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Explore the South African Battlefields of the Zulu and Boer Wars, travelling with your own expert guide. Experience Rorkes Drift & Isandlwana, as well as Spion Kop and other historical sites around Ladysmith & Colenso. Complete your holiday with a thrilling Big Five Safari at Nambiti Hills. This holiday can be tailor made to your needs. English speaking battlefields guide & all transfers included.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Durban North Coast • Fort Nongqayi • Valley of the Kings • Blood River
• Isandlwana • Rorkes Drift • Ladysmith • Colenso
• Spion Kop • Big Five Safari
Day 1 : Arrival
You will be met at Durban Airport and transferred to the warm North Coast, renowned for its wonderful beaches and excellent holiday weather.
Check into your hotel and relax on the shores of the warm Indian Ocean.
Day 2 : Zululand
After a background briefing, your guide will share with you the beauty of rural Zululand and brief you on its history, as you drive 5-hours to the remote battlefields at Isandlwana.
Our first stop is at the old white Fort Nongqayi near Eshowe, built by the British in 1883 to garrison a Zulu peace keeping force. Here there is an interesting museum.
We continue to the Zulu heartland of eMakhosini near Ulundi - the Valley of the Kings that was the birth place of King Shaka. The graves and royal capitals of seven Zulu Kings lie in this valley.
Afterwards we drive to our Zulu Battlefields lodge, following the Zulu army's line of advance to Isandlwana. Check in and enjoy dinner, whilst absorbing some of the fascinating history of this great conflict between Britain and the proud Zulu Kingdom.
Day 3 : Blood River
Today we travel to the battlefield at Blood River where the Voortrekkers won a defining battle against the Zulus as they fought for the right to establish a homeland south of the Thukela River. The loss of life here was so great that the river ran red with blood.
We leave Blood River for the banks of the Itshotshozi River, where the Napoleonic dynasty came to an end when the Price Imperial, Louis Napoleon, was killed by the Zulus on 1 June 1879.
After lunch we visit the Mangeni Gorge to follow in the footsteps of Lord Chelmsford on the day of the Battle of Isandlwana, and learn more about the poor military decisions made on that fateful day.
Day 4 : Zulu Battlefields
Today enjoy a full day exploring the poignant Zulu Battlefields.
After an updated briefing, your guide will recount the events leading up to the fateful battle of Isandlwana, where in 1879 the mighty British army suffered one of the most humiliating defeats in its history following the controversial invasion of Zululand. See for yourself the events portrayed so passionately in the film Zulu Dawn, as the regiment was wiped out almost to a man by 20,000 Zulu warriors.
After returning to your lodge for lunch, we visit the famous mission station at Rorkes Drift where later that day a handful of British soldiers (outnumbered 30-to-1) fought off over 4,000 Zulu warriors for almost 12 hours. This battle - unforgettably brought to life by Michael Caine in the film Zulu - saw 11 Victoria Crosses awarded, which is more than in any other engagement in the history of the British Empire.
We continue to Fugitives Drift where two young officers attempted to carry the Queen's colour to safety, before returning to our lodge.
Recommended Reading:
The Day of the Dead Moon - David Rattray
Brave Men’s Blood – Ian Knight
Day 5 : South African War Battlefields
Today we travel 4-hours from Zululand to the South African War Battlefields in the beautiful Natal Midlands. The Anglo Boer War of 1899 started shortly after the conquest of Zululand, as the British Empire turned its attentions to the lucrative Transvaal goldfields.
We follow the boer line of advance, stopping at the Talana Hill battlefield and museum, where the first battle of the South African War took place and where khaki was worn for the first time. We continue via Elandslaagte to Ladysmith, which was besieged for 118 days by the boers. Here we can visit the small Siege Museum. On Christmas Day 1899, the boers fired a carrier shell without a fuse into the town containing a Christmas pudding, two Union Flags and the message "Compliments of the Season". This shell is still kept in the museum.
We check into our lodge near Spioenkop, with distant views of the dramatic Drakensberg Mountains.
Recommended Reading:
Boer War – Thomas Pakenham
Day 6 : Frere
We begin the day by calling at Frere, site of the British camp and the Churchill capture site. We continue to follow the fortunes of the Boer raiding party as far as Willow Grange where the final offensive battle of war, from the Boers’ perspective, was fought.
After a short visit to Fort Durnford, we visit Colenso where the third and final battle was fought during the 'Black Week' of December 1899. Inadequate preparation and reconnaissance, and uninspired leadership, led to a heavy and humiliating British defeat.
Time permitting, we also visit Caesar’s Camp and Wagon Hill battlefield to view the Boer monument. A fierce battle was fought here as the Boers attempted to overrun Ladysmith.
Day 7 : Spion Kop Battlefield
This morning enjoy a guided tour to the Spion Kop Battlefield.
We drive 40-minutes through stunning scenery to the place where one of the bloodiest battles of the South African War (Anglo Boer War) of 1900 took place in efforts to relieve Ladysmith, which was besieged for 118 days. Visit the mass graves atop Spion Kop hill and see for yourself how poor military decisions affected the outcome of this battle.
Incredibly three future world leaders were in the area at the time this battle took place - Winston Churchill as a young newspaper correspondent, the future Mahatma Gandhi as a stretcher bearer, and Louis Botha as the Boer general who would go on to become the first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa.
Day 8 : Nambiti Hills Game Reserve
Today transfer 1-hour through the rolling hills of the Natal Midlands and Ladysmith, to the malaria-free Big Five Nambiti Hills Game Reserve.
Check into your safari lodge and enjoy a thrilling afternoon open-top game drive with your lodge ranger.
Day 9 : Nambiti Hills Game Reserve
Rise early when game viewing conditions are at their best, for a thrilling open-top game drive with a lodge ranger in Nambiti Hills Game Reserve.
With a mixed vegetation of savanna grasslands, indigenous trees and bushveld, this wildlife conservation area is home to all the Big Five, as well as offering an ideal habitat for a large variety of antelope and abundant bird life. Return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation, before returning to the bushveld in the late afternoon for another game drive.
Day 10 : Departure
After a final early morning safari, transfer 3-hours to Durban Airport for your flight home.
No of pax | Age Limit | Price per pax (Rs) |
---|---|---|
Adult | Above 12 years | $ 3782 / Adult |
* Mentioned prices may vary depending upon date of travel, hotel availability, surge pricing and seasonal rush.
Payment Terms & Methods :
* Some Advance Percentage of total booking amount
* Airfare/Transport fare to be paid full at one time in advance.
Cancellation & Refund Policy :
* Upon cancellation, refund will be made after deducting the Retention Amount.
* Retention Amount varies as per the number of days left before your package start date.
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