A Guide To South Africa's Battlefields

A Guide To South Africa's Battlefields

South Africa has been the scene of many historic battles, with the action centred firmly on the KwaZulu-Natal province, leading to the term Zulu Battlefields being commonly used. When it comes to historical sites, you never quite get the feel for them until you’ve actually been, and so a Battlefields holiday or Boer War tour to KwaZulu-Natal, or ‘KZN’, should firmly be on every historian’s wish list, and with Africa Travel you can experience things in the best possible way.

KZN, the ancestral home of the Zulu people and site of many a bloody battle between the British, the Boers and the Zulus during the 19th century, has a multitude of significant towns, memorials and battle sites just waiting to be discovered and explored on a South African Battlefields tour. This land once encompassed the Zulu kingdom led by legendary Shaka Zulu, and then by his half-brother Dingaan, who clashed with both the English and Afrikaner settlers in what are today recorded as some of the most important battles in South African history. Over a period of 70 years the plains, rolling hills and river valleys saw numerous brutal and blood-soaked conflicts over land ownership, political independence and the desire for colonial domination. Today these historic events can be brought back to life by the expert storytelling of specialist guides on a Boer War or Battlefields tour.

Where to go on your South Africa Battlefields tour?

Battle of blood river

The first major battle, and one of the most terrible, took place in 1838 between the Voortrekkers and the Zulus in what became known as the Battle of Blood River. Following the treacherous murder of Piet Retief and his men at the hands of Dingaan, the Zulu chief, the Voortrekkers led by Andries Pretorius, prepared for battle against the Zulu kingdom on the banks of the Ncome River on 16^th December 1838. They formed an impenetrable laager, (a defensive camp encircled with their ox-wagons) and fought the 15,000-strong attack until the Zulus finally fled, leaving thousands dead and the river red with blood. The violent encounter became known as the Battle of Blood River, and the site can be visited today on a South African Battlefields tour.

Isandlwana Hill 

The battle at Isandlwana Hill on 22^nd January 1879 stunned the British Empire in what was to be the worst defeat in the history of their imperial warfare. The news that an entire battalion of British troops had been wiped out by a 'native' army was unbelievable. The Zulu kingdom, under the leadership of King Cetshwayo, had been gaining strength and was perceived to be a threat to the British colonists, refusing to submit to British rule. British troops were ordered to invade Zululand but grossly underestimated the Zulu warriors, and the surprise attack on the British camp on the slopes of Isandlwana Hill left thousands dead. Today the battlefield is dotted with memorials, and mounds of white stones that mark the British mass graves, and is a must-see on any Battlefields tour.

Rorke's Drift 

Fought on the same day as the nearby battle at Isandlwana Hill, the Battle of Rorke's Drift is remembered as one of the most famous sieges of the Anglo-Zulu War. Survivors from Isandlwana fled to the Swedish mission station that was used as a British field hospital and storehouse and sounded the alarm. Inside, the 139 men, many of them seriously ill or wounded, barricaded themselves in and prepared for the onslaught of 4,000 Zulu warriors. The Battle Museum dramatically tells the tale of the 'Heroic Hundred' who desperately defended the station for 12 hours, until the Zulus finally retreated with a heavy loss of life. Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded to the defenders, the most ever given at any battle in British history, and the historic site can be viewed on a Battlefields tour of South Africa.

Anglo-Zulu War 

Then followed the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879 in response to British dissatisfaction regarding the increasing strength of the Zulus, and the battles that took place at Isandlwana Hill and Rorke's Drift are remarkable for their tales of heroism and brutality. In 1880 and again in 1889, anti-British sentiment among the Voortrekkers, as well as a desire for Afrikaner independence, led to the two Anglo-Boer wars that captured the attention of the world and resulted in heavy loss of life among both the Boers and the British. The devastating siege of Ladysmith and the Battle of Spioenkop are among the most famous battles that took place during the second Anglo-Boer War from 1889 to 1902, with both locations able to be visited on a South African Boer War tour.

Modern day Battlefield tours

Flagship tours to Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift are led by registered tour guides Andrew Rattray, Mphiwa Ntanzi, Charl Grobler and Alastair Lamont who are superb storytellers and make the history of that day come alive. You will learn of the bravery and mobility of the Zulu army that defeated the British Army at the Battle of Isandlwana and listen at sunset to the famous story of Rorke's Drift, where 139 British soldiers were attacked by 4000 Zulu warriors; a British victory which saw the award of more Victoria Crosses than in any other battle in history. These experiences will be the highlight of any Battlefield tour of South Africa.

The right accommodation for your Zulu Battlefields holiday

Wherever you’re planning to visit for your Battlefields tour, Africa Travel will make sure you stay in comfortable and luxurious accommodation that is tailored to your requirements. Our dedicated staff listen to each of your needs and preferences before recommending the best accommodation for you, which is always based on their own personal experiences. The most famous of all Battlefield tour properties is the Fugitives Drift Lodge, which also incorporates the Fugitives Drift Guest House, whilst other notable favourites of Africa Travel include Isandlwana Lodge, Spionkop Lodge and Thorn Tree Hill.

Why book your Zulu Battlefields & Boer War tour with Africa Travel?

With over 30 years’ experience in creating tailor-made and bespoke holidays to Africa, there is no one more qualified to organise an unforgettable Battlefields holiday to South Africa than Africa Travel. We have a wealth of specialist resources to help you book your perfect Boer War tour, and are trusted by more and more customers to create a memorable experience which is not just another holiday.

All of our staff have travelled extensively and you can trust that our personal recommendations will deliver the Battlefields tour that you have always dreamed of. We can recommend the best places for you to stay, organise exclusive and private tours of the key Battlefield sites, and arrange for the country’s finest Boer War guides to escort you.