Guides

Desmond Armstrong

• Voortrekker, Second Anglo Boer War

Based in Howick, Desmond has a strong affiliation for his Irish roots and the Irish connection with the battlefields of KZN. A tour with him brings out of the Irish blarney, poetry and tales of the men and their links with the “home country”. Over thirty years of reading about and travelling around the area has given him an extensive knowledge of the battlefields from a very different perspective.

Contact

Tel:033 330 8390 / 083 449 7709

Email:

Brandyne Arendse

• Voortrekker, Zulu history, Anglo Zulu War, First and Second Anglo Boer War

Brandyne Arendse is a qualified battlefields guide for KZN. His passion for the history of this province has taken him to the remotest corners and investigated sites way of the beaten track. His wide knowledge of remote areas and seldom visited sites is remarkable and he is constantly out and about visiting sites and listening to the stories from people in these areas.

Contact

Tel: 082 775 2400

Email:

Warwick Baker

• Voortrekker, Zulu History, Anglo Zulu War, First and Second Anglo Boer War

Warwick Baker is a specialist battlefields guide based in Durban. His interest in battlefields of KZN stems from childhood. An avid collector of Africana, he has done considerable research over the years and presents a view that is totally unbiased. Warwick tailors tours to suit client’s needs. He is also a provincial guide for KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, wild life and rock art.

Contact

Tel:+27(0)31 267 1163 / +27(0)82 417 5248

Email:

Simon Blackburn

• Spioenkop, Ladysmith and Relief of Ladysmith Battles

With a background in Zoology and over three decades of guiding experience since, Simon has honed his expertise across some of Africa’s most prestigious safari destinations, before settling at Three Tree Hill Lodge, where he has devoted many years to sharing the natural and historical treasures of the Spioenkop region.

His specialties encompass both the adventure of Big 5 walking trails and the profound historical narratives of the Anglo-Boer War battlefields surrounding Ladysmith. He brings particular depth and insight to tours of Spioenkop and Colenso, where the landscape itself tells stories of courage, strategy, and sacrifice. Simon offers guests an authentic and deeply informed perspective on this remarkable corner of KwaZulu-Natal.

Contact

Tel:+27(0)36 448 1171 / +27(0)82 379 1864

Email:

Website:www.threetreehill.co.za

Don Botterill

• Anglo Zulu War, Second Anglo Boer War Battles

Don Botterill is a KZN registered tour guide specialising in one and two day tours to the Battlefields. His interest in Battlefields history stems from the involvement of his great grandfather who was sent to South Africa as part of Lord Chelmsford’s forces in 1878 resulting in four generations of his family becoming born and bred KZ Natalians. Don’s tours are personalised single party groups in a reliable and comfortable vehicle with all permits and licences in place. Visitors gain a true understanding of Zulu and Boer history and culture of the times as well as British Colonial attitudes.Don brings the battles back to life by explaining the strategies and retracting the footprints of the combatants and discussing the bravery and suffering of the men involved and examining the weapons of the time.

Contact

Tel:+27(0)031 764 3063 / +27(0)82 456 1805

Email:

Website:www.daytourskzn.co.za

Ayanda Buthelezi

• Guide to Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift

Ayanda grew up in the Rorkes Drift area and has always been interested in the battle of the area. This interest was fostered and encouraged while he did a year’s work experience at Talana Museum and was trained to guide school groups through the museum. Although a policeman based in Nqutu he is a keen and knowledgeable guide not only on the battles but also his Zulu culture.

Contact

Tel:069 838 2706

Email:

Rob Caskie

• Voortrekker, Zulu History, Anglo Zulu War, First and Second Anglo Boer War

Rob Caskie works on a freelance basis involved mainly in lectures on the Anglo-Zulu War. Rob Caskie is a charismatic and engaging storyteller whose imaginative talks are lifelike as he takes you through the battles of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. He is a guest lecturer on tours to the Antarctic and Alaska. Based in the Western Cape and is available to guests who wish to engage his services.

Contact

Tel:+27(0)82 4000 470

Email:

Anthony Coleman

• Voortrekker, Zulu History, Anglo Zulu War, First and Second Anglo Boer War

Anthony Coleman has led many general and specialist tours within KwaZulu Natal and South Africa and has established a reputation as a professional and accomplished Guide/lecturer with an easy going but informative manner. He has consistently been complemented as being passionate, knowledgeable and fair in his narration of the incredible events that have made our history the most remarkable in the world. He operates under the name of Battlescenes.

