Book review 

299                                                                TD The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa, 5(2), December 2009, pp. 298-299.

River, Zeekoevlei, Zandvlei, the Hout Bay River, the rivers of the Southern Peninsula, the Noordhoek 
Wetlands, the Kuils River, the Eerste River, and the Lourens River. These chapters are the meat of this 
book. The reader is nearly overwhelmed by the information in these chapters. The history and develop-
ment of every river area was meticulously recorded and even very small tributaries feature in the nar-
rative. Current conditions of the rivers, wetlands and estuaries are presented as well as the threats they 
are facing with the rapid urbanisation.

Chapter 20 is about the economics of the rehabilitation of rivers and wetlands. The last chapter looks 
to the future. These two chapters are important parts of this book telling the reader what can be done 
to save these important areas and what will be the cost of saving them. After the main text there are 
still three appendixes, first two are listing frogs and waterbirds living in the area and the third all the 
relevant Cape Town City Council guidelines, policies and by-laws.

As a history researcher you could complain about too few references in this book, especially in the parts 
dealing with the history of Cape Town, but considering the scope of the book, this is a minor mat-
ter. The book is full of informative maps and charts and it lavishly illustrated with beautiful photos in 
nearly every page. This book is necessary reading for everyone who is interested in the Cape Peninsula, 
its nature and its history. I also hope that this book is a start for similar publications of various other 
aquatic environments of South Africa. 

 

Harri Mäki

North-West University