+27 31 572 4227
info@southerncircle.com
We Specialize In Creating Wow Memories of Southern Africa
info@southerncircle.com
We Specialize In Creating Wow Memories of Southern Africa
+27 31 572 4227
info@southerncircle.com
We Specialize In Creating Wow Memories of Southern Africa
+27 31 572 4227

Natal Battlefield Tours

3 Day Battlefields Guided Tour (Code: SCDF3) – Durban

3 Day Battlefield Tour – Code: SCDF3 This 3-day Battlefield tour covers 3 very important Anglo-Boer war sites as well as 2 of the most important Anglo-Zulu Battlefields.  We also cover the Battle of Blood River fought between the Zulu’s and the Boers. This tour is perfect for those with a keen interest in the early wars and skirmishes. DAY 1  Durban – Pietermaritzburg – Spionkop – Ladysmith – Dundee We travel westwards to Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KwaZulu-Natal, for a brief city tour. Stop at the railway station where Mahatma Gandhi was thrown off the train because of the colour of his skin, and see the waiting room, wherein the silence of the night he formulated his philosophy of passive resistance. Visit the Church of the Vow that was built as a result of the Battle of Blood River between the Voortrekkers and the Zulus in 1838. Then onwards to the hills where the Battle of Spioenkop took place. Here, famous personalities like Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi and General Louis Botha, were active in different capacities.  Standing on the battlefield, the terrible incident unfolds again. At Ladysmith, we visit the Siege Museum for an insight into the siege of Ladysmith and stories of suffering and heroism. Our overnight stop is outside Dundee after a quick visit to Talana Battlefield – the first battle of the Anglo-Boer War. We travel to our luxury lodge overlooking the battlefield of Isandlwana! Overnight At Isandlwana Lodge DAY 2  Rorke’s Drift – Isandlwana – Blood River This morning we cover the famous and awe-inspiring battlefields of Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana. The next battlefield we visit is at the battle of Blood River where a life-size bronze model of the ‘Boer’ laager is an eerie reminder of what happened. It is also one of the only

View Tour »

Natal Battlefields Guided Tour – 1-Day (Code: SCDK)

During this Natal Battlefields tour, you will mainly visit the two important Anglo Zulu battlefields of  Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. We travel westwards past Pietermaritzburg to the famous and awe-inspiring battlefields of Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana where we spend most of our time exploring. Then travel via Babanango, Melmoth and Eshowe and arrive in the evening. We return to Durban via Melmoth and Eshowe and arrive in the evening. OTHER TOURS THAT MAY INTEREST YOU: 2 Day Natal Battlefields tour (Code: SCDF) – Durban to Durban 3 Day Natal Battlefields Tour (Code: SCDF3) – Durban to Durban

View Tour »
Natal Battlefields Tour

2 Day Natal Battlefields Guided Tour (Code: SCDF)

The Natal Battlefields Tour – 2 Days (Code: SCDF) The Natal Battlefields tour visits the battlefields of Spionkop, Talana, Ladysmith, Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, all part of the Anglo Boer and Anglo Zulu wars fought during the late 19th century.  You finally visit Zulu king Dingane’s Umgungundhlovu homestead where he murdered Boer leader Piet Retief and his party. To visit the battle of Blood River in addition to the battlefields included here, you need to join our three day tour of the battlefields  (Code: SCDF3) which includes Blood River museum and battlefield. DAY 1   Durban – Spionkop – Ladysmith – Talana (Natal Battlefields Tour) Our 2 Day Battlefield Guided Tour takes us westwards via Pietermaritzburg and the hilly wonderland of the Midlands towards the west. With the mighty Drakensberg Mountains in sight on a clear day, we travel  to the hills where the Battle of Spionkop took place. Here, famous personalities like Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi and General Louis Botha, were active in different capacities.  Standing on the spot, the terrible incident unfolds again. At Ladysmith visit the Siege Museum for an insight into the siege of Ladysmith and stories of suffering and heroism. Overnight outside Dundee after we visit the Talana Battlefield – the site of the first battle of the Anglo-Boer War.  Overnight at the Isandlwana Lodge . DAY 2   Rorke’s Drift – Isandlwana – Umgungundluvo – Durban This morning we cover the famous and awe inspiring battlefields of Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana. At our last stop, we get an insight into the clashes between the Voortrekkers and the Zulus.  We visit Umgungundlovu, the reconstructed home of Dingane who was responsible for the massacre of the Voortrekker leader, Piet Retief, and many of his men. This, in turn, led to the Battle of Blood River in 1838.

