Book Review: Things ewe never kn'ewe about South African place names

One of the many fun elements of a leisurely road trip through South Africa is to laugh and puzzle about the rich scattering of weird and wonderful names of towns and places that make our varied landscape so special.

Who of us haven't puzzled about the history and origins, let alone the locations of Baardskeerdersbos, Blanco, Boknesstrand, Collywobble, Die Hel, Dronkvlei, Tietiesbaai, Reivilio, Ga-Rankuwa, Kamanassie, Kanoneiland, Klein Mier Nommer Een, Kommadagga, Mensvretersberg, Skaapeiland or one of the best of all, Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein.

Hands up those of you who knew that the Cape Flats townships of Nyanga means "Moon" and Langa means "Sun"? Or which South African fathered 350 kids or who explored this country in the 1700s with a pet baboon as his official taster or which animal is responsible for the most place names in South Africa?

To add to the pleasure and ease of use Things ewe never kn'ewe about South African place names lists the places in alphabetical order and are clearly identified by province and handy location points with a good scattering of simple quizzes guaranteed to provoke much mirth and shorten long straight tar roads.

Besides place names, their origins and history, this amusingly illustrated and handy travel guide is full of fascinating asides from the mind and pen of Ann Gadd, author of 13 books and popular artist with a penchant for sheep, hence the title.

This smile-a-page little gem should be a permanent travel companion for anybody with the urge to explore South Africa's foreign horizons and the many treasures it is home to.

Available from MapStudio at www.mapstudio.co.za or call telesales on 0860 10 50 50. Price R220.