About Us
Welcome, I am Bob Wood a professional
Battlefields Guide and owner of African
Battlefields a South African based specialist
tour operation.
I have no training as a writer, nor
do I have training as a speaker, I do however posses
what no training can give you, that of passion for
the Battlefields, in particular the British Africa
Colonial Wars of the 19th century of the British the
Boers and the Zulu's.
My interest in Battlefields started whilst still
a youngster although at the time it was not apparent. I would
spend all my pocket money on models of tin soldiers and weaponry,
looking back I believe my parents thought I was trying to equip
for a 3rd World War.
I was born in the UK and lucky enough to have traveled
most of the country never missing the opportunity to visit
places of Historic significance of which there is abundance.
I started researching the South African Battlefields
about 1984 and later got the chance of moving to South Africa
at the end of the 1980's during the political changes.
All of our Battlefields Tours are personally conducted
by myself with complete impartiality; the Battlefields
are not just an interest but a passion.
Our clients are supplied with personalized information packs
of the Battlefields that we visit; the documentation is from my
own research none of which has been published.
There are of course many hundreds of books available about the
Battlefields of Africa, although these historic sites are of a
bygone age walking in the foot steps of 19th century British
Colonial Africa can still be very emotional to the descendants
of those men in red and khaki who where guarding the frontier
of Victoria's Empire.
My favorite quote:-
"The more I learn the more I realize how
little I know"
Bob Wood - some time in the 20th century
Bob Wood
Registered South African National Battlefields Tourist
Guide
African Battlefields
South Africa
Testimonials
Thank you so very much for your exceptional service given us not just in the detailed and thoughtful planning of our tour, underlined by the care put into the welcome package given at the outset, illustrating where our journey would take us, and the background history to it, but the personal attention to us that made us "Royalty" for six days of fascinating insight to the British campaigns fought in South Africa in such close chronolgical order.
Whereas we requested "a tour of the Anglo-Boer battlefields" with perhaps a Zulu site thrown in, you gave us a walk through the whole history of it all, from the very beginning at Elandslaagte to conclusion in Pretoria, an overview that exceeded all expectation, and with much humour too! We are so pleased to have your extensive notes to keep as a reference work in our library in Gower.
Richard and I are most grateful to you for giving us a trip the likes of which we will not be able to replicate, and which will remain ever a highlight of our lives.
Heather and Richard Laurie UK - December 2011
Bob, thank you very much for the Zulu Battlefields
tour you organized and led for us 13-15 March.
Visiting Isandhlwana, Fugitives Drift and Rorkes'
Drift were life long objectives for me. Your grasp
of South African history and professionalism as a
guide were first rate. Although the tour was our objective,
the perspective you shared with us on life, politics
and the economics of South Africa were perhaps equal
in importance to us.
The selection of the Zulu Wing Lodge and the interaction
with the hostess Vanessa couldn't be better. The intimate
"family feel" of that lodge was perfect after the long flight
and the hospitality superior to a large POSH hotel.
I will recommend you as a tour guide to any of my friends
that may travel to South Africa in the future.
Major Coghill - Canadian Armed Forces - NATO Contingent
Hi Bob, Thank you for a wonderful visit to the Battlefields
we all had a really enjoyable and informative few
days with you.
I have been reading up on your notes and checking
out various web sites and 'You Tube' film clips on
the areas we visited which have spurred me on to read
more about this fascinating period in our history.
The arrangement you made could not have been improved
upon and we will certainly have no hesitation in recommending
you to anyone considering visiting any of the battlefields.
I hope your trip back from Scottburgh was without
problems and you managed to get all the way back home
to Pretoria OK.
Our visit to the orphanage and the New Care Centre
was quite amazing and we were extremely pleased with
the results of all our fund raising activities over
the years. Armed with numerous photos we will be embarking
on the job of compiling a PowerPoint presentation
for the other Rotary Clubs in our area in the hope
that they will be further encouraged to support our
next phase which is to fit out a soup kitchen at the
centre.
We left Natal after five days and flew down to CT
to enjoy the beautiful scenery, excellent golf, superb
wine and delicious food ------ well someone has to
do it don't they!
I'm starting to put together a disc of all the photos
from our trip, including of course all those taken
with you, and as soon as it's finished I'll mail you
off a copy so you can look at it when you are old
and gray and past running around the country like
you do.
Good luck with the business you deserve all the
success you can get.
Best regards
John Young (UK)
Bob Greetings----received your DVD OK on Monday
and JY is currently viewing it--many thanks.
May I add my own thanks also for our tour --it was
excellent and your knowledge and company made it all
the more worthwhile---
I have already passed this info on to our Rotary
Travel Agent friend and will put it on the appropriate
web sites.
Regards
Alistair Cheyne OBE (UK)
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