Amanzimtoti River
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| Amanzimtoti River aManzimtoti | |
|---|---|
 Amanzimtoti River at the lower parking area of Ilanda Wilds | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Location | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | |
• location | Indian Ocean |
Amanzimtoti River, also known as aManzimtoti River (which is its official name), is a short river in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, that originates northwest of Adams Mission, and flows through the town of eManzimtoti, South Africa. The N2 crosses the river just before its mouth at the Indian Ocean. (coordinates river mouth see Manzimtoti Lagoon). The river also pass through the sacred waterfall of Adams Mission.
Zulu king Shaka is said to have named the river after drinking the waters and exclaiming in isiZulu "Kanti amanzi mtoti" meaning "So, the water is sweet". The river came to be known to English speakers as Amanzimtoti ("Sweet Waters"). The Zulu word for "sweet" is mnandi, but Shaka's mother had the name Nandi, so he is said to have invented the word 'toti' to replace mnandi, so as not to wear out her name.
Recently it has been proposed to officially change the name to aManzamtoti to more accurately reflect the isiZulu pronunciation and spelling, though many Amanzimtoti residents still refer to the river as Amanzimtoti River, Manzimtoti River or simply Toti River.
A recent alternative, and unpopular, suggestion for the origin of the name of the river is in the isiZulu word 'udoti' meaning dirt, which fits more closely with 'toti', and that the name actually means "Dirty Water".[1]
