Cape St Blaize Lighthouse Complex — Attraction in George

Terrible experience

Parking is very limited with only enough for 5 cars just outside the premises and a few inside. The parking inside the premises, however, are blocked by a notice board saying only for lighthouse visitors - R100. Naturally, as we arrive, the parking outside is full. This is where it starts to become increasingly confusing. Do we ask the guard to move the notice board since we were there for the lighthouse even though we haven’t paid yet, or do we pay first and then go in. I went ahead and asked the guard if i was supposed to pay and then come back and tell my dad that he can go in and park inside. He told me that was fine. The next problem I encountered immediately afterwards was not knowing where to pay. The small building on the lower part of the premises had a small sign reading “office” but there was no one there and it seemed disused. So I walked up the outer stairs leading to a small restaurant and then around to a door to the base of the main lighthouse tower. Nothing there either. While my dad was still waiting in the car, my mom asked a waiter what we need to do. He went inside the restaurant and it looked like he told someone about us, but before he could come back to us, he was called elsewhere and disappeared. I am not mad about that as it should not be expected of a busy waiter to tend to lighthouse visitors as well. Even though the waiter went away we still stood there for several minutes awaiting a response after which I went around to the base of the lighthouse again to check if someone was there this time or if there were any obscure signs that we missed the first time. The door was slightly ajar, but still no one and no sign. I did not want to go in without permission. All the while my dad was still with the car, the three of us meandered about the door to the lighthouse waiting. After 15 minutes of waiting for nothing, no one to ask, and no signs with guidance, I took a couple of nice pictures of the lighthouse while my mom and sister went to the bathroom facilities just behind the office. Just as we walked out the gate and I was busy talking to my dad, my mom was confronted by a 40’s thin white man with a dark longish haircut who, several minutes prior was shouting at children for playing on a boulder. He sarcastically and rudely said “You can support us, you know” to which my mom explained that we waited a long time with no help. He then replied that this place is not a public toilet. My mom left promptly and looked very upset when she arrived at the car. This was a very disappointing experience, especially as an avid lighthouse visitor. I saw good reviews and had high hopes. Having read some of the bad reviews after the fact, there is one common denominator, being the horrific behaviour of the manager. I am not interested in a reply from Cape St Blaize. I do not want to ever be reminded of this experience again. This is merely a...

We arrived at the lighthouse and no one was there to welcome us or explain how it did work. The sign that they post for others that had the same complaint was not up or anywhere to be seeing. As we walked towards the door, never really entered. Just by the front door I did realized it was also a restaurant, and did not felt like get in. It did smell like fried butter. So I was just saying it to my husband when someone, not sure his part on the business, come out and said it was a restaurant, and we had to pay $60 Randy just because we steps inside his door. We did not eat, we did not want to go up the light house or at least did not had time to think about it, we did nothing… we just stood at the front porch trying to figure out what it was and the cost to climb the stairs, and by that behavior we decided it was not worth to do it… Anyway the owner or his employee, not sure who he was… a guy with a surf tshirt and kind of long loose haircut, said we had to pay, again, and to pay just because we did stepped in. We had to pay $60randy per person ( we were 4) my husband just gave him 100 and we decided to walk way. He kind of got embarrassed with his behavior, I hope, and said he was just charging us for one person and went in and come back running after us , by that we were already by the car, feeling very bad about the situation, with a change. The thing is… if they want to charge people, that’s their right, but they have to let it very clear before the entrance. They have to state that from a certain point they will charge you, that we are not allowed to step in their front porch without paying. And leave to the guest the decision of going in clear. There are lots of good reviews of this place, apparently people like their food and coffee, also lots of reviews like mine. So be aware! And make a decision before you even step...

Views are amazing.

Just unfortunate that they don’t accommodate handicap / people in a wheelchair at all and treat the actual handicap as such. Making them feel unwelcome.

Unfortunately my daughter out of all of us that is currently handicap, was treated with a bad attitude. Without saying a word, a lady added the sign right behind my daughter after my daughter had to move, that we were not allowed to enter unless we paid R100 each and not allowed access. The lady literally just turned around and walked away, chuffed with herself. Not saying one word, or asking if we needed assistance. Clearly the website states ‘Climb to the Top’, not ‘No Access to the premises’. The board was only added at 12:50pm after we entered the premises. We didn’t see or notice it before the time. We would have been more than happy to pay if given the chance. Her rude attitude towards an 11year old child that can’t walk without her crutches is uncalled for. Not recommended if not able to walk / wheelchair bound. They also have a board on the side wall that clearly state no one can walk up to the restaurant there, but that would’ve been the only way should my daughter have been able to have accessed the restaurant.

Board on side of wall, stating ‘attention’, that was placed exactly where my daughter is standing in the picture.

Edited on 03 Sep 2024 - Replying to your message received. Kindly check your cameras on 25 June 2024 around 12:50 to see my review wasn’t misleading in any way. This is true to what happened to us. Feel free to share the footage if you feel we are wrong. I don’t believe in negative ratings unless there is good reason for it and treating a handicap child in this manner contributed strongly...