Zulu & Boer Battlefields Tours
South Africa Battlefields Tours from Isandhlwana
to Ulundi, Dundee and Ladysmith to the British HQ of Melrose house
and Winston Churchill's Pretoria prison.
Bringing to life South African Military History
of the Anglo Zulu Battlefield of Isandhlwana
when 20,000 motivated celibate man slaying Zulu warriors of Cetshwayo's
mighty army defeated the British #3 column, recorded in the annuals
of British military history as the greatest single defeat ever
inflicted on a modern British army against the
spears of a native foe, the area which can be walked around includes
the Sphinx and the many stone covered graves with the remains
of Red Coated British soldiers of Chelmsford's #3 column, the
eerie silence broken only by the sometime gentle wind is all that
is left and the 11 VC's that where awarded at Rorke's
Drift when the 24 "B" coy Welsh Borderers successfully
defended the mission station against a numerically superior but
out gunned native force and the Zulu Capital ofUlundi
with the final defeat of King Cetshwayo and the mighty Zulu Empire.
In 1880 after the Boers in Pretoria rebelled
against British interference in the Transvaal,
Majuba (the Hill of Doves) on the Natal border was the place when
on the 27 February 1881 Gen Colley was mortally wounded, forcing
the British to sign a peace treaty, first at O'Neill's cottage
and later at Hilldrop House Newcastle. "Remember Majuba"
was the rallying cry by the British forces some 18 years later
during the second Anglo-Boer War of 1899 - 1902. After the battle
of Paardeberg 27 February 1900 and the surrender of Piet Cronje
with his 4000 burghers, President Paul Kruger
who was nearby at Poplar Grove, on hearing the bad news placed
his head into his hands and was heard muttering "they have
taken away my Majuba Day".
On the 11 October 1899 the day after Paul Kruger's birthday,
the little Boer Republic of the Transvaal declared war against
the Might of the British Empire. We have tours to the Battlefields
of Talana, Colenso, Spionkop, the siege town
of Ladysmith, Winston Churchill's
armoured train ambush and capture site as well as his Pretoria
prison and the British HQ of Melrose House - the signing of the
peace accord of 31 May 1902.
After the fall of Pretoria on the 5 June 1900
we trace Botha's retreat into the old "Eastern Transvaal"
with the Battlefield of Delmanuthu, being recognized as the last
of the formal battles and the beginning of the Guerrilla phase,
Belfast and the grave yard, Lydenburg, Long Tom Pass and the "Long
Tom Gun" site as well as Paul Kruger's last residence
in South Africa before he departed for Europe to muster support
for the Boer cause in October 1900.
The Zulu Battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal, including
the Boer-Zulu Battlefield of Blood River when
the early Dutch pioneers defended an attack on the wagon laager
by an overwhelming Zulu force. The Anglo-Zulu Battlefields of
Isandhlwana where 1,400 of the British invasion
force lost their lives against a disciplined and organized Zulu
impi,Rorke's Drift when 11 VC's were awarded to the
24th B coy Welsh Borderers, Traveling east we visit the Zulu capital
of Ulundi and the memorial to the fallen of both
sides leading to the total defeat of the mighty Zulu empire on
4 July 1879. From Ulundi you can visit the old British #1 Colomn
of fort Eshowe at the Norwegian mission station.
From Jo'burg we travel south towards "Ladysmith to
visit the the killing field of Spionkop to take a tour
of the Battlefield and explain the events that took place which
involved such people as Winston Churchill and Mohandas
Karamchand Gandhi. Our first visit in Ladysmith is to
the Siege Museum with its excellent diorama of the Ladysmith
field of operation, to the north west of the town we visit the
site of Whites HQ with a commanding view of the area. Leaving
Ladysmith you visit the Churchill memorial to see the armoured
train ambush site which led to the capture of young Winston.
Travelling back over the Tugela River to visit a part of the area
collectively known as the Tugela Heights and
the last final push to break the siege of Ladysmith. One
of the accommodations we stayover is on the Battlefield of
Ladysmith. You can also visit the capital of South Africa;
Pretoria with one of the old Boer forts, Churchill's
prison and the British HQ of Melrose house with the signing
of the peace treaty in May 1902.