Contact

Tel:+27(0)72 204 2986

Email:

Website:www.battlescenes.co.za

Elisabeth Durham

• Isandlwana, Rorkes Drift, Prince Imperial, Blood River

Elisabeth Durham was born in France and regularly conducts tours in both English and French. She is also available as a translator for French speaking groups. She conducts tours to Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift, Talana, the site where Louis Napoleon, Prince Imperial of France was killed.

Contact

Tel:+27(0)34 212 1014 / +27(0)72 779 5949

Email:

Pierre Duval

• Anglo Zulu War Battles, Second Anglo Boer War

Pierre Duval has an unbelievable love for South Africa. Since a child he has grabbed every opportunity to explore the countryside. While specializing in nature, Pierre has an excellent knowledge of the country’s historical and cultural side. He is one of the few tour guides that are accredited on a national level, allowing him to tour the whole country. He has been guiding full time since 1998, and is the owner of BushBaby Safaris.

Contact

Tel:+27(0)82 466 8350

Email:

Website:www.bushbaby.co.za

Louis Ecksteen

• First and Second Anglo Boer Wars

Loius is the current curator of Fort Amiel museum since May 2003. He has a BA degree in cultural history from the University of Pretoria. He has a deep interest history of the region and particularly the first Anglo Boer War. His research into the history of the northern Natal area and the First Boer War has unearthed considerable information.

He is a member of the Monte Stanco Moth Shellhole and of the Dundee Diehard re-enactment group.

Contact

Tel:072 238 1983

Email:

Facebook:www.facebook.com/louis.j.eksteen

Sean Friend

• First and Second Anglo Boer Wars, Anglo Zulu Wars

Sean Friend is a Specialist History Guide based in Howick. He takes tours to the 1879 Zulu War and 1899 Boer War sites, but Majuba Mountain and the battles of the Transvaal War of Independence are his current favourites. He also conducts tours to Hlobane, Kambula, Ntombe Drift and other sites in the Vryheid area, as he spent many years living in Vryheid.

He also does lectures on the South African defence Force (SADF) in the Angolan / SWA Border War.

Contact

Tel:+27 82 367 9100

Email:

Paul Garner

• Anglo Zulu War Battles

Paul Garner is a guide with over 30 years’ experience leading tours in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana, including expeditions in search of the Lost City of the Kalahari. He has an abiding passion for Africa, its history, fauna and flora, with a special interest in Birding, Battlefields and Rock Art. He is an active member of The Wildlife and Environmental Society, The Endangered Wildlife Trust, Birdlife South Africa and the South African Archaeological Society.

Contact

Tel:+27(0)34 212 1931 / +27(0)82 472 3912

Email:

Allan Gordon

• Anglo Boer War Battles

Allan Gordon is a registered tour guide who has a passionate interest in the battles of the South Africa African War, the Anglo-Zulu War and the First Boer War. He is a keen amateur historian and an accomplished and avid collector of military medals. Through his passion for medals, their history and their owners, Allan offers a unique, fascinating and interactive battlefield touring “experience-with-a-difference”.

Contact

Tel:+27 82 455 9279

Email:

Website:www.battletoursza.com

Simon Haw

• Voortrekker, Zulu History, Anglo Zulu War, First and Second Anglo Boer War

Simon Haw has been taking tours since 1974. Most of these have been school tours and have covered sites as far away as Kimberley and Mafikeng. His career included twenty years of teaching mostly History. He was subsequently promoted first as an educational researcher and then for the last twelve years as a History subject advisor. He retired at the end of 2007 and is now an accredited KZN tour guide with a particular but not exclusive interest in battlefield tours. He is the author of For “Hearth and Home”: The story of Maritzburg College and “Bearing Witness” a history of the Witness newspaper, as well as contributing to a number of current History and Social Science textbooks.

Contact

Tel:+27(0)33 343 3847 / +27(0)82 824 8326

Email:

Alastair Heron

• Spioenkop and Ladysmith Area

Alastair Heron is a qualified Battlefield and Cultural guide who has studied history and psychology. He is the manager of family owned Spion Kop Lodge, who offer Tours of the KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields.

