Colenso, Battlefields

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 little over 6 000 residents.

Used as a base by the British Army during the Anglo-Boer War, the town is also known as eSkipeni (Zulu for Place of the Boat). Today its peaceful atmosphere belies the battle that ensued here, regarded as one of the lowest points of the British Army.

The Battle of Colenso, fought on 15 December 1899, was the first of five battles to try and lift the siege on Ladysmith. This battle was fought on three fronts, none of which managed success - one was repulsed, one was ambushed, and the last came under heavy fire and had to abandon its advance. In the process of attempting to retrieve guns, a number of men were lost including Lieutenant Freddy Roberts, son of Field Marshall Lord Roberts. In total 1100 men were killed at Colenso versus the eight Boers who lost their lives.

Colenso’s main attraction is to visit the several sites commemorating parts of this battle, including the Ambleside Military Cemetery, open daily. A number of smaller battles that became known collectively as the Battle of Tugela Heights - possibly the largest battle ever fought by the British Army up until the Second World War - were fought a short distance from Colenso, en route to Ladysmith.

Travellers' Reviews

1 Review from SA-Venues.com travellers. All reviews are verified.

Verified reviewgood

We came to Colenso with the intention of exploring the historical battlegrounds. It was very interesting, and very beautiful too. We felt like we were miles away from any kind of civilization!

Ella (Virginia USA)

In the vicinity

Hotels & other accommodation options

Things to do in the area

Noteworthy attractions

Find accommodation in Colenso

FIND / South Africa Accommodation / KwaZulu Natal Accommodation / Battlefields Accommodation / Colenso Accommodation

Colenso as a destination

Want to stay overnight?

Dates

When would you like to stay?
Choose dates

Number of Guests

Why book with SA-Venues.com
  • Your card is safe with us; strictest card verification in the industry and we don't store card numbers.
  • No airy fairy service fees; you save!
  • We care. Service with integrity.
  • Multiple payment methods:
    credit card, SID instant EFT, bank transfer.
  • All Colenso property owners / managers are verified (our experience protects you from online fraud).
  • Secure your booking
Our Payment Protection Guarantee only applies if your deposit payment is made via SA-Venues.com
Destinations
South Africa. Explore. Experience. Stay

SA-Venues.com® has been assisting travellers with their South Africa travel plans since 1999, and is the largest, independent online travel guide for South Africa available in both English and German.