The battlefield of Spionkop where the Liverpool regiments
came under a fire barrage from the Boer army under the command
of Louis Botha. In Ladysmith we visit the Siege Museum
with its diorama of the field of operation. South of town
you visit the Churchill memorial to see the armoured train
ambush site which led to the capture of young Winston on 15 November
1899. Travel back over the Tugela River to visit a part of the
area collectively known as the Tugela Heights
and the last final push to break the siege of Ladysmith. Traveling
northeast we can visit the Talana Battlefield and Pete
Smiths farm which is one of the best open-air Museums in the area.
We visit Isandhlwana with the biggest ever defeat of a
modern British army against the spears of a Zulu impi and Rorke's
Drift when 11 VC's were awarded to the 24th "B" coy Welsh
Borderers. You can visit the Zulu capital of Ulundi and
the memorial to the fallen of both sides leading to the total
defeat of the mighty Zulu empire on 4 July 1879 and Fort
Eshowe where Pearson's #1 column was
besieged at the Norwegian mission station. An optional Safaris
with a relaxing Game Drive in the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi
Reserve with the opportunity of seeing the BIG 5 of
the animal kingdom.
Lord Roberts entered Pretoria on the 5 June 1900 the Boer
army traveled east into the old Eastern Transvaal of the ZAR.
Starting in the capital of South Africa Pretoria; we visit
one of the Boer Forts built after the Jameson Raid
in 1896, Winston Churchill's prison, Paul Kruger
house, Breaker Morant and the British HQ of
Melrose House and the signing of the peace treaty on the 31
May 1902. Traveling towards the old Eastern Transvaal we see the
Battle site of Diamond Hill (June 1900) and visit Bergendal
(Aug 1900) being acknowledged as the last of the formal battles
and the start of the Guerrilla phase, and Long Tom Pass where
you can still see one of the old wagon routes used by the early
pioneers like Percy Fitzpatrick, and where Botha managed
to extricate his men and the Long Toms. We also visit the
Long Tom Gun site on this famous pass while listening to the
story of Botha's retreat. Traveling through Belfast we
visit the grave yard where amongst others lay British Soldiers,
onto Dullstroom and Lydenburg. Our journey will
also take you to the last residence in South Africa of the old
ZAR President "Paul Kruger" (1825-1904).
Anglo-Boer Battlefields of
Pretoria and the old Eastern Transvaal
-
4 day (3 night) This tour of the old
South African Republic (ZAR) is ideal for people who
enjoy some travel, relaxation and history. After 100
years the Anglo-Boer war still evokes passion from both
Boer and Brit alike.
On our journey you visit one of the old Boer Forts
guarding Pretoria, Winston Churchill's
Pretoria prison, Breaker Morant, Union
Buildings & the British HQ of Melrose
House. Traveling towards the old Eastern Transvaal
we see the Battle site of Diamond Hill and visit Bergendal
and Long Tom Pass where you can still see
one of the old wagon routes used by the early pioneers like
Percy Fitzpatrick, we also visit the Long Tom Gun
site on this famous pass while listening to the story of
Botha's retreat. Traveling through Belfast
we visit the grave yard where amongst others lay British
Soldiers, then onto Dullstroom and Lydenburg.
We also visit the last residence in South Africa of the
old ZAR President Paul Kruger (1825-1904).
On this tour we travel about 1000 km's.
-
5 days to 11 days extended tour to the
Kruger Park. The above tour can be extended
to include visiting the Kruger National Park,
Pilgrims Rest, Blyderiver Canyon, Gods
Window, Mac Mac, Berlyn and Lisbon falls on the upper meander
of the scenic panoramic route before returning to Jo 'Burg.
Includes accommodations and meals, return transfers Johannesburg
/ Pretoria.
This tour is more suitable for visitors who are looking
for some light military history combined with scenic and
game viewing.
Anglo-Boer Battlefields
Mafekeng, Kimberley & Bloemfontein
10 day tours to the siege towns of Mafekeng
of Baden Powell, Warrens 1884 expedition, Kimberley
with the Maggersfontein Battlefield of the Highland Regiments.
The Free State Capital of Bloemfontein with
Sannaspos, Queens Fort and the vrou memorial with the final
resting place of Emily Hobhouse.
Anglo-Boer Battlefields 1899-1902
Ladysmith, Kimberley, Mafekeng & Bloemfontein,
19 day tour of the three siege towns of
Ladysmith, Kimberley, and Mafekeng combined
with the Free State Capital of Bloemfontein
including the sites of the old Eastern Transvaal.
Includes: accommodations and meals, return transfers
Johannesburg / Pretoria,
Tours can be customized subject
to availability
