The following guides are based in the Ladysmith / Colenso / Estcourt areas
Specialities
- Battlefields
- Zulu Culture
- Wildlife/Birding/Nature
- National Guide – Registered to guide throughout South Africa
- Provincial Guide – Registered to guide in KwaZulu-Natal
- Site Guide – Registered to guide on specific sites only
- Special Focus – Special field if interest and speciality. Not all guides offer tours to all battlefields.
Blackburn, Simon
Simon Blackburn
- Spioenkop, Ladysmith and Relief of Ladysmith Battles
Simon Blackburn, with his wife Cheryl co-owner of Three Tree Hill Lodge at Spioenkop.
He studied Zoology and started guiding in 1994, with experience at Singita ( 10 years), Kwando Safaris (3 years), Botswana, and many years at Three Trees at Spioenkop.
He is a FGASA Level III DG Nature Guide, SATOUR KZN Tourist Guide #112, Botswana qualified guide and specialises in Walking Trails in Big 5 areas, and the historical sites of the Anglo Boer War in the Ladysmith area, with particular emphasis on Spioenkop and Colenso.
Contact
Tel:+27(0)36 448 1171 / +27(0)82 379 1864
Website:www.threetreehill.co.za
Heron, Alistair
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
Website:www.spionkop.co.za
Heron, Raymond
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
Website:www.spionkop.co.za
Horn, Vincent
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
Jonker, Pierre
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. Whilst Geology has taken him to many parts of the world, he has now found that the years of interest has an outlet at Three Tree Hill Lodge, where Pierre is the resident Battlefield Guide. He has also benefited greatly from mentors Ron Gold, Simon Blackburn and author Dr Robert Davidson.
Contact
Tel: 082 379 1864
Mitchell-Innes, George
George Mitchell-Innes
- Elandslaagte Battle
George Mitchell-Innes lives on his farm at Elandslaagte and from this base conducts guests on tours of the Elandslaagte battlefield and other sites in the Ladysmith area. He has an excellent collection of material relating to the battle of Elandslaagte.
Contact
Tel:+27(0)36 421 1860 / +27(0)82 734 3118
Spargo, Shane
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
Spiret, Liz
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