They also offer tours that include Birding, Sunset Boat Cruises, and Hiking Trips to the San Rock Art Paintings.

Contact

Tel:+27(0)36 4881404 / +27(0)82 5730224/5

Email:

Website:www.spionkop.co.za

Raymond Heron

• Spioenkop and Ladysmith Area

Raymond is the owner of Spion Kop Lodge. He is an Anglo Boer War raconteur and registered guide. His tours focus mainly on the events around the battle of Spioenkop and in the Ladysmith area of the KwaZulu Natal Battlefields. With his passion and unique ability, Raymond transports you back in time, using the theatre of the mind as he paints vivid pictures of the personal trauma and military mindset of the time, which, enables you, to envisage the past that changed the future of our country.

Contact

Tel:+27(0)36 488 1404 / +27(0)82 573 0224/5

Email:

Website:www.spionkop.co.za

Vincent Horn

• Ladysmith and Relief of Ladysmith Battles

Vincent is a Provincial Nature and Culture guide, (Reg no:1204) he grew up in the Ladysmith / Colenso area. Vincent conducts tours to all the Battlefields in KZN. (Spioenkop, Colenso, Ladysmith, Isandlwana, Rorke’s drift etc)

Special interest is the digital capturing of all monuments, war graves and battlefield sites.

Contact

Tel:036 631 0740 / 083 781 0740

Email:

Bronwyn Howard

Bronwyn Howard is a qualified nature guide specialising in birds, together with African wildlife, trees and plants. She has been birding for over 30 years, was involved in bird conservation and environmental education, and produced a digital birding magazine. She worked regularly at Lapalala Wilderness School, the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens, Pilanesberg National Park and other facilities. She offers tailormade birding tours and excursions for small groups to the region’s birding hotspots, most of which afford a good chance of seeing regional specials, rare birds, and almost half the country’s endemic species. Bronwyn also presents beginner bird courses, talks, and lectures on request to groups of 10 people or more and has done so for several years.

Northern KwaZulu-Natal is a birding mecca, with 450 species recorded, including several specials and rare species, such as Secretarybird, Southern Bald Ibis, Southern Ground Hornbill, Martial Eagle, White-backed and Cape Vultures, Denham’s Bustard, and White-bellied and Blue Korhaans, together with all three crane species – Grey Crowned Crane, Blue Crane (South Africa’s national bird) and Wattled Crane. In October, the world’s entire Amur Falcon population migrates to South Africa from its breeding grounds in China and roosts on the outskirts of Newcastle. This region is also home to some 50% of the country’s endemic bird species.

Contact

Tel:+27 (0) 66 111 9897

Email:

Pierre Jonker

• Ladysmith Area

Qualified Battlefield Guide, Pierre also holds an honours degree in Geology.

From an early age he read military history, specifically the Anglo Boer War and the Second World War and has a deep interest in Geology.

Contact

Tel: 082 379 1864

Colin Sellen King

• Voortrekker, Anglo Zulu War, First and Second Anglo Boer War

Colin is a Provincial Guide, Culture and Nature for Gauteng and Mpumalanga Provinces as well as being registered as a Swaziland Tourist Guide.

Colin has been a registered guide since 1999. He has worked as both was a fulltime Guide and admin assistant with a Durban based Tour Company, and as a freelance guide in his own tour business. Viewfinder Guided Tours and Safaris. He guides guests of Thompsons Touring, Shaka Tours, Discover Durban Tours, Ricksha Tours, and Safaris for Africa on the Battlefields of KZN.

His personal interaction and association many other battlefield guides helped to develop his enthusiasm for the KZN Battlefields. Colin is a dedicated, knowledgeable and passionate Tour Guide who thoroughly enjoys his Tourism involvement, particularly in the areas of Culture, Historical Battlefields and Wildlife.

Contact

Tel:031 4640060

Cell:083 3037099

Email:

Norman Leveridge

• Talana Battle

Norman Leveridge works at Talana museum as a part time research assistant and archivist. He has always been interested in the history of the area as he lives on a historic farm and has a passion about military uniforms and the blockhouses of the Anglo Boer War.

Working with documents in the archives has given him unique access to local and detailed information about the battlefield sites.

He is also a registered nature guide.

