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Lifted from another topic, I think it deserves it's own.



Who knows more explanations and/or meanings of names in Kruger?

Buy the book "A Dictionary of Kruger National Park Place Names" by JJ Kloppers and Hans Bornman ISBN 0-9584782-1-X

An extract from the above book:



Afsaal is an Afrikaans word for

This is very interseting. SO & I were just chatting about the names the other day & saying that we should find out more about the word meanings when we're there next month. We were for example talking about "Manzimhlope" - In Xhosa Manzi (Amanzi) means water & hlope means white. So it could mean "Whitewater", but not being in a Xhosa region we were wondering if it has that meaning. Will have find out.

I've recently posted a page on the website on the meanings of place names in the Kgalagadi under "every name tells a story". Think it would be a good idea to add such a page for Kruger?

Perhaps this should be conducted on a "question and answer" basis.

Not all names are covered in Dr Kloppers' book, I think, although I don't have it.

I'm curious about "Pafuri" and "Mhlanganzwane", for example.

Sorry if there is another thread.

I can't find Mhlanganzwane in Dr Kloppers and Hans Bornman's book, does it have a different spelling perhaps?
Pafuri - a distortion of Mphaphuli, the dynastic name of the Venda chief through whose area the Luvuvhu River flows. Magnus Forssman named the Luvuvhu River the Paforis as early as 1869 and in 1875 Merensky named it the Pafuri.
This is an excellent book and I hope they will forgive me for quoting it.

Thanks Freda.

No other spelling as far as I know.

I think the authors could only have dreamed of sharing their research like this, and would have no problem!

Another question - Mafortini, east of Shingwedzi.

Don't know of a Mafortini, east of Shingwedzi
There is a Mafotini waterhole, also known as Mafourteen, used to be spelt Mafortini, 13kms northwest of Lower Sabie, got it's name from the Mozambicans who walked through the park and had to spend 14 days in detention as illegal immigrants before they were allowed to continue their journey. The footpath they used passed nearby.

You really must buy the book, it's a steal at R150 and all for a good cause

Sorry, Dipene is what I meant!

Dipene now spelt Dipeni, Tsongo for 'at the dip tank'.
The cement dipping tank was built during the outbreak of foot and mouth in 1938.
People who crossed the border from Mozambique had to immerse their feet in the disinfectant to prevent spreading the disease.
Again thanks to Kloppers and Bornman

I recently bought the book "A Dictionary of Kruger National Park Place Names" by JJ Kloppers and Hans Bornman and started plugging in the coordinates, as supplied in the book, into GoogleEarth. Wouldn't you know it, a whole bunch of errors in position of common places like Crocodile Bridge rest camp. I am trying to contact the publisher/editor to inform them of the errors and will let you know what happens. Other than the coord errors this is a really great book.

The book sound awesome, I have a book on SA place names but not many of Kruger's names appear/ Where is this book available - Pretoria, JHB or do I have to buy it in Kruger

wachinda, if you go here you will find the thread on the book and where to locate it.

Thanks Elsa, Will contact them now !

I collected the dictionary and started browsing. - the history part is very interesting . 9 days to go - sure the book will be put to good use. Thanks to the forum for adding to trips anticipation.