Cannon Rocks, Eastern Cape

Cannon Rocks at a glance

Cannon Rocks is the ultimate getaway for those who want sea, sun, sand and very little else except peace and quiet. The village of 3,12 square kilometres virtually borders on the Woody Cape section at the eastern extremity of the Addo Elephant Park. It is also the gateway to 'Clover Country', the verdant green pastures and tranquil rolling hills of the Eastern Cape dairy farms where cattle gently graze and Homo sapiens is seldom seen. In the village itself, only 214 members of that species were found at the time of the 2011 census. Of those some 52% spoke English, 44% Afrikaans and just over 1% spoke Xhosa. These were the permanent residents. At other times of the year, the village may overflow with holiday-makers, some of whom own houses in the village, while others live in tents in the caravan park. The caravan park has the only shop, and there are one or two B&Bs in the rest of the village. As its name suggests, Cannon Rocks is named after two cannons that were washed up on the rocks when Portuguese sailing ships sank along this stretch of coast centuries ago. To this day, artefacts from the numerous wrecks along the Eastern Cape coastline still emerge from the shifting sands. And the village of Cannon Rocks, like its nearest neighbour, Boknes, is within walking distance of Kwaaihoek, the place where Bartholomew Dias planted the first of his three stone crosses (Padrao) on his return journey to Portugal in 1488. (For more on this, see SEEFF's description of Boknes.) Cannon Rocks is a renowned for its kiteboarding, and is prized as a fishing destination. It has developed its own coastal nature trail. Apart from these local amenities, Cannon Rock residents have easy access to Netcare Hospitals in both Grahamstown and Port Alfred, schools and tertiary institutions in both those towns as well as shopping malls, restaurants, other sporting activities and entertainment described in SEEFF's general introduction to the Sunshine Coast. The Cannon Rocks community is close-knit and friendly. And SEFFF Kenton on Sea is there to help you find the perfect spot on which to build the beach-house of your dreams, where the beach will literally be on your doorstep. In addition, SEEFF boasts a number of vacant plots for sale as well as a wide selection of properties including large seaside houses, many double-storeys with roomy interiors and large plots, smaller homes, cosy cottages and bungalows.

As jy wil wegkom van die stadsrumoer is Cannon Rocks net die plek vir jou. Hier is see, son en

sand en weinig anders ­ net rus en vrede. Die dorpie van 3.12 vk km grens bykans aan die

Woody Cape gedeelte aan die oostelike uiteinde van die Addo Olifantpark. Dit is ook die poort

na 'Clover Country', die grasgroen weivelde en heuwels van die Oos­Kaapse melkplaasgebied;

hier waar die koeie rustig wei en homo sapiens selde te sien is.

Daar is ongeveer 200 permanente inwoners in die dorp, waarvan 52% engelssprekend en 44%

afrikaanssprekend is. Gedurende vakansietye sak besoekers op die dorp toe, sommige waarvan

huise in die dorp besit terwyl ander in tente bly in die karavaanpark. Die karavaanpark het die

enigste winkel in die dorp en daar is een of twee B&Bs.

Soos die naam Cannon Rocks aandui, is die dorp vernoem na twee kannonne wat op die rotse

uitgespoel het to 'n Portugese seilbboot honderde jare gelede langs hierdie kus gesink het. Tot

vandag toe spoel artefakte van die vele wrakke langs die Oos­Kaapse kus nog oop soos wat die

gety die sand beweeg. En Cannon Rocks, net soos die aangrensende Boknes, is binne maklike

loopafstand van Kwaaihoek, die plek waar Bartholomeus Dias die eerste van 3 klipkruise

(Padrao's) geplant het op sy terugreis na Portugal in 1488. (Vir meer inligting sien SEEFF se

beskrywing van Boknes.)

Cannon Rocks is welbekend vir vlieër­branderry en word hooggeag as 'n visvangbestemming.

Die dorp het sy eie kusnatuur­wandelpad ontwikkel. Buiten die lokale aantreklikhede het Cannon

Rocks se inwoners maklike toegang tot Netcare Hospitale in beide Grahamstad en Port Alfred,

skole en tersiêre instellings in beide die dorpe asook winkelsentrums, restaurante, ander

sportaktiwiteite en vermaak soos beskryf in SEEFF se algemene inleiding tot die Sonskynkus.

Cannon Rocks is 'n hegte en vriendelike gemeenskap. SEEFF Kenton­on­Sea is daar om jou te

help om die perfekte plek te vind om die vakansiehuis van jou drome te koop of te bou, met die

see letterlik by jou voordeur. SEEFF bied met trots aan 'n verskeidenheid eiendomme insluitende

luukse huise op die see, kleiner huise, snoesige kothuisies en strandhuise.