Place names in Kruger - origin and meaning

[Micetta]

Found this one

Balule - is a shortening of "Rimbalule", the Tsonga name for the Olifants River.

here.
But I suppose you are looking for the traduction from Tsonga

[Elsa]

So what does "Nhlanganzwane" mean, then?

According to my book it is ZULU: Nhlanganzwani - from inhlanga izinzwani, means "Reed Toes" probably referring to the thick reed bands (due to the many streams) in the bed of the Sabie River.

And it seems there were many previous spellings:
Mhalangamzwane, Mhlanganzwane, Nhlangmutwana, Nhlangamzwane, and Nhlanganzwane.

But as Gmlsmit says previously any spelling was accepted as it was based on the spoken language.

[gmlsmit]

A few more interesting names:

Biyamiti: Tsonga origin meaning "where baricades had to be erected around dwelling places" . The area was very attractive to the Tsonga settlers moving in from the east, however they had to build barricades to keep out the aggressive local people.

Bobomeni: Tsonga origin for a drift near Punda Maria, meaning - "at the rapids" a spot where stepping stones were placed to cross the river.

Bowkerkop: Afrikaans/English origin for the rise on the road to Pafuri, named after a hunting party consisting of members of the Bowker family from Witwatersrand in the 1880s.

Boyela: Tsonga origin for a borehole near Vlakteplaas, meaning "the tree that is forbidden", which specie is unknown.

Bububu:Tsonga origin of a creek in the Shangoni area after the sound made by a faraway river or a flood, an alternative meaning is "to wake upy early and quickly.

Crooks Corner:English origin for the place at the confluence of the Levhuvu and Limpopo Rivers on the borders of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, made convenient for poachers, ivory-hunters and outlaws.

Dimbo: Venda origin for the hill on which Punda Maria Rest Camp was built, shortening of an earlier inhabitant - Dimboni, also the name Ranger Gus Adendorff gave to a favoured resident male Lion.

Dipeni: Tsonga origin for a place east of Shingwedzi, meaning "at the dip tank" referring to the dipping tank that was built duringthe outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease during 1938. Passing immigrants had to dip their feet in the disinfectant containg tank.

Doispane: Tsonga origin meaning "dustbin" the name of a previous inhabitant of the area for the road and also for the place where Ranger Harry Wolhuter used to camp between Mtimba and Skukuza.

Elandskuil: Afrikaans origin for a waterhole and windmill on the H1-8, named by Dr. Tol Pienaar after the Eland found in the area.

Vlakteplaas: Afrikaans origin for the Rangers Post and the surrounding area in the far north, meaning "flatlands".

Voorsitspruit: Afrikaans orgin for a Creek nort-east of Letaba, named by Johan Kloppers after an incident in which Rangers Ben Lamprecht and Ben Pretorius were involved in an ambush at an ivory cache during the 1980s, while waiting the poachers to return to collect their loot, meaning "ambush stream".

Gezanfombi: Siswati origin for a creek near Kingfisherspruit meaning " the place where the beautiful people bathe".

Girivana:Tsonga origin for an area east of Satara after an influential Chief of the area during the 19th century.

Giriyondo: Tsonga origin for the border post with Mozambique after the giri-giri-giri sound of a screeching wheelbarrow wheel.

Gomondwane: Tsonga origin for the forest and surrounding area north-west of Crocodile Bridge - after a person wholived there before 1910.

Grysbok: Afrikaans origin for an area north of the Mopani Rest Camp, named by Dr. Tol Pienaar after the Grysbok which occurs in the area.

Gudzani: Tsonga origin for a creek north-east of Satara after a person who lived their in earlier times.

Gumbandebvu: Venda origin for a hill east of Punda Maria meaning " to shave one's beard". A custom where only those who had shaven heads were allowed to climb the holy hill.

Guweni: Tsonga origin for a tributary Creek of the Sweni River meaning "the croaking of the frogs".

Gwavava: Tsonga origin for a place on the Napi road meaning " a large gey/brown lizard that lives among the rocks".

Hetajomborho:Tsonga origin for a Creek nort-east of punda Maria, meaning "the place where the jumper drill broke", relating to an incident where equipment got stuck in the borehole during a drilling operation.

Hlahleni: Tsonga origin a name for a Creek north-east of Letaba which flows into Mozambique, meaning " at the dry brushwood'.

Hlamalala: Tsonga origin for a Creek nort-east of Punda Maria, meaning "Southern stripe-bellied grass orsand snake".

