South Africa is full of character – from its people to its place names. But sometimes, that character veers into the ridiculous! Across the country, you’ll find street names and small towns that are so strange, they seem made up. Here are 10 of the weirdest, silliest, or just plain strange names that actually exist on the map.
1. Klein Mier Nommer Een
Somewhere in the Northern Cape, there’s a street called “Small Ant Number One.” It sounds like a rejected superhero codename, but it’s real. Why it exists is anyone’s guess!
2. Hotazel
This one’s a pun. Say it out loud: “Hot as hell.” Locals will tell you it lives up to the name, especially in the Northern Cape’s sweltering summer. It’s more a temperature warning than a street name, really.
3. Pofadder
Named after the puff adder snake, Pofadder doesn’t exactly scream “welcome.” It’s less a name, more a red flag. Would YOU want to live on Puff Adder Avenue?
4. Tietiesbaai
Located in the Western Cape, this name has raised some eyebrows due to its resemblance to a colloquial term for a part of the female anatomy. It’s a popular campsite, believe it or not, but the name still makes people do a double take.
5. Tweebuffelsmeteenskootmorsdoodgeskietfontein
This is not a typo. It’s the longest place name in South Africa and means “The spring where two buffaloes were shot stone-dead with one shot.” Good luck fitting that on a street sign – or GPS!
6. Die Hel
“The Hell” sounds like a warning, not a destination. But it’s actually a remote, scenic valley in the Swartberg mountains. Beautiful, but with a name like that, you’d definitely expect some brimstone.
7. Ogies
It means “little eyes,” and no one really knows why. It’s a mining town in Mpumalanga, but the name makes it sound more like a children’s cartoon.
8. Kokstad
This one’s not weird in Afrikaans or Zulu, but in English, it’ll get a snicker or two. It’s named after a historical figure, Adam Kok III, but that doesn’t stop the jokes!
9. Putsonderwater
“Fountain without water.” It’s a literal name for a literal place in the Northern Cape that is, unsurprisingly, dry. Who needs optimism?
10. Baardskeerdersbos
Try saying that three times fast. It translates to “Beard Shaver’s Bush,” named after a spider that trims hair for its nest. Yes, that’s real. No, you probably don’t want to visit.
What are some other quirky street names or places that you know of in SA?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
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