KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields

Distance
155 km (96 mi)

Itinerary
8 am to 4 pm
In 1899, hostilities between the British and Boers erupted again over the question of the Transvaal's independence. The Boers quickly invaded northern Natal to deny the British access to the port of Durban. The first engagement of the war took place on 20 October 1899 on Talana Hill just outside Dundee. Although sustaining heavy losses, the British were triumphant but were forced to withdraw to Ladysmith. Your morning is devoted to a visit to the Talana site and museum. Several historical buildings exist on the property and may be inspected at leisure, while the museum itself offers some insight into the region, its people, and the local economy.
Later in the day, a visit is made to the site where the Battle of Blood River or 'iMpi yaseNcome' took place on 16 December 1838. Under the leadership of Andries Pretorius, only three Boer soldiers were injured, while some 3,000 Zulu warriors succumbed. The injured Zulu attempted to flee across the Ncome River, and as they did so, the water was tainted red with their blood. Today, the bronze life-sized 'laager' provides some perspective on the Boer encampment, while the Ncome Museum on the opposite bank provides a contrasting Zulu viewpoint. The tour returns to your overnight accommodations during the late afternoon.