Huhla:Fanakalo origin for an old railway halt a corruption of the Tsonga name "nhlutwa" meaning giraffe.

Hukweni: Tsonga origin referingto the original Sotho name "Mogogwene" meaning "place of the roosters" of the large gabro hill south-east of Pretoriuskop.

Hutwini: Tsonga origin for the beautiful sandstone hill west of Punda Maria meaning"at the limestone for washing or cleaning wooden utensils:.

Jones Dam: English origin for the dam after Senior Ranger Col. Rowland Jones who helped building the dam.

Jubilala: Siswati origin for a Creek north-east of Crocodile Bridge meaning "cut the ilala palm".

Kambeni:Tsonga origin for large granite rock north of Pretoriuskop meaning "at the place of scrutiny", the first lookout point for tourists in the Kruger National Park.

Klaserie: Afrikaans corruption of the Sotho Motlasedi for the area west of the Kruger National Park meaning " where the big battle took place".

[Sanpfan]

Would I be right in saying that;

Nkuhlu means "Place of the Buff Pastie"?

[Porridge]

sadly, I think it means "place of the buff pasty that was" *sobs*

[gmlsmit]

and a few more:

Komati:Two origins, Tsonga Nkomati from SISWATI - Inkomati -the female of a large animal "the river of cows" or possibly the more likely - Zulu Inkmagazi - "river of blood" from cattle.

Kunguweni:the Tsonga name of a place east of Olifants "the place wit an abundance of beer".

Kushumba:Tsonga origin namne of a Creek soouth-east of Maklangeni, also their name for Don Lowe former Senior Ranger "an exceptionally strong person".

Lanner Gorge: English origin for one of the most beautiful places in the Park, where the Levhuvu River cuts a gorge north of Punda Maria, named by Ranger Mike English after the Lanner Falcons often seen in the area.

Lebombo:of Zulu - Siswati origin for the mountain range forming the eastern boundary of the Park and South Africa with Mozambique - amabombo - "to set course in a chosen direction, especially when migrating in a chosen direction or changing one's lodging".
Also the crest of a mountain, it must have been an important landmark in the days gone by.

Limpopo: Ndebele origin Ilimpopho "river of the waterfall".

Lubyelubye: Tsonga origin for the creek north of Lower Sabie from labye"to go through the water in ones close".

Mabyebye:Tsonga origin for a tributary of the Bangu south-east of Olifants " to be a coward".

Mabyendzawo: of Tsonga origin for a trutary of the Sabie River south-west of Lower Sabie " lion rocks".

Mabyeni: of Tsonga origin - the name of a hill north west of Pafuri " at the rocks".

Pafuri: of Venda origin - a distortion of Mphaphuli, the name of an inflentail Chief who reigned in the area.

Machangani: Of Tsonga origin, the name of a Creek north-east of Phalaborwa, "the Sangane people".

Machaphiri: of Tsonga origin the name of a dolerite dyke across the western boundary, ending in the Munywini Creek - " the place where the puffadder gave fright".

Munywini: of Tsonga origin for a Creek south-west of Tshokwane, a tributary of the N'wasontsontso "at the salt".

N'wasontsontso: of Tssonga origin, the name of the dry river flowwing through the central area of the Park, later joining the Nkomati in Mozambique "drip intermittently".

Tshokwane: of Sotho origing - the name of a person who sed to live in the area.

Marhabuyahutlwa: of Tsonga origin, the name of Creek and waterhole north-west of Lower Sabie, a tributary of the Salitje Creek - "the bones of a giraffe".

Marhandzala:of Tsonga origin a tributary of the Shineyi "ground hornbills".

Marheya: Tsonga origin name of a tributary of the Sweni River south east of Satara "to set a trap".

Swewni: of Tsonga origin, the name of the largest tributary of the Nwanetsi River, "shut eyes tightly".

Nwanetsi: of Tsonga origin, the namne of the river south of Satara flowing into Mozambique, " the Creek with the shiny glimmering water".

Marhumbini: of Tsonga origin, the name of a Creek south of Mooiplaas, a tributary of the Shabhakadzi, at the old, deserted kraal sites".

Marhumbyeni: of Tsonga origin, the name of a borehole south-west of Letaba, named by Gus Adendorff - "at the entrails".

[Elzet]

And this one...

http://www.parks-sa.co.za/forums/viewto ... c&start=15


See Rimbalule...

