Battlefields, KwaZulu Natal
Not only the place of some of the most picturesque landscapes in the country, the sweeping hills and knotty rock formations that pepper the rolling plains and valleys of northern and central KwaZulu Natal are also the site of a concentration of historical battles that took place over numerous years and shaped the history of both South African and British history.
Today what appears to be little more than wind-swept plains littered with the remains of stone forts, graveyards and little else to indicate strife, bore witness to innumerable fierce battles. First between the Voortrekkers on their way to the hinterland in a bid to escape the British rule of the Cape Colony, and the fierce Zulu kings, who believed that this beautiful land that lay between the Drakensberg Mountains and the Indian Ocean was their own ‘heaven on earth’.
Today this beautiful and somewhat fragile region forms the heart of a Battlefields Route that one can do as part of a tour or as a self-drive experience - maps and brochures in tow to trace the battles that involved Mahatma Gandhi, Churchill, Shaka and General Louis Botha - all of whom played strategic roles in these intense clashes that have left the landscape imbued with the echoes of battle. (See Battlefields Map).
Destinations / Towns & Suburbs of Battlefields
Babanango
Where to Stay: Battlefields Accommodation
In the northern reaches of Zululand is the little town of Babanango en route to Dundee on the R68. An unusual name, Babanango translates as ‘Father there she is’ - ‘Ubaba, nangu’ - and evidently refers to a small child ... Babanango information
Colenso
Where to Stay: Battlefields Accommodation
The smaller neighbour of Ladysmith, the quiet town of Colenso lies in the foothills of the Drakensberg, on the banks of the Thukela River. It is one of few towns in the area to maintain its country atmosphere and has a ... Colenso information
Dundee
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Dundee
The pretty little town of Dundee, which has managed to retain much of its aesthetic rustic appeal, lies in the valley of the magnificent Biggarsberg Mountain range some 325 kilometres from Durban and only 30 minutes’ ... Dundee information
Eshowe
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Eshowe
Eshowe, the oldest town of European settlement in Zululand, lies just below a ridge of hills that are home to an indigenous forest known as Dlinza. The sound of wind blowing through the forest is thought to have ... Eshowe information
Estcourt
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Estcourt
Lower down in the valley from Van Reenen’s Pass, and in the heart of the Anglo-Boer War territory, Estcourt is a fairly large town that serves as the gateway to the central Drakensberg, together with Winterton just 40 ... Estcourt information
Gingindlovu
Where to Stay: Battlefields Accommodation
Originally named Gingindlovu, meaning swallower of the Elephant in Zulu, by Cetshwayo when he won the struggle with his brother Mbulazi over the Zulu throne, Gingindlovu is also on the Battlefields Route in northern ... Gingindlovu information
Glencoe
Where to Stay: Battlefields Accommodation
Named after a valley in Argyleshire by Scottish settlers during the late 1800s, the town has a proud railway history the first train arriving on 4 September 1889. Attractions include Carl Landman's House, a fine example ... Glencoe information
Greytown
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Greytown
Often referred to as the ‘jewel of KwaZulu Natal, Greytown lies in the forest-clad, rolling hills of the Natal Midlands, a picturesque little town originally settled during the 1850s and subsequently awash with ... Greytown information
Isandlwana
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Isandlwana
Isandlwana, in Zulu, means "something like a little house." The spur sits on a gradually rising plain approximately 10 mi (16 km) from Rorke's Drift. Because of poor roads and the unwieldy wagons, it took Lord ... Isandlwana information
Ladysmith
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Ladysmith
Ladysmith today acts as a commercial centre for the large surrounding farming district became the centre of attention during the Anglo Boer War, both locally and overseas, when it fell under siege from October 1899 to ... Ladysmith information
Lüneburg
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Lüneburg
The little village of Lüneburg (place of the moon) is the original settlement of German Lutheran missionaries who, it is safe to assume, named the community in 1854 after their hometown in Germany. Today it is the site ... Lüneburg information
Melmoth
Where to Stay: Battlefields Accommodation
Melmoth, known as the gateway to the Zulu Highlands, is a picturesque, little town just 200 km north east of Durban and 90 km from the coastal town of Mtunzini. Referred to, in the SA edition of Trivial Pursuit, as ... Melmoth information
Newcastle
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Newcastle
Deeply involved in the Anglo-Boer War, Newcastle today is the largest town in northern KwaZulu Natal and shares its name with a further 27 sister Newcastles worldwide. It is awash with history and some fairly original ... Newcastle information
Paulpietersburg
