Signal gun family treasure hunt adventure

Start your own family adventure by hunting down the cannons used in the Dutch signal chain.

The VOC installed 50 plus canons on hills and mountains around the Cape. It formed a signal gun chain that could call the Burgher Militia up for defence. This signal gun chain extended from the Signal Hill, via Durbanville to Citrusdal in the North West, Worcester in the north and via Tygerberg to Suurbraak beyond Swellendam in the east.

According to Martin Venter form CAOSA South Africa is the only country in the world with a 9 inch (the biggest gun) still on it's original site still firing regularly.

CAOSA has regular sessions and cannon firings that you can add to your diary. They plan one at the Afrikaans Taal Monument once a month at twelve (You could be the lucky visitor who fires it) and another event at Signal-gun Ke-Monate Winebar and Bistro at 12, just in time for lunch. Visit coasa.org for more info and events.

Bloemendal Cannon Station is situated at Bloemendal Restaurant. Bloemendal Cannon Station fired its opening shot in April 2013 and since fired 480 shots of various calibre witnessed by more than 25 000 spectators. There are 5 muzzleloader cannons on permanent display which are regularly fired.

For firings and cannon talks please contact Bloemendal Restaurant. Cannon firings and talks are subjected to the availability of a gunner.

Herewith our first tick list of cannons in the Western Cape:

Ke- Monate (Signal gun wines)

Bloemendal Cannon Station

Rondebossieberg

Tygerberg Hill

Hout Bay Battery

Groote Post Wine Farm, Darling 

Remeber to post a picture of your discovery using #Cannon #WithKids on Facebook. 

"Thank you" to Martin Venter & Erick Kellerman for your contribution to this article

This article origanally appeared in our magazine www.thingstodowithkids.co.za/magazine