[gmlsmit]

Mike English who is a friend of mine was named Mashangane by his Shangane Field Staff for his ability to speak their language so fluently.
Mike is busy compiling an English/Shangane dictionery.

Up to now I still been unsuccesful in finding the meaning of Balule/Rimbalule even from the Sangane people, should anyone be able to assist please advise me of their finding.

[Stoffel]

Piet van der Hyde (retired ranger of various sections in Kruger) is one of my neighbours. In front of his house is a stump of a leadwood tree - and attached to it is a sign board "Shingwedzi ¼ Mile". As I passed his house yesterday he just returned with his car and I asked him whereabout that sign used to be near Shingwedzi. He explained that the sign stood where the S135 joins up with the S50 (in other words near the low-level bridge when you use the back gate of Shingwedzi). The present back gate of Shingwedzi used to be the only gate of the camp and the road over the low-level bridge was the main road to Punda Maria.

But underneath the leadwood stump in front of his house is a granite grinding stone (used as a water trough for his dog nowadays) that comes from a place called Makahane - previously known as Makahanya - in the park. It is a hill and ruins, 23 km north of Punda Maria, alongside the Luvuvhu River. 'Makahane the brute', a chief of the VhaLembethu (forerunners of the Venda), lived on the hill and was murdered and buried there.

As I did not know about Makahane, Piet gave me a book "A Dictionary Of Kruger National Park Place Names" (by JJ Kloppers and Hans Bornman) to read up about Makahane. I will still take a photo of the tree stump, sign board and the grinding stone and place it here.

But reading through the book I found it interesting what the meaning of many names in the park are and/or how it got its names.

Piet has a fountain in the park named after him, namely "Piet-se-Fontein". It is 5 km north-west of Houtboschrand ranger's post, in a small tributary of the Timbavati River. It was named in honour of Piet who discovered the fountain in 1964.

I will (over time) place some information on some of the more well-known place names in the park (coming from the mentioned book) on the forum. It may be of interest for more people.

[Stoffel]

Here's a photo of the mentioned leadwood tree stump, road sign and the grinding stone from Makahane.

[Flutterby]

Many rivers in Kruger have the prefix N'wa as in N'wanetsi, N'watimhiri, N'waswitshaka, N'watindlopfu etc. Does this mean river or water, and what language is it?

[Stoffel]

I had a quick look in the mentioned book. I also thought that the prefix "N'wa" has something to do with water. But it seems not to be the case. I looked at various "N'wa" names:

N'wagovila - hill (part of the Muntshe range north of Lower Sabie) is a Tsonga name of a person who lived there in the past.

N'wahuvane - pan (11 km south of Punda Maria) is a Tsonga name of a person who lived there in the past.

N'wamafelele - creek (10 km south-west of Satara) is named after Ranger DH Swarts who was stationed at Satara from 1946 until 1959. It was his Tsonga nickname - meaning "the stingy one".

N'wamagamba - creek (18 km north of Phalaborwa) is the Tsonga for 'Cape terrapin'.

N'wamakuvele - creek (13.5 kn south of Letaba) is also a Tsonga name of a person long ago.

N'wamanzi - hill and lookout (7.5 km south-west of Olifants) is the Tsonga name of a person who lived there earlier.

Therefore it seems as if "N'wa" has some or other Tsonga meaning, but it does not refer to water or river as I thought. Maybe somebody can share some light on the meaning of this Tsonga prefix.

[gmlsmit]

And a few more:

N’wamatatsa: 2 km south of Kingfisherspruit, tributary of the Timbavati River – from the Tsonga word “Tsatsa” -“to dress up in all one’s finery”.

N’wamiyawani: 6 km north east of Shingwedzi downstream of the Kanniedood Dam Tsonga name of an inhabitant of long ago.

Nwambi: a pan 5 km east of Pafuri, the Venda name of a person who lived there long ago.

N’wambiya: the Tsonga name of a person who used to live here in the sand-veld east of Vlakteplaas near the eastern border, which also extends deep into Mozambique.

N’wambiyana: on the edge of the sand-veld to the west of the N’wambiya pans north east of Vlakteplaas a Tsonga word “small N’wambiya”.

N’wambu: a pan 11 km north-east of Mooiplaas also a pan and a Creek, the Tsonga name for the Lowveld Milkberry tree.

N’wamfutsu: the Tsonga name for a place 14 km north-east of Stolsnek in the south of the Park, meaning “the place of the Leopard/Mountain Tortoise”.

N’waminyulu: the Tsonga name of the place 15 km north-west of Woodlands on the watershed between the BUBUBU Creek and the Phugwane River, meaning “the place of the leeches”.

