South Africa - Green Kalahari Accommodation Kanoneiland

GREEN KALAHARI ACCOMMODATION KANONEILAND

KANONEILAND

The town of Kanoneiland, situated 12km northeast of Keimoes, is the largest island in the Orange River and the largest inland island in South Africa. It is 14km long and 13km at it widest, covering an area of 2500 hectares.

The name originated in 1878 when it was a stronghold of the Korannas led by Klaas Pofadder. During the second northern frontier war, the Korannas were driven back to Kanoneiland and was bombarded by the Cape Artillery Corps with cannon fire. The story goes that Klaas Pofadder, not to be outdone, fashioned a homemade cannon out of the trunk of a large quiver tree, loaded it with gunpowder and pieces of stones and scrap and fired it across the stream. When the smoke cleared, 6 of the Korannas were killed by their own gun.

In 1928 a group of 52 private settlers began to clear Kanoneiland for cultivation. The settlers originally used a raft to cross the stream to the mainland. Later the raft was replaced by a boat and still later by a regular ferry service. In 1940 a bridge was build over the southern stream and another over the northern stream in 1954. The old boat has been mounted on pillars in the local school grounds

The Main Attractions are:

* Pleasure drives

Enjoy a leasure drive amongst the lush green of the vineyards that cover most of the 14km of the island.

* Farm style meals

The weary traveller can feast on a spit-roast, home-baked breads and several traditional deserts..

* Wines

The Orange River Valley is famours for its locally produced wines.