Boknes is situated halfway between Port Elizabeth and East London, 20km from Alexandria and 8km Bushman’s River and Kenton on Sea. Next to the extended Addo Elephant Park on the R72. It has a mild moderate climate all year round, with summer temperature reaching up to 30°C and winters an average 14 to 20°C. It is a Malaria free area.
History
Boknes’s historical importance comes from the discovery of the Dias Cross in 1937-38 by Prof Eric Axelson. There is 5000 fragments of the original Padrao Sao Gregorio recovered which was planted in 1488 by Bartolomias Dias at Kwaaihoek. It was about 75% of the original Dias-beacon.
The cross was reconstructed to the University of the Witwatersrand. In 1944 a replica of the cross was built and can be reached from Boknesstrand by foot. The cross dates the important discovery of the seaway to India around the south point of Africa like Bartolomias Dias. This important voyage of Dias is the earliest noted event in our country’s history.
In November 1995 President Mario Soares from Portugal visited the cross – he was the first head of state of this country which ever visited after 507 years.
WHERE DOES THE NAME “BOKNES” COME FROM?
There are many theories about the origin of the name “Boknes”. With refence to documents by Gordon (1785) “Boknes” was called “Bocna” - also the “Hottentot” form of “Vadersriviertjie.”
In the Moodie Record (1809) Collins referred to it as “on the banks of a fine stream called “Bokenax”
The Xhosas referred to Dias Cross as the “Baken” and from there the name Bakanasstrand.”
The Afrikaans revision from Bakanasrivier to Boknes points to the vast amount of bluebuck and bushbuck that lived and is still living in the bush.