N’wamuriwa: the hill with a beacon and a relay station to the west of Tshokwane used by the Rangers as a lookout for veld fires, Tsonga name meaning the “place of the melon” also the name of an old inhabitant.

N’wamuriwana: a smaller hill east of Tshokwane north of Nwamuriwa, “small N’wamuriwa”.

N’wanetsana: a creek 25 km south-east of Tshokwane named by Tsonga Ranger Wilson Hlatywayo while on the look for suitable dam sites in 1957 meaning “small N’wanetsi”.

Readers will by now have realised that na at the end of a word/name indicates small/smaller.

N’wanetsi: a creek south east of Satara, Named in Tsonga “wetsi-nwetsi” meaning “to glimmer or shine”, the creek with glimmering or shiny water”. Now a Ranger’s post on the eastern border of the Park, first a WNNLA recruiting office for Mozambican mine workers, which was later converted in a very special private rest camp, one of the first in KRUGER. Also the names of a dam .5 km east of N’wanetsi and a Creek 18 km to the north-west of Letaba and a permanent spring 12 km north west of Letaba and a borehole 16 km south-west of Letaba and a hill 16 km north-west of Letaba.

N’wangela: the name Tsonga name of a game ranger of long ago now name of a Creek 10 km south-east of Crocodile Bridge.

N’wanghala: the Tsonga name of a Creek 17.5 km south-east of Phalaborwa – a tributary of the Olifants River “Lion”.

N’wanghondzo: a waterhole 8.5 km south east of Lower-Sabie, in the Mlondozi Creek the Tsonga name for the Hamerkop bird (Scopus umbretta).

N’wankwimbi: the Tsonga name for the pan 5 km north of Punda Maria meaning “N’kwimbi’s daughter”.

N’wapesani: a creek 11 km north-east of Malelane a tributary of the Crocodile River downstream of the Timfenheni, the name of Ranger Zuka Sibuyi’s wife who was a Tsonga most probably named by Ranger Pop James in the 1930s.

N’warihlangari: a creek 16 km south-east of Vlakteplaas a tributary of the Boyela a Tsonga name meaning “drop-seed grass”. Also a borehole 17 km north-east of Shingwedzi.

N’warivake: a creek 12 km south-east of Kingfisherspruit, meaning is unknown- possibly the name of a person who lived here long ago.

N’washibejana: a waterhole 12 km south-east of Olifants in the Bangu Creek a Tsonga name “the place of the Black ***” after a Black *** that was spotted there in 1984, possibly one of those imported from Natal and then wandered further north.

N’washidundzu: a creek and fountain 11 km south-east of Letaba, a tributary of the Nhlanganini Creek a Tsonga name derived from shindzundzu “un hatched spoiled egg left when the rest have hatched”. Also a hill 7 km south-west of Letaba.

[gmlsmit]

I have come across the following - with the assistance of Moderator Matthys, a lady that always assists where she can, Baie dankie.

TV Bulpin wrote in The Transvaal A Collection of The Mobil Treasury of travel Series Covering the Transvaal, published in 1975:

The Olifants can be regarded as the principle landmark of the whole Park. To the local tribes people it is known as the Lepelle ( a river that meanders slowly along) or the Balule (a river flowing to a far country) and its course marks a major natural division.

I have also come across the following in "Neem uit die Verlede" by the late Dr Tol Pienaar in his write up about the de Cuiper expedition, Frans de Cuiper had a discussion with a Tsonga elder in 1725 and mentioned the following Imbaloele Balule - (a distant river in other words the Olifants River).

The name Balule is to me an original name of the Olifants River - meaning a distant river that meanders slowly to a far country; as can still be seen today.

Now I can now lay this part to rest for myself, untill some better interpretation can be found.

[TreeQueen]

What an awesome topic! I'm always fascinated with names of places, origins, historical facts, etc.

The other day I was looking at the KNP map book and I came across an Afrikaans name: Biesiesvlei. I think it's a river situated right next to Shingwedzi. Anybody know what this name means and where it came from? My SO said he visited an area/town outside of Kruger called Biesiesvlei when he was working for his previous company. So I wonder if there is any link?

Also interested in the name belonging to the Muzandzeni picnic spot situated between Orpen and Satara. At this picnic spot there are skulls of buck hanging from the trees and under one of them there is an old black sign I think with a name and date on it. Anyone familiar with this? Would be cool to know what the sign is all about.