of the lighthouse’s powerful light bulbs malfunctioned just over a week ago, rendering the lighthouse ineffective at night to warn passing ships against running aground.

The Pelican Point Lighthouse is painted in black and white bands, which makes it visible from far by day. Under ordinary circumstances lighthouses are painted in red and white bands. However, given the fact that the land in the bay area is very flat, added to that the light beige colours of the dunes on the backdrop, necessitated painting the lighthouse with white and black bands to make it visible.
Painting lighthouses in black and white bands to optimise visibility is described in the book “Lighthouses of Southern Africa” as a very rare exception globally.