KWA
ZULU BATTLE FIELDS EXTENSION NEW !!! -
KWA
ZULU BATTLE FIELDS EXTENSION
This tour can be taken as an extension to all our national tours or as a stand alone out of Durban
Zulu wars, Shaka, Isandlwana, Rorkes Drift, Colenso, Spioenkop, Ladysmith, Dundee, Churchill, Blood River, Cetshwayo, Boers ... are some of the terms which are associated with this internationally renowned area of South Africa.
Blood River Battlefield:
This famous battle was fought on 16 December 1838.
The Boers under Andries Pretorius defeated Dingane's Zulu army. A
replica of the Boer laager can be found on the site, as well as a
memorial(Ncome Museum) to the Zulu impi who fought bravely during
this battle. This site is 48km from Dundee - off the R33 between
Dundee and Vryheid.
A Voortrekker Laager,cast in bronze commerates the famous Battle of Blood River on the 16 December 1838 when 460 Voortrekkers defeated a 15 000 strong Zulu army.
Fugitives Drift:
On this lonely hillside the two men who were responsible
for saving the Queen's Colour from the Isandlwana camp were
killed are buried. The site is located 15 km beyond Rorke's Drift.
The Fugitive Trail follows the route along which the handful of
survivors fled from Isandlwana to Fugitives Drift.
Isandlwana Battlefield:
At Isandlwana Hill, a British force of some 1700 men was
virtually wiped out by a Zulu army of over 20 000 men under the
command of Ntshingwayo Khoza and Mavumengwana Ntuli.
Lord Chelmsford's Centre Column had camped at the base of
Isandlwana on the night of 21 January 1879. During the early
hours of 22 January, Chelmsford lead a force of men eastward to
reinforce a small reconnaissance party, leaving the rest of the
column under Col. H. B. Pulleine in camp. At about 10.30am Col. A.
Dunford, in response to Chelmsford's order, arrived from Rorke's
Drift. Reports had been received that a Zulu force had been
spotted on the Nquthu heights. Anxious that this force should not
threaten Chelmsford's party to the east, Durnford left camp with
about 140 men and rode north to cut off the Zulus. A patrol under
Capt. George Shepstone was sent to clear the area to the north of
camp of any Zulu forces. At about midday this patrol, in pursuit
of a small Zulu party accidentally stumbled upon the main Zulu
force which was concealed in a valley a few kilometres north of
Isandlwana. Having lost the element of surprise, the Zulu
commanders decided to attack and formed their warriors into the
traditional 'chest and horns' formation while advancing on the
British camp. The right horn swept around to the north and west,
while the left horn engaged a forward position under Col.
Durnford, who was for a while able to hold his position. The
Zulus soon overran this position forcing a retreat. At the same
time the 'chest' of the Zulu army was engaging the main British
firing line, while the right horn was out-flanking the west of
the camp eventually blocking the escape to Rorke's Drift. The
battle was at its most intense at about 2.00pm, and a partial
eclipse of the sun at about this time made the situation even
gloomier. The camp was overrun, but small pockets of British
resistance continued until later in the afternoon. By sunset the
battle was over and 1000 Zulus and 1357 British were dead.
Chelmsford returned to find devastation, and camped among the
dead that night, leaving the next morning. The Zulus buried their
dead in maize pits and dongas while the British returned some
months later to bury their dead.
The Zulu regiments who fought at Isandlwana were:
Right Horn: uDududu, iMbube, iSangqu and uNokhenke regiments. The
Chest: uMcijo and uMxhapho regiments. The Left Horn: uMbonambi,
iNgobamakhosi and uVe regiments. Regiments who were in reserve
were the Indluyengwe, uThulwana, uDloko and iNdlondlo regiments.
The typical Zulu warrior was clad in a simple leather loin cover,
and carried two or three throwing spears and/or a stabbing spear.
A wooden knobkierie as well as a battle shield would also have
been carried. Men of rank would have carried battleaxes. In
addition to using traditional weapons, the Zulu army also had
about 20 000 firearms, mostly muzzle-loaders.
The British forces involved at the battle consisted of A, C, E, F
& H Companies 1/24th Regt, G Company 2/14th Regt., N Battery
5th Brigade, No 1 Mounted Infantry, Natal Mounted Police, Natal
Volunteer Corps (Natal Carbineers, Newcastle Mounted Rifles,
Buffalo Border Guard), 2 companies, 1/3rd Natal Native Horse, 2
companies 2/3 NBC, 11/7th RA Native Horse (No's 1,2,3 Troops,
Zikhali's Horse, Hlubi Troop, Edendale Troop, D & E Companies
1st NNC): a total of 1770 men. There were also 102 wagons and
1000 draught oxen, as well as cooks, grooms and boy recruits. The
British army carried Martini Henry breech- loading rifles
weighing about 4kg and firing a.450 calibre lead bullet of 480
grains, effective to 400 yards. A bayonet was carried and each
man was supplied with 70 rounds of ammunition.
White cairns mark the positions of buried British soldiers. 80km
from Dundee.
Rorkes Drift Battlefield
& Museum
Some 100 British soldiers defended this position against
4 000 Zulu warriors in a 12 hour engagement.
A few survivors of Isandlwana did reach Rorke's Drift, and the
alarm was sounded at about 15:15. After some discussion, the
officers decided to stay and defend the post. Bags of maize were
taken from the army store and built up into a breatswork, forming
a defensive square between the hospital and the storehouse. At a
later stage biscuit boxes were used to reduce the perimeter in
case of need.
The Zulu army advanced from the back of Shiyane hill, round the
western side. At this point the Natal Native Contingent
detachment stationed at Rorke's Drift fled. The first major
attack was launched by the Zulus on the southern wall of maize
bags at about 16:30, but they were beaten off with intense rifle
fire. The second major assault was on the hospital defences when
the Zulus went round the western flank and attacked the 'front'
wall. The thatched hospital roof was set alight.
At this point the British defenders in the hospital were
desperately attempting to evacuate the patients, while at the
same time trying to repel the Zulus. The task was made difficult
by the lack of interleading doors and the need to chop holes in
the walls between adjacent rooms.
All the while the Zulus kept up their assaults on the fragile
fortifications outside, but were beaten back time after time with
heavy losses. Most of the fighting as hand-to-hand, but a number
of British casualties were inflicted by Zulu snipers on the
slopes of Shiyane Hill.
Eventually the hospital was evacuated, with a number of
British losses, and the survivors fell back behind the wall of
biscuit boxes. By now it was nearly dark, with the battlefield
lit by the blazing hospital roof.
The Zulus continued attacking with diminishing intensity
throughout the night, until sheer exhaustion and desperation made
them break off at about 04:00. The British defenders, most of
whom were hurt to a greater or lesser degree, had a welcome
respite. They remained at their posts in the dim light of dawn,
expecting a renewal of the attack after the Zulus has regrouped.
Final relief only came with the sight of Chelmsford's party
approaching the river about three hours later.
A record number of 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded to the
defenders. 42km from Dundee.
BATTLEFIELD PACKAGES
ISANDLWANA and RORKE'S DRIFT
3 days and 2 nights
2 Persons sharing: R3,060.00 (R1,530.00 pp)