View Tour »

The Natal Battlefield Tours: Violent battles over the abundance of minerals and precious stones found in South Africa shaped its recent history. We take a peek into particularly the KwaZulu Natal battles. Here one experiences the raw violence and heroism that became part and parcel of some of them.

Explore the battlefields of Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) with a tour.

These battles took place in KZN some 120 years ago and completely changed the course of South African history. Today, the echoes of the past still ring out over the quiet mountains and deep valleys as the tales of skirmishes are retold during South African battlefield tours.

The battlefields form a small part of the province, and there are 9 destinations to explore. Each of them has its own story etched into the soil. Here the British suffered some of their worst military defeats, the Boers were broken, and the proud Zulu nation met the crushing end to their dominance.

About the Battlefields of Kwa-Zulu Natal

Spread out over numerous locations, some battlefields are more significant than others. For those looking to step back into British history, Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift are perhaps important locations to visit. The British faced the Zulus in a ferocious 2-hour battle. Armed with guns, they fought the Zulus, armed only with spears and shields, and suffered a real thrashing. The British become one of the few empires ever to be defeated by an indigenous army.

The battlefield of Spionkop should be next on your list. 3 people, who would later become famous for other reasons, were present. Mahatma Gandhi was a stretcher-bearer and Winston Churchill was a war correspondent at the time. Louis Botha, who later became the first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, also played a role there. While in the area, why not also visit the Blood River Monument and the Talana Museum.

When planning your trip to the Battlefields, you should consider the Natal battlefield tours, or even organise it so that it coincides with one of the re-enactments.
Many of the fascinating military forts that once dotted the area have vanished and in their place, there are a few museums and memorials. While you might not be actually seeing the conflict or the remains of the forts, the sombre feeling of each region cannot be ignored. It’s hard to believe that in such a picturesque part of South Africa, such awful conflicts have taken place. South African battlefields have become the perfect place to reflect on the past.

Read More

South African Battlefield Tours

Our tours are designed to give each guest a unique and personal experience that will leave them enlightened and with loads of stunning photos. When you choose a South African battlefields tour with Southern Circle, you’ll find a number of exciting tour packages to choose from.

Battlefields Day-Tour

We include 12 hours exploring Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift and visiting Chetswayo’s Kraal and Ondini if time allows. The tour leaves from Durban and returns to Durban in the evening. We suggest comfortable walking shoes as you spend most of the day on your feet.

Battlefields Tour

This two-day tour of the most famous battlefields is without a doubt the best way to take your time while enjoying two full days of touring. This historical tour will enlighten you whilst walking the battlefields and hearing the stories the guides have to tell. On day 1, we visit Spionkop, Ladysmith and Talana.  On day two we travel to Rorke’s Drift, Isandlwana and Umgungundluvo, before returning to Durban.

3 Day Natal Battlefields Tour

Giving you the maximum amount of time to see the battlefields and hear the stories of the past, this 3-day tour is a must for all history enthusiasts. This tour starts and ends in Durban, and it includes trips to Spionkop, Ladysmith, Dundee, Rorke’s Drift, Isandlwana, Blood River, Babanango, Ondini, and Umgungundhlovu.

You can easily visit the battlefields yourself. However, most consider guided tours the better option. In the company of our tour guide, we will take you to the best spots while regaling history book stories. Guests should bring their cameras along for the journey as the views from the battlefields are truly beautiful. While most tours will have guests walking around each location, if you are searching for a more authentic experience, you could always look for the tour that takes you on horseback.

Book your South African Battlefields tour today and learn more about the battles that have shaped our nation.