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ISANDLWANA
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Isandlwana | KwaZulu Natal National
Parks and Reserves: Isandlwana, in Zulu, means "something like a little
house." The spur sits on a gradually rising plain approximately 16 km from Rorke's
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 ... Please click here to read more about Isandlwana.
» Accommodation at Isandlwana: |
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Isandlwana Lodge - Isandlwana, KwaZulu Natal:
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 ... |
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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 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 15 mi (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.
» KwaZulu Natal ZULULAND & ELEPHANT COAST
Accommodation: |
• Hlomo Hlomo Accommodation
• Hluhluwe Accommodation
• Isandlwana Accommodation
• Lake Sibaya Accommodation
• Mkuze
Accommodation • Mtubatuba Accommodation
• Pongola Accommodation
• Richards Bay
Accommodation • Sodwana Bay Accommodation
• St Lucia Accommodation |
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