Contact

Tel:081 809 7243

Bornwell Masuku

• Talana Battle

Bornwell Masuku is the collections manager and education officer at Talana Museum. He has shown considerable interest in the museum collections and in explaining them, particularly to school groups.

He has a deep interest in Zulu cultural history, the battlefields and coal mining.

Contact

Tel: 073 385 7382

Steve McCurrach

• Siege of Ladysmith and Relief Battles

A dedicated and Proudly South African adventure bike touring company offering guided tours in South Africa. Based in Westville.

Contact

Tel:082 891 1689

Email:

Facebook:www.facebook.com/adventurebikesafaris/

Pam McFadden

• Voortrekker, Zulu History, Anglo Zulu War, First and Second Anglo Boer War

Pam McFadden, a graduate of the University of Natal and University of South Africa, has done considerable field research into the military conflicts fought in KwaZulu-Natal and has regularly conducted tours around these sites for over 40 years. She has had 4 books published on the battles of the area. As Curator of the Talana Museum from 1983 – 2022 she was responsible for the development of the museum and battlefield, which is acknowledged as being one of the finest in South Africa. She is an Honorary Life Member of the Battlefields Guides Association in recognition of all the years of guiding, training and promotion she has done for the area and professional tour guiding and is also the Chairperson of Battlefields Guides Professional Association.

Contact

Tel:+27 79 490 5933

Email:

Rob Milne

• Anglo Boer Wars

Rob Milne is a South African Registered Tourist Guide specialising in Battlefields, Geology, Archaeology and ancient rock engravings with a keen interest in both South African Wars, archaeology and geology.

Rob has published two editions of his book “Anecdotes of the Anglo-Boer War” both locally and internationally and is currently completing the third edition. New stories are continually being unearthed through Rob’s relentless ferreting around kopjies, villages, and interviewing interesting people. In 2022 Rob joined African Hills Lodge, where he is Senior Cultural Guide and Curator of the Plumari Museum, situated in the Plumari Nature Reserve in the Magaliesberg.

Contact

Tel:076 792 8107

Email:

Website:www.robmilne.com//a>

Email:

Bryan Mncube

• Isandlwana, Rorkes Drift, Fugitives Drift

Bryan Mncube was brought up in Rorke’s Drift. Since his childhood, he has done a lot of travelling and working in Europe and in a number of other countries within Africa. He comes from a Marketing and Logistics background, but has always been passionate about South Africa’s remarkable history – in particular the history surrounding the Zulu War, and about sharing these amazing stories of human courage and endeavour with the world.

There are many powerful lessons that are to be extracted from these subjects. Bryan has learnt that the stories that he tells on the Battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift are not just stories about conflict; but are about human beings, and about compassion. For Bryan, being back home and telling his home stories, sharing this platform with the best lecturers in the field, and being part of keeping the legacy of David Rattray alive through the magic of the story, is an absolute honour.

Contact

Tel:034 271 8051 / 087 285 1172

Email:

Mphiwa Ntanzi

• Isandlwana, Rorkes Drift, Fugitives Drift

His passion for the Anglo-Zulu war began at an early age after having been told the stories of both his Grandfather and Great Grandfather’s bravery fighting for the Zulu’s during the battles of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift.

This has equipped him with unique accounts and knowledge of this part of South African history. He is part of the Fugitive’s Drift team.

Contact

Tel:034 271 8051 / 087 285 1172

Email:

Christian Parkinson

• Anglo Zulu War Battles

Christian Parkinson has a passion for military history and exploring the battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal. As well as guiding, he also runs the popular Redcoat History Podcast and YouTube channel which examines the campaigns of the British army during the Georgian and Victorian eras. His tours currently focus on the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. For more information, please visit his website www.redcoathistory.com

Contact

Cell:+27 60 991 8671

Email:

Website:www.redcoathistory.com

Douglas Rattray

• Anglo Zulu War Battles

From a very young age, Doug had an interest in all matters military; particularly the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. He shared his late father’s enthusiasm for the rich history of our area. Doug is passionate about Fugitives’ Drift, having returned at the age of 24 after having completed his diploma in nature conservation.

Following in David’s footsteps, Doug has done numerous international lectures of the Anglo Zulu war and the battlefields in KwaZulu-Natal.

