Isandlwana, South Africa

KwaZulu Natal Game Reserves

Isandlwana, KwaZulu Natal

Isandlwana, in Zulu, means "something like a little house." The spur sits on a gradually rising plain approximately 16 km from Rorkes Drift. Because of poor roads and the unwieldy wagons, it took Lord Chelmsford 10 days to make the passage from Rorke's Drift to the foot of Isandlwana, where he arrived on 20 January 1879. Since Chelmsford's plan was for a quick strike toward the Zulu Royal Kraal at Ulundi, he considered his camp temporary, and did not follow the advice of Paul Kruger and other Boers to form a wagon-laager, a standard Boer tactic when fighting against the Zulus. He also did not follow his own November Field Force Regulations which called for a partial entrenchments.

On 21 January, Chelmsford sent out patrols to try to locate the main Zulu impi. Maj. Charles Dartnell, that afternoon, reported an encounter with a large Zulu force. On 22 January, responding to Dartnell's report, Chelmsford split his main force and accompanied an additional 1600 troops to support those already in the field, leaving approximately 1800 men, including the 24th Warwickshires, to guard the camp. The main Zulu impi, consisting of about 20000 troops divided into three corps under the commands of Ntshingwayo kaMahole, Mavumengwana kaNdlela, and Dabulamanzi kaMpande had left Ulundi on 17 January and, on 20 January were camped about 25 km from Isandlwana. Using Shaka kaSenzangakhona's "horns and chest" maneuver, they attacked the British main camp at about noon on 22 January. The superior firepower of the British Martini-Henry .45 cal breechloading rifles initially checked the Zulus who were armed with throwing spears (assegais), short, stabbing spears (iKlawa), oxhide shields (isiHlangu), war clubs (iWisa), and approximately 15000 assorted rifles in various calibres. Eventually the overwhelming numbers and bravery of the Zulus, coupled with the inability of the British to provide a steady supply of replacement ammunition, turned the tide of battle. By 2:30 PM the Zulus had overrun the camp and, except for a small number of escapees, killed the defenders. Chelmsford, on hearing that the camp had been overrun, is reported to have said, "I can't understand it, I left a thousand men there".

The Battle of Isandlwana was the worst defeat ever inflicted on British troops by native forces. In the end, about 1300 British (800 Imperial troops and 500 irregulars) and between 1500 and 2000 Zulus lay dead. The British dead were buried on the field several weeks later, and the cairns marking their graves are visible today. What Zulu dead who were not carried off, remained unburied on the field. After the battle, the Zulu impi disbanded and returned to their home kraals, awaiting another call by King Cetshwayo kaMpande to sortie against the invaders.

Isandlwana

Game Lodges in Isandlwana

Isandlwana Lodge

Isandlwana Lodge, a luxury twelve bedroom Lodge, is situated on one of the most remarkable historic sites in Southern Africa and it overlooks the Isandlwana battlefield. The scenery one can see from the Lodge is ...

Isandlwana

Accommodation nearby

For accommodation nearby to the reserve see:
• Ladysmith Accommodation
• Dundee Accommodation
• Estcourt Accommodation
• Newcastle Accommodation
• Rorkes Drift Accommodation
• Vryheid Accommodation

Or to see all accommodation in this region, visit Battlefields Accommodation.

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