ANGLO ZULU WAR 1879
VISITING THE ICONIC BATTLEFIELDS OF
ISANDLWANA AND RORKE'S DRIFT
Return to home page

WHAT TO SEE

Follow the trail of Lord Chelmsford's ill-fated Central Column as they cross the Buffalo (uMzinyathi) River at Rorke's Drift and invade Zululand.

Walk on the nek below the strange rock outcrop called Isandlwana where the British made their camp on 20th January 1879. Follow the events that led to the Zulu attack at midday on 22nd January, overrunning the camp in less than 3 hours and massacring some 1400 Imperial troops, Colonial volunteers and Native levies.

Let us tell you of the night of horror spent on the battlefield by the General and the men of his half of the column on their return from the Mangeni.

Visit the Mission Station at Rorke's Drift where the 90 odd men of "B" Company 2/24th Regiment together with a handful of hospital patients and commissariat officers fought a desperate 12 hour battle against some 4 000 Zulus earning 11 Victoria Crosses in the Process.

Walk through the "reconstructed" hospital building and get some idea of the fearful struggle that took place as the soldiers and patients fought hand to hand with the Zulus, while digging their way through the mud walls until finally exiting by a window into the yard leading to the defences around the store room.

HOW TO GET THERE
If you intend driving yourself, please do not do so without first obtaining a good map. The KwaZulu Natal Tourist Map should be available from your hotel but if not they are available from Tourism Junction near the Durban Town Hall.(Tel: 031 366 7500)

Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift are approximately 4.5 hours travel from Durban. There are two routes one via Pietermaritzburg, Howick, Mooi River, Ladysmith, Elandslaagte, Glencoe and Dundee. This is slightly longer but a better, more travelled road with facilities to stop and obtain fuel and food. The other is via Pietermaritzburg, Greytown, Tugela Ferry, Pomeroy, Elandskraal. This is shorter but very hilly and a large section is through tribal land where the road is unfenced and there are few facilities for stopping.

POSSIBLE ITINERARY FROM DURBAN FOR A BUS

TOUR OPTION ONE: One Day: Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana
06h00 - Leave Durban (That is the City and not the hotel. Hotel collections must be complete by that time)
08h00 – Ablution break at Ultra City, Estcourt
10h30 – Arrive Rorke’s Drift and meet guide and go on to Isandlwana
11h00 – Isandlwana Orientation Centre for payment only (This stop could be avoided if the Guide knew early morning of the correct number of pax on bus and had funds to purchase entry in advance)
11h30 – Isandlwana Battlefield – Talk and time to look around
12h30 – Leave Isandlwana for Rorke’s Drift
13h00 – Rorke’s Drift Mission Station, have picnic lunch and talk on Battle and tour
14h30 - Back on Bus
17h00 – Ablution break at Ultra City
19h00 – Arrive Durban City ( That is the City and not hotel, hotel deliveries are after that)
( A Long Day for Pax on Bus suggest busses with TV and you run the film Zulu Dawn)

TOUR OPTION TWO: Two Day: Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana
08h00 - Leave Durban (That is the City and not the hotel. Hotel collections must be complete by that time)
10h00 – Ablution break at Ultra City Estcourt
12h30 – Arrive Talana Museum Dundee. Lunch at Miners' Rest Restaurant and tour museum.
15h30 - Proceed to accommodation in Dundee
Next Day 09h00 Leave Accommodation after breakfast
10h00 – 10h30 Isandlwana on Nyoni ridge overlooking battlefield
10h45 - Orientation Centre for payment and look around
11h00– Isandlwana Battlefield – Talk and time to look around
12h00– Leave Isandlwana for Rorke’s Drift
12h30 – Rorke’s Drift Mission Station for picnic lunch and talk on Battle and tour
14h30 - Back on Bus
17h00 – Ablution break at Ultra City
19h00 – Arrive Durban City ( That is the City and not hotel, hotel deliveries are after that)
( A Long time for Pax on Bus suggest busses with TV and you run the film Zulu Dawn)