Dundee / Rorke’s Drift / Isandlwana

Gavin Slater

• Isandlwana, Rorkes Drift, Talana Demonstrations of Battle Tactics, Weapons and Uniforms

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:gavinslater4@gmail.com

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:garner@jenny.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:ayanda1879@gmail.com

Bronwyn Howard

• Isandlwana, Rorkes Drift and Talana School Environmental Tours

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:urbanecolife@gmail.com

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:dundee1@telkomsa.net

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:battlescenes@worldonline.co.za

Website:www.battlescenes.co.za

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

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

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:pammcfadden1@gmail.com

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:pierre@bushbaby.co.za

Website:www.bushbaby.co.za

Zakhe Shabalala

• Isandlwana, Rorkes Drift

Based in the Rorkes Drift area Zakhe offers guided tours of the battles of Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift. He also leads walks along the Fugitives trail, with accounts of what happened at various point along the way to the end point at the graves of Lieut Coghill and Melville.

His tours offer can an extra dimension of visits to rock art paintings and the assegai sharpening site in the Isibindi river.

Contact

Tel: 076 881 9894

Email:zakheshabalala00@gmail.com