Page 280 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

278  THE EAST C O AST AND INTERIOR

5 Battlefields Tour

The peaceful, rolling grasslands and tree-covered hills of northwestern KwaZulu-Natal
retain few reminders of the bloody battles that were waged in this corner of South Africa
during the 19th century. In the 1820s, Zulu king Shaka’s campaign to seize control of the
scattered tribes plunged the entire region into turmoil. Over the following 80 years many
wars were fought, pitting Zulu against Ndwandwe, Afrikaner against Zulu and British
against Afrikaner and Zulu. A detailed guide to the battle fields lists more than 50 sites of
interest and is available from the local publicity associations and the Talana Museum,
where expert guides can also be hired.

2 Elandslaagte 3 Talana Museum
The Boer and British forces This museum commemorates
clashed here on 21 October the first battle of the South
1899, during a severe storm. African War (29 October 1899),
The British were forced to when 4,500 British soldiers
retreat to nearby Ladysmith. arrived in Dundee to defend the
town and its coal mines.

Ermelo
5 Rorke’s Drift
This museum has displays
Volksrust
Majuba depicting the battle during
Skuinshoogte which some 100 British soldiers
Laingsnek repelled 4,000 Zulus
for 12 hours, earning
Fort Amiel them a total of
Museum Utrecht 11 Victoria crosses.
Newcastle
1 Ladysmith
On 2 November 1899, Boer
general Piet Joubert laid siege
to Ladysmith and its 12,000
British troops for 118 days. Fort Mistake
Glencoe Dundee
Fort Pine
Key
Motorway Harrismith
Tour route Tugela
Other roads Ladysmith Sundays

0 km 25 Colenso
0 miles 10 Weenen
Bloukrans
Estcourt
Fort Dunfort
Tips for Drivers Museum
Length: 380 km (236 miles).
Stopping-off points: The towns
of Ladysmith and Dundee have Durban
restaurants and accommodation. 4 Blood River
Audio tapes can be bought from For years seen as a sym bol of
the Talana Museum in Dun dee the Afrikaners’ victory over
and at Fugitives Drift, which 6 Isandlwana the Zulus, this battle gave
also offers guided tours and Zulu impis, angered by an inva­ rise to a public holiday –
accommodation. sion of their territory, attacked a 16 December – now called
British force on 22 January 1879. Day of Reconciliation.

For additional keys to symbols see back flap

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