The Zulu and Boer Wars

From Isandlwana to Spion Kop

The Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 and the Anglo-Boer War of 1899 involved the British Empire in two of its most bitter struggles of the Victorian age. Both the Boer War and Zulu Wars involved scores of regiments of the Regular British army, as well as Yeomanry and other volunteer regiments.

On our battlefield tour we experience at first hand the well preserved battlefields where Boer, British and Zulu forces clashed, where history was made. We stand in the African sun on the battlefields of Isandlhwana, Rorke's Drift, Ladysmith, Spion Kop, Elandslaagte, Colenso, Chieveley, Talana and Majuba, battlefields that were, and still are, household names all over the world. Cecil Rhodes, Paul Kruger, Lords Roberts and Kitchener, Ceteshwayo, Christiaan de Wet, Jan Smuts, Arthur Conan Doyle, Baden Powell, Churchill, Ghandi and many others were involved. Great men, shaping history, experiencing glory and yet, being human, also making tragic mistakes. They left behind a legacy of greatness that we, a hundred years later, find fascinating and inspiring.

Although this is probably the most definitive battlefield tour of South Africa, we also discover some of the rich cultural history of the Zulu and Boer nations and participate in a game drive featuring many of Africa's best loved animals such as the rhino, giraffe, leopard and elephant. The accommodation throughout the Zulu Wars and Boer War battlefield tour is first class. In particular our tour will spend three nights at the superbly located Isandlwana Lodge in the heart of that battlefield and stay at the Protea Hotel, Shakaland, created from the set locations for the films 'Shaka Zulu' and 'John Ross' and which is also a Zulu cultural heritage centre.

"I consider that there never was a position where a small force could have made a better defensive stand".

Lord Chelmsford

Day 1.

Overnight flight from London to Johannesburg.

Day 2.

Arrive Johannesburg. From the airport we will drive to Isandlwana for a three-night stay and, to recover from our long journey, we leave you the afternoon at leisure. Check in to the perfectly situated Isandlwana Lodge overlooking the sphinx mountain and Isandlwana battlefield.

Day 3.

This morning we visit the battlefield of Blood River where the Boer Voortrekkers secured their heritage against the Zulus in 1838. Today the site is marked with an impressive laager of bronze wagons. This afternoon we explore the emotive battlefield of Isandlwana. We will visit the small museum and climb part of the famous mountain to gain a tremendous overview of the battle of Isandlwana and appreciate the dead ground that played such an important part in the Zulu surprise attack.

Day 4.

Part of the victorious Zulu force continued on to the mission station at Rorke's Drift, held by some 85 fit soldiers who carried out their epic defence and fought off their attackers killing at least 400 of them for a loss of only 17 killed and 10 seriously wounded. We visit the now partly restored Rorke's Drift mission station and its small museum before returning to the Isandlwana lodge for the afternoon at leisure.

"God seems to be with the Boers and against us".

Viscount Wolsey

Day 5.

Journeying south in to the heart of Kwa-Zulu we stop en-route at the site where the son of Napoleon III, the Prince Imperial, was tragically killed. The site is marked by a poignant grave. We check in to Shakaland, the spiritual home of the Zulu nation and spend the night in bee-hive huts. But fear not, these huts have all the mod cons, including en-suite and air-conditioning.

Day 6.

Today we look at the fate of one of the other British columns that invaded Zululand, that of Colonel Pearson, which was besieged at Eshowe, before being relieved by Chelmsford after the battle of Gingindlovu. In the afternoon we stop at Ulundi, the Zulu capital and the scene of the final action of the war. We visit the Zulu cultural centre and the Ulundi battlefield itself, marked by its curious monument. Check into the award winning Ntshondwe Lodge in the heart of the Ithala Game Reserve for three nights.

Day 7.

Today we take a pause from our Zulu and Boer War battlefield itinerary to participate in a 'drive' within the Ithala Game Reserve. Here we hope to see four of the five big game; elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros as well as giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and a variety of antelopes.

Day 8.

The flat-topped hill of Hlobane is our first visit, where the Zulus again put the British forces to flight and where a certain Colonel Buller made good his escape. In the afternoon we visit the site of Colonel Evelyn Wood's armed camp at Kambula, where he fought off the Zulu attack inflicting some 1000 casualties for the loss of only some 100. Today the site is marked by a little cemetery for those who fell.

"An assegai has been thrust in to the belly of the nation".

King Cetewaya

Day 9.

Talana was the first battle of the Boer War, and the first of many reverses for the British. We climb Talana Hill above Dundee and visit the battlefield museum. After lunch we stop at the British victory of Elandslaagte that slowed down the Boer pursuit after Talana. Drive to Ladysmith and check into Buller's Rest Lodge with its Boer War artefacts and magnificent views over Ladysmith.

Day 10.

This morning we visit Ladysmith's Siege Museum as well as the actions at Caesar's Camp and Wagon Hill. After lunch we explore the battles to cross the Tugela and relieve Ladysmith. We look at the abortive frontal attack at Colenso, stand in Hart's loop and see where Long lost the guns and Freddy Roberts vainly lost his life. We visit the graves at Chieveley Hospital and see where Churchill was captured at Frere.

Day 11.

Check out of Buller's Rest Lodge. Climb the infamous hill of Spion Kop, see the mass grave and, if the weather is fine, obtain a tantalising view of Ladysmith itself. Drive to Standerton via the battlefields of Laing's Nek and the decisive Majuba (both from the First Boer War of 1881). Check into the exclusive four star Die Kliphuis guest house.

Day 12.

Our battlefield tour continues to Pretoria where we visit the State Model School (where Churchill was imprisoned), Melrose House (where the peace treaty was signed) and President Paul Kruger's House. There will be an opportunity for some shopping before we check in to the Farm Inn country hotel situated in its park like grounds within a private game sanctuary.

"We have certainly been seriously underrating the power of the Zulu army".

Lord Chelmsford

Day 13.

This morning our Boer War tour visits the massive granite Voortrekker Monument, raised to commemorate the fathers of the Boer states, and nearby Schanskop fort with its 'Long Tom' gun. Drive to Johannesburg for the return overnight flight to London.

Day 14.

Arrive London.