Contact

Tel:034 271 8051 / 087 285 1172

Email:

Colin Ross

Colin Ross is a registered guide and member of the International Guild of Battlefield Guides. With his military background he puts a soldier’s perspective on his battlefield walks and talks, which are known for their client interaction, humour and enjoyment as characterised in his popular Battlewalks social media posts.

Contact

Email:

Website:www.battlewalks.co.za

Gavin Slater

Gavin Slater has been the leader of the Dundee Diehard re-enactment company for over 20 years. His years of participating in and organising re-enactments at Isandlwana, Rorkes Drift, Talana, Spioenkop, the armoured train incident, Majuba and numerous other battles has provided him with specialist knowledge on uniforms, weapons and battle tactics. His “battle experience” provides him with a unique insight into the battles, which he carries across to his groups. His demonstrations of uniforms and examples from his personal collection of firearms adds a special something extra to his tours.

Contact

Tel: 084 485 9173

Email:

Kevin Smith

• Voortrekker, Zulu History, Anglo Zulu War, First and Second Anglo Boer War

Kevin Smith was a schoolmaster at Kearsney College for 30 years where he organised and conducted many safaris/tours throughout South Africa and overseas. He is a qualified and registered National Tour Guide, KZN 1894, and is able to guide you through all nine South African Provinces. His love for, and interest in, the environment, both past and present, has led him into taking safaris through Battlefield Sites and Game Reserves throughout Southern Africa. Kevin provides a Personal Brochure for each client with photographs taken at the various monuments and then cut + pasted into notes, maps and diagrams of each of the battles visited. Together with detailed information on all Battle Sites in the country and from the constellations of our night sky in terms of astronomy and astrology to biogeography, ecology, animal, bird identification to trees in term of names, traditional uses and superstitions, Kevin is able to bring your surroundings both past and present to life.

Tel: 084 555 9600

Email:

Website:www.sansafaris.co.za

Shane Spargo

Shane is a provincial Battlefield and culture tour guide. He has lived in Ladysmith for the past 60 years and has a passion for all aspects of history in the area and the Drakensberg. He regularly conducts tours to Voortrekker, Zulu War and Boer War battlefields and sites. He has a special interest in digitally capturing monuments, battlefields and war graves throughout South Africa.

He also has a special interest in and an extensive knowledge of Aviation history in South Africa and Natal.

Tel: 082 8000 620

Email:

Elizabeth Spiret

• Ladysmith and Relief of Ladysmith Battles

Elizabeth (Liz) Spiret was born and educated in the UK. She served as museum assistant in the Siege Museum for 8 years, is a trustee of the Siege Museum and a committee member of Ladysmith Historical Society. Her particular interest is the Siege of Ladysmith and surrounding battles of the Anglo Boer War 1899-1902. She has conducted tours around these sites for many years.

Contact

Tel:+27(0)36 637 7702 / +27(0)72 262 9669

Email:

Bryan van Schaik

• First and Second Anglo Boer War, Anglo Zulu War

Bryan has had a strong interest in the South Africa battlefields since high school days. He has studied anthropology and psychology through UNISA specialising in the Battlefields region. He is a registered guide for KZN and particularly the battlefields region. He has conducted many tours in the region over the past 15 years.

Contact

Cell:+27(0)78 519 4451

Tel/Fax:+27(0)31 207 2728

Email:

Shelldon Wells

• Voortrekker, Zulu History, Anglo Zulu War, First and Second Anglo Boer War

Shelldon Wells is a tour guides based in the city of Durban, South Africa. He regularly takes visitors on guided tours to Rorkes Drift, Isandlwana and many other battlefields of the Anglo Zulu war. He offers options of day tours, overnight and multi-day tours and has a collection service from your accommodation in the Durban or surrounding areas.

See website for further information.

Contact

Tel:+27 (0) 74 995 6669

Email:

Website:www.durbansafarisandtours.com

Philip Wessels

• Anglo Zulu and Anglo Boer Wars.

Philip Wessels is a FGASA Professional Field Guide, Trails Guide and holds a Professional Tracker qualification. He has a deep love of nature. He is currently based at Cheetah Ridge Lodge in Nambiti Private Game Reserve as the safari manager. He also conducts tours to historical sites in and around the lodge. His interest in history extends to both the Anglo Zulu and Anglo Boer wars.

Contact

Tel: 078 309 3057