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Tour
7. KwaZulu Natal Battlefields
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1. Natal
Battlefields
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Tour
Info:
Travel via Pietermaritzburg, capital city of KwaZulu Natal
and through sugar cane fields and forest areas to Greytown,
the birthplace of General Louis Botha. From here on you
experience the Natal "hinterland" as we proceed
through the rural areas of the Tugela Ferry and Pomeroy.
Enjoy the locals in their traditional dress, and the landscape
with its many traditional "beehive" huts. Travel
to Fugitives Drift - the grave site of Lt Cognhill, Lt
Melville and Rourkes Drift where you can see a pictorial
account of the battles in the museum. Our final stop is
the visit to the battlefields of Isandlwana. Contirve
through Zululand and the fertile Nkwaleni valley before
returning to Durban
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2.
General Info
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Situated in the northern part of KwaZulu Natal. This
region has the largest concentration of Battlefields in
South Africa. The route links 17 key towns to over 50
historical sites, embracing the struggles; between Voortrekker
and Zulu, the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, the first war of
Independence (1880-1881), the South African War (1899-1902)
and the Bambatha Rebellion of 1906. In addition to the
numerous battle sites the route also offers visitors opportunities
to experience Zulu culture and to enjoy hiking, fishing,
game-viewing and birding. |
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3. Ladysmith
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Visit the towns Siege Museum |
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4.
Elandslaagte
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The Elandslaagte battlefield is situated just south
of the towns of Glencoe and Dundee, and west of
Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana. This important battle
took place on 18 October 1899 and began when General
Kock moved his Boer commando towards Elandslaagte
to cut off the British troops who were advancing
along the Helpmekaar road from Dundee. The British
finally won the day. On your right, on the way to
the battlefield you pass a cemetry under trees.
This is the naval cemetery containing graves of
some of the soldiers who died during the Battle
of Elandslaagte as well as the remains of men who
died from various diseases between March and May
1900 while the British army were camped awaiting
the order to advance towards the Biggarsberg.
On the hill opposite the Boer memorial, there is
an obelisk to British Lieutenant Colonel Scott-Chrisholme
and the Imperial Light Hourse, and slightly further
along the road is a cemetery |
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the graves of more British soldiers who died during
the Elandslaagte battle. |
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5. Dundee & Talana
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Visit the Talana Museum with its displays on the battle
at Talana and on the Anglo Zulu War. Points of interest
include Iscor hall of Mining, Chamber of Mines Coal Museum,
Consol Glass Collection and the Brick Heritage Display,
The battle of Talana was the opening battle of the Anglo-Boer
War in which the British were victorious. Today, one of
the country's most impressive museums, the Talana Museum,
stands on this site on the outskirts of Dundee.It comprises
nine separate buildings with fascination exhibits covering
the early San hunter-gatherers through to the rise of
the Zulu nation and the Anglo-Boer War, as well as the
extermination of the cannibals in the early 1900s, who
lived in the nearby Biggarsberg. Two buildings that were
used by the British as dressing rooms during the battle
of Talana also form part of the Museum. A restored mine
cottage close by has been transformed into a pleasant
restaurant where you can rest and get something to eat. |
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6.
Helpmekaar
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Visit the remains of a Boer Fort on the crest of the
hill, and a British Military cemetery with a single grave
- a reminder of this battle. |
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7. Isandlwana
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Ranks among the worst defeats suffered by the British
Army in Africa.
Over 1 300 British soldiers were killed in a furious
two-hour battle at Isandlwana when they were caught between
the "horns" of the Zulu army of King Cetshwayo
in January 1879. This defeat at the hand of the Zulus,
who were armed mainly with traditional spears and shields,
shocked the Colonial and British Governments.
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8.
Rorkes Drift
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The Museum at Rorke's Drift tells the story of the British Soldiers who so
valiantly defended the small Rorke's Drift settlement
following the crushing defeat at Isandlwana.
A group of just over 100 British Soldiers successfully
defended Rorke's drift against a sustained attack
by an estimated force of 4000 Zulu warriors.
The British took cover behind a line of biscuit
boxes and retreated to a redoubt of mealie bags.
On the British side 17 men were killed, the Zulu
casualties were over 500. the defenders of Rorkes
Drift received 11 Victoria Crosses. The highest
number for a single battle.
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9.
Spioenkop
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Spioenkop was the scene of the most futile,
and perhaps the bloodiest of the four battles
fought in an effort by Sir Redvers Buller to relieve
the beleaguered town of Ladysmith where British
forces were besieged by Boer Commandos for 118
days. These events occured at the height of the
Anglo-Boer War of 1899 - 1902. This monument to
the South Lancashire Regiment is situated on the
battlefield. |
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10.
Blood River Monument.
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The 64 bronze ox-wagons marking the Blood River
battle site, between Dundee and Vryheid, are arranged
in the precise laager formation used by the Voortrekkers
in 1838 when the massed Zulu impis(Battalion of
warriors) of King Dingane, numbering about 15
000, advanced on the Boer encampment, only to
be slaugtered in their thousands.
Following these grusame killings, the Voortrekkers
made a covenant with God that, should he grant
them victory, they would built a church in his
honour and, forever after, observe this day as
a day of thanksgiving. Today, 16 December is still
a public holiday, known as the day of reconciliation. |
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11.
Map
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12.
Battlefields Info Form.
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or advice please complete the form below, and we
will reply as soon as possible.
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