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Battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal Isandlwana & Rorkes Drift – Three Day

Battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal

Rorkes drift, Isandlwana, Fugitives Drift, Fort Eshowe and King Shaka Memorial

Price on Request

OVERVIEW

Over the years there have been many battles for control over land and people. These Wars in KwaZulu-Natal took place between the British, Boers and Zulus just a few hours outside of Durban. Two of the most famous battles being the Battle of Isandlwana (between the British and the Zulu’s) the Zulu’s annihilating the British and the battle at Rorkes Drift (between the British and the Zulu’s), the British annihilating the Zulu Warriors. Both these Battles took place on the same day the 22nd January 1879. On this Battlefields tour you will be transported back in time to experience these great Battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal.

You can feel the spirits on the Battlefields and you know that something major happened on the sacred ground you stand upon!

On a 3-day tour of the Battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal we visit three major battle sites which are of huge interest namely Isandlwana, Rorkes Drift and Blood River.

We also visit the King Shaka memorial site, Fort Eshowe, Shakaland, Odini, Emakhosini, Piet Retief’s grave and Fugitives Drift.

This makes the tour a comprehensive tour of the Anglo-Zulu battlefields as well as Blood River – an Anglo-Boer battle which wets the taste buds for your next trip to Zululand!

  

WHY WE THINK YOU’LL LOVE IT

  

   Learning from your Passionate guide who has in-depth knowledge of the Anglo-Zulu Battlefields.

   Experiencing the recreation of these battles for which so many men lost their lives.

✓   Enjoying the monuments and Museum set up to commemorate the Anglo-Zulu Battles fought in 1879.

ITINERARY

 

Day 1: Battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal Tour (Anglo-Zulu)

6:30 AM: Transportation

We collect our clients from their accommodation at 8:30am (this pickup time depends on where clients accommodation is and will be confirmed). We’ll travel directly to our first stop, the Shaka Memorial in KwaDukuza. This is a 45min drive during which your guide will go over the itinerary for the upcoming tour, and give some detail into the history of South Africa, the Zulu’s and English as well as the Boers.

King Shaka Zulu Memorial Center

On arrival at the memorial we’ll enjoy a tour around the site with a local site guide. King Shaka’s story is a fascinating one and is relevant not only to the Anglo-Zulu war but also to South Africa today.

Battlefield site of Gingindlovu

After our tour we’ll depart for our next stop, Fort Eshowe in the the oldest European town in Zululand, Eshowe. Here the British were besieged by the Zulu warriors for a period of 2 months. On route to this site we’ll also stop to explore a smaller but very important battle site at Gingindlovu.

Fort Eshowe

We’ll spend approximately 60min at Fort Eshowe and thereafter depart for Isandlwana where we will have lunch. Feel free to bring a sandwich with you as it is a long day.

Isandlwana

On route to Isandlwana your guide will point out Mtonjaneni and uMgungundlovu.

Dinner: 

Once settled it will be time for dinner.

Day 2: Battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal Tour (Anglo-Zulu)

8:00 AM: Breakfast

After breakfast (8am) we’ll depart for the first of today’s stop Isandlwana where this amazing Anglo-Zulu Battle will be explained to you in detail.

Lunch

Rorke’s Drift

After lunch we will head to Rorke’s Drift to cover this great battle and this will cover our time for the day.

Accomodation

After our visit to Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift we’ll depart for our overnight accommodation in the area.

Day 3: Battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal Tour (Anglo-Zulu)

8:30 AM: Breakfast

Fugitive Hill

After breakfast we’ll depart for Fugitive Drift. The story of Coghill and Melville’s dalant and ultimately futile dash to escape the battlefield of Isandlawana to safeguard the Queen’s Colours is a fascinating and tragic one. We’ll learn more about these men and their dash at the very spot they met their fates.

The Battle of Blood River

After the visit at Fugitives Drift we’ll travel to the Battle of Blood River and learn more about what happened here.

Lunch

After our tour, we’ll enjoy lunch at the site and then depart back for Durban.

Arrive back in Durban

We should arrive by 5pm.

HISTORY

The Battle of Isandlwana

The name Isandlwana comes from the Zulu word “Isandla” which means hand and refers to the shape of the “koppie” or Hill which the Battle was fought upon.

At Isandlwana approximately 22 000 Zulu Impis(warriors) killed 1350 British Soldiers who were supposedly unarmed as their firearms and ammunition had not yet arrived from Rorkes drift due to the Zulus cutting it off! This particular Battle is world renowned as the worst defeat the British army had ever suffered at the hands of a native force.

There is now a monument commemorating the battle of Isandlwana as you enter the battlefield.


The Battle of Rorkes Drift

The battle of Rorkes Drift took place 30 km away from Isandlwana. It is this battle that the British are famous for as they won this battle with just approximately 150 soldiers against 3000 – 4000 Zulu Impis (warriors). This battle became so well-known due to the fact that the British Queen handed out 11 Victorian crosses, the most at any battle fought against a Native army.

Next to this little Mission Station was a Small hospital and the British Soldiers used Biscuit boxes to create a barrier between the two. It was this idea, and the weapons, which won them this battle.


The Battle of Blood River

The Battle of Blood River was fought between the Boers (Voortrekkers) who were led by Andries Pretorius against the Zulus on the bank of the Ncome River on the 16th December 1838.

This battle was fought by approximately 470 Boers and 15 000 – 21 000 Zulus!
Casualties were high as approximately 3 000 of King Dingane’s Zulus were killed including two Zulu Princes competing with Prince Mpande for the Zulu Throne. Only Three Boers were slightly injured including their leader Pretorius.

PLEASE NOTE

  • Group Rates are available on request.

INCLUSIONS

  • Accommodation – in the area
  • Dinners and Breakfast
  • Entrance Fees
  • Listed Activities
  • Transport – Pick-up and Drop-off
  • Guide
  • Bottled Water (We only supply a limited number of bottles per day, should you require additional, this will be for your own account)

EXCLUSIONS

  • Items of Personal Nature
  • Lunch (Restaurant Available)
  • Beverages: Beer; Wine; Cold Drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Any other items not listed in the Inclusions