Where to Stay: Battlefields Accommodation
Paulpietersburg is a small, pretty town nestling in the foothills of the Dumbe Mountain - a big, flat-topped, triangular mountain in the middle of flatlands territory, popular with paragliders and hikers and named after ... Paulpietersburg information
Rorkes Drift
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Rorkes Drift
Rorke’s Drift, 46 kilometres southeast of Dundee, describes a natural crossing presented by a rocky outcrop that allows one to cross the Buffalo River on foot. To give one an idea of its significance, just 4 kilometres ... Rorkes Drift information
Ulundi
Where to Stay: Battlefields Accommodation
The town of Ulundi, in the heart of Zululand, is set among majestic hills and the rugged valleys of the White Umfolozi River. The former capital of the Zulu Kingdom, Ulundi straddles Route 66, between Nongoma and ... Ulundi information
Vryheid
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Vryheid
Fundamentally a coal mining and beef farming town, Vryheid - from the Afrikaans word for ‘freedom’ - lies roughly 70 kilometres north east of Dundee in Zululand. Vryheid also lies close to the site of one of the more ... Vryheid information
Winterton
Where to Stay: Accommodation in Winterton
The pretty town of Winterton serves, quite literally, as the gateway to the central Drakensberg some 14 kilometres away, and lies in the foothills of these towering giants, a typical pioneer settlement and one of the ... Winterton information
Battlefields
Featured and "Must See" Attractions in Battlefields
Albert Falls Dam Nature Reserve
The source of the uMngeni River lies in the uMngeni Vlei area, an ancient wetland bounded by hills. From here it meanders eastward through undulating pastoral countryside until just before Midmar Dam, where it is joined by the Lions River. Below Midmar Dam the river plunges some 111 metres down ... more information
Battlefields Route
The KwaZulu Natal hinterland has witnessed some of the most brutal and significant battles to be fought in South Africa. These historical sites form part of the Battlefields Route, a trip through 14 historical towns whose surrounding areas boast the largest concentration of battlefields in South Africa ... more information
Chelmsford Nature Reserve
The Chelmsford Nature Reserve, situated on the Ngagane River, lies just 70 kilometres from Ladysmith and is the site of the third largest dam in KwaZulu Natal, a wonderful venue for swimming, soaking up the sun and enjoying various water sports. The dam, which takes three hours to circumnavigate ... more information
Ithala Game Reserve
This magnificent Ithala Game reserve, tumbling from the heights of the Ngotshe Mountains a thousand meters down into a deep valley, carved over the aeons by the Phongolo River revealing the world's oldest rock formations, is a game viewers paradise. Situated in the rugged, mountainous thornveld of northern ... more information
Ntendeka Wilderness Area
South Africa's smallest and arguably most beautiful wilderness area is Ntendeka, consisting of 5 250 ha of undulating grasslands, verdant forests and dramatic cliffs with breathtaking waterfalls. Rivers and streams have formed deep valleys and the varied topography has resulted in great ... more information
Spioenkop Dam Nature Reserve
Lying virtually at the foot of the rugged Spioenkop Mountain, the dam was the site of one of the most bloody battles to ensue during the Anglo-Boer War in an attempt to lift the Siege of Ladysmith, Spioenkop Dam Nature Reserve is 4 400 hectares of thorn savannah that contrast magnificently with the ... more information
Talana Museum
Set in a 20 acre heritage park that forms a portion of the Talana battlefield - the first battle of the Anglo-Boer war - is a museum that is dedicated to memorabilia and the growth of the Dundee area, and is home to displays as diverse as war and agriculture, mining, industry and domestic life ... more information
Weenen Nature Reserve
Weenen Game Reserve covers an area of typical inland KwaZulu Natal acacia grassland with occasional thickets. There are extensive game viewing facilities, guided walks and environmental education in the Weenen Game Reserve. More than 230 species of birds have been recorded (there are two hides ... more information
Battlefields
Featured Things To Do in Battlefields
Visit the Talana Museum
Where: Dundee
How much (per person): R1 to R100
Winning the unspoken 'battle of museums', the Talana Museum arose victorious in the voting war as South Africa's Best Country Museum. 'Tala ... more information
Zulu Homestead Visit
Where: Rorkes Drift
How much (per person): On Request
When staying at Isibindi Zulu Lodge a separate day trip to a Zulu Homestead gives guests a rare chance to experience the life of a rural Zul ... more information
Battlefields
Holiday Accommodation in Battlefields
For accommodation in Battlefields see:
• Dundee Accommodation • Eshowe Accommodation • Estcourt Accommodation
• Isandlwana Accommodation • Ladysmith Accommodation • Lüneburg Accommodation
• Newcastle Accommodation • Rorkes Drift Accommodation • Vryheid Accommodation
• Winterton Accommodation
Or to see all accommodation in this region, visit Battlefields Accommodation.
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