5 Day KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields Tour

The KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields Tour is very popular amongst visitors captivated by South Africa's turbulent military history.

Overview

History buffs will find this private tour unforgtetteable as we visit historic battlefields in KwaZulu-Natal. The most famous of these battles are Talana and Bloodriver in the Anglo-Boer War and Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift in the Anglo-Zulu War. These historic events will come alive in the vivid descriptions of your guide.

Price Per Person Sharing From:

From: POA What influences prices?
Safari Ref. Code
T20
Starting Date
Any Date
Starting Point
Johannesburg
Ending Point
Johannesburg
Customizable
Yes
Type
Private Tour
Accommodation Level
Comfortable Farm House
Countries Visited
Destinations Visited
  • KwaZulu-Natal

Detailed Private South African Tour Itinerary: 5 Day KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields Tour

Day 1

Arrival / KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields

Overnight: Penny Farthing
Meals: Dinner

Arrival / KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields

Guests are met at any location of their choice in Johannesburg or Pretoria from where the tour travels to northern KwaZulu-Natal . Numerous battles were fought in this area during the 18th and 19th centuries, primarily between the Boers, Zulus and Brits. Upon reaching the overnight destination of Dundee, some time is allowed for freshening up before we visit the Talana Museum. The museum is set at the foot of a hill that bears the same name and is home to thousands of documents and artifacts relating to the Anglo-Zulu and Anglo-Boer wars.

Day 2

KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields

Overnight: Penny Farthing
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields

On this day, we visit the battlefields of Talana and Blood River. The Battle of Talana was fought during the Anglo-Boer War between British and Boer forces. It is the first major conflict in modern warfare supported by long range artillery. A visit to Talana is followed by lunch, after which the tour makes its way to Blood River.

The Blood River Monument is a tribute to the battle of Blood River in 1838. The granite Jaw-bone Monument and bronze wagon laager were built on the site of the original clash. It consists of 64 replica Voortrekker wagons cast in bronze, which commemorate the most famous battle fought between Boer and Zulu forces. We also visit the Ncome Museum, built in the shape of a Zulu war horn formation. The museum offers a re-interpretation of the 1838 battle and the Zulu culture in general.

Day 3

KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields

Overnight: Penny Farthing
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields

In all probability the most famous of the Anglo-Zulu battles, today we visit the sites of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, both not too far from our overnight accommodations. Isandlwana is to this day the battle in which the British suffered the highest number of casualties at the hands of a native army. With the aim of forming a Southern African federation, the British in early 1879 prepared to invade Zululand in an effort to force the Zulu into battle after providing their king with an impossible ultimatum. Under Chelmsford the British were undisciplined in their defence of Isandlwana, which was to have tragic consequences. After overrunning the British encampment the Zulu proceeded to cross the Buffalo or Mzinyathi River into colonial territory and attacked the fortified mission station at Rorke's Drift, under command of Lt. John Chard. The handful of soldiers mounted a gallant defence of the station and successfully rebuffed the attacking Zulu force. The historic defence resulted in the awarding of eleven Victoria Crosses, the most ever received in a single action by one regiment. After our visit to these historic sites the tour returns to your overnight accommodations in the middle to late afternoon.

Day 4

KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields / Drakensberg

Overnight: Montusi
Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields / Drakensberg

From Dundee, we make our way to Ladysmith, where a stop is made at the Siege Museum, considered to be one of the most comprehensive Anglo-Boer War museums in the country. It had its humble beginning as a vegetable market store in 1884, and today it houses one of the greatest collections of artifacts from the Siege of Ladysmith and the Anglo-Boer War of 1899 - 1902. From Ladysmith, the tour makes its way to the Drakensberg mountain range , named by the early Dutch Settlers for its resemblance to the ridges of a dragon's back. The steep ridges of the mountains were formed by headwater erosion of rivers, which separate South Africa's highveld plateau from the coastal lowlands.

Day 5

Departure

Overnight: None
Meals: Breakfast

Departure

A morning spent at leisure enjoying the mountain scenery is followed by the return journey to Johannesburg, where guests are assisted with check in at the airport. Alternatively, guests can be transferred to any location of their choice in either Johannesburg or Pretoria after a memorable South African tour.

Included

Accommodation:
  • 3 Nights Penny Farthing
  • 1 Night Montusi Mountain Lodge
Guide/s:
  • Private African Sky Guide: From Day 1-5
Vehicle:
  • Private Air Conditioned Vehicle: From Day 1-5
Meals:
  • All meals specified in the itinerary
Flights:
  • None
Transfers:
  • None
Activities:
  • Talana Battlefield Site & Museum
  • Blood River Battlefield Site & Ncome Museum
  • Isandlwana Battlefield Site
  • Rorke's Drift Battlefield Site
  • Ladysmith Siege Museum
Additional:
  • Tourism levy
  • All applicable taxes
  • All park fees where applicable
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Excluded

Excluded:
  • International airfare (to and from South Africa)
  • Personal and medical insurance
  • Activities not specifically stated in the itinerary
  • Drinks
  • Gratuities
  • Meals not specifically stated in the itinerary

5 Day KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields Tour

Plan