Cannon Rocks

Cannon Rocks is a small seaside town on the Indian Ocean in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, between Boknes and the boundary of the Greater Addo Elephant Park. It is situated 135 km east of Port Elizabeth and 180 km west of East London approximately 15 minutes from the town of Kenton-on-Sea. Port Alfred is approximately 30 km to the East of Cannon Rocks.[2] Cannon Rocks is part of the Ndlambe Local Municipality in the Sarah Baartman District of the Eastern Cape.

Cannon Rocks
Cannon Rocks Cannon Rocks
Coordinates: 33°45′S 26°33′E
Country	South Africa
Province	Eastern Cape
District	Sarah Baartman
Municipality	Ndlambe
Area [1]
• Total	3.12 km^2 (1.20 sq mi)
Population  (2011)[1]
• Total	214
• Density	69/km^2 (180/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011) [1]
• Black African	10.7%
• Coloured	0.5%
• Indian/Asian	0.9%
• White	87.9%
First languages (2011) [1]
• English	52.3%
• Afrikaans	44.4%
• Xhosa	1.4%
• Other	1.9%
Time zone	UTC+2 (SAST)
PO box	6186

The town is named after two cannons of historical importance and is close to the Diaz cross, erected five centuries ago by Bartholomeu Diaz, the first Portuguese ocean explorer to sail along the eastern coast of South Africa.[3]

Cannon Rocks is a major marker for weather forecasts for the coastal belt. It divides two coastal sections: Plettenberg Bay to Cannon Rocks; and Cannon Rocks to Kei Mouth.[4]

Geology

There are outcrops in the sea close to Cannon Rocks of a coastal marine formation, the Salnova Formation. This formation occurs about 20 metres above sea level and comprises calcrete with quartzitic sandstone boulders and shell material.[5]

Activities

Cannon Rocks is a great kitesurfing location. The town used host the yearly Cannon Rocks Kiteboarding Classic competition. Since dune movement on the car parking area it has been suspended.

The major attraction is the unspoilt and uncrowded nature of the beaches, coupled to a stable and predictable south westerly and easterly wind which are both cross shore. These conditions are also enjoyed by Windsurfers.

The town is a premier rock and surf angling destination with the site of lone anglers making their way down the unspoilt beaches a beautiful sight.

There is a charter company (Big Blue) in town that takes visitors on deep sea angling, snorkeling or scuba diving excursions.

There is a two-hour drive that takes visitors through the Golden Mile dairy farms on the spectacular cliffs overlooking Bird Island and the world's biggest coastal dune field. The road turns into the state forest where century old trees form a dense canopy over the road. The road ends in Alexandria, where it branches back over the mountain to Cannon Rocks.

Two hiking trails begin in Cannon Rocks. The first (7 km) starts right at the western end of town at the Cannons and winds through the bush to a look-out over the coastal dunefield. It then goes back on the beach. It is advisable to wear a sun-hat and take water.

The second trail is a two-day trail that can be booked through the Addo Elephant Park offices.

Economy

Cannon Rocks is close to an area called "The Golden Mile" of dairy farming. It is a strip of land between the sea and the Woody Cape forest that is very well suited to dairy farming. This historically drove the development of the area. Recent price collusion between major milk-buying companies Clover, Parmalat and Woodlands have left the once prosperous farmers facing bleak futures, with herds reduced and many farmers opting for beef cattle.[6]

The economy of Cannon Rocks is primarily retirement housing, holiday houses and weekend visitors. The beaches are immaculately clean and safe due to the very low number of visitors and the fact that there is approximately 100 km of untouched bush and beaches to the west.

Cannon Rocks does not have a retail outlet and residents and visitors buy basic commodities in Boknesstrand or Kenton-on-Sea. Basically the only commercial activity is the Post Office Agency. Kenton-on-Sea also provides several banks and associated commercial activities.

References

1. "Main Place Cannon Rocks". Census 2011.
2. See SA Venues
3. Footprints On Our Land website
4. South African Weather bureau
5. SA National Parks website.
6. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=vn20080131062707253C825062