Ladysmith / Colenso / Drakensberg

Shane Spargo

• Siege and relief of Ladysmith, Spioenkop, Elandslaagte, Isandlwana, Rorkes Drift

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:spargo@futurenet.co.za

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:simon@threetreehill.co.za

Website:www.threetreehill.co.za

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:lizs@telkomsa.net

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:spionkop@futurenet.co.za

Website:www.spionkop.co.za

Ruben Schumacher

Based at Three Tree Hill Lodge in KwaZulu-Natal. He started out primarily as a nature field guide, but soon came to appreciate the remarkable depth of history that surrounded him. This realisation sparked a deep interest in the Anglo-Boer War sites of Spioenkop, Colenso, Platrand and Ladysmith, all of which can be explored from Three Tree Hill Lodge.

Contact

Tel: +27 (0)82 379 1864

Email:frontdesk@threetreehill.co.za

James Seymour

• Isandlwana, Fugitive’s Drift, Rorke’s Drift, Langalibalele Rebellion

I am a registered National Adventure Guide, specialising in mountain hiking both on and off established trails, and a registered KwaZulu-Natal Nature and Culture Guide. In addition, I am a registered San Rock Art Monitor, a qualified Tourist Guide Assessor, and serve as an Honorary Officer with the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Service.

My guiding interests lie at the intersection of South Africa’s natural, cultural and military heritage. I offer a range of specialised hiking and walking excursions that combine historical interpretation with immersive outdoor experiences.

These include a hiking excursion from the Battle of Isandlwana battlefield to Fugitive’s Drift, retracing the dramatic route taken by those who attempted to escape. I also conduct guided walking tours of Rorke’s Drift, examining one of the most famous engagements of the Anglo-Zulu War.

Another of my specialised excursions follows the route taken by the King’s Royal Rifles during the Battle of Spion Kop. This hike ascends Twin Peaks, where participants gain an appreciation of the effort required to silence the Boer artillery positions, before continuing across Aloe Knoll and onto Spion Kop itself. The excursion provides a unique perspective on the battle by exploring events on the ground and along the routes the combatants actually took.

In the Drakensberg, I lead hiking expeditions up Langalibalele Pass to the Natal Carbineers’ graves, where the story of the Langalibalele Rebellion and its significance in South African history is interpreted within the landscape where these events unfolded.

I also conduct extensive tours to San rock art sites throughout the Drakensberg. These excursions explore the beliefs, symbolism and cultural practices of the San, while also examining the complex history of interaction and conflict between the Drakensberg San, frontier farming communities and Nguni-speaking groups during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. By combining archaeology, anthropology, oral history and landscape interpretation, these tours provide visitors with a deeper understanding of one of southern Africa’s most remarkable cultural legacies.

Through these guided experiences, I aim to bring history, heritage and landscape together, allowing visitors to engage directly with the places where South Africa’s stories were lived and recorded.

Contact

Tel: +27 (0)82 925 5508

Email:james@cathkinmanagement.com

Website:drakensbergwalkingexcursions.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