Battlefields of South Africa
KWAZULU-NATAL
BOER-ZULU
Blood River Battlefield, 1838
460 Boers under Andries Pretorius defeated some 15,000 Zulus under Dingane. A
replica of the Boer laager can be found on the site, as well as a memorial to
the Zulu impi who fought bravely during the battle. 48km from Dundee, off the
R33. Open daily.
ANGLO-BOER
Majuba, 1881
British troops under General Colley were defeated overwhelmingly in the decisive
battle of the first Boer-British conflict. On 6 March 1881, General Joubert and
Colley's successor, General Wood, signed an armistice agreement. On 3 August,
the Pretoria Convention gave the Transvaal its independence. On the N11 from
Newcastle to Volksrust. Open daily
Talana, 1899
The museum commemorates the first battle between British and Boers in the South
African War of 1899-1902). There is a self-guided tour of the battlefield. About
1.5 km outside Dundee on the Vryheid road Open daily, but check times
The Siege of Ladysmith, 1899
On 2 November 1899, Boer general Piet Joubert laid siege to Ladysmith and its
12,000 British troops for 118 days. The Siege Museum has a fascinating
collection of artefacts, documents, firearms and other items, as well as
information on battlefields in the area.
Spioenkop, 1899
Spioenkop was the scene of a bloody and futile battle between British
and Boer forces during the Siege of Ladysmith. Countless graves and memorials
are scattered around the summit of the mountain, which has a magnificent views
of the Drakensberg. Off the R616. Open daily
Elandslaagte, 1899
A battle between Boer and British forces on 22 October 1899 over the railway
line from Dundee to Ladysmith. The British were forced to retreat to nearby
Ladysmith. Open daily
Colenso
The Clouster Garden of Remembrance, once Gen Buller's headquarters during the
Battle of Colenso at which he tried unsuccessfully to cross the Tugela and
relieve Ladysmith, houses memorials and graves from the war. On the R103 outside
Colenso. Open daily
Armored Train Cemetery
A plaque marks the spot where Winston Churchill was captured by the Boers, near
the cemetery.
Off the R103 near Frere
ANGLO-ZULU
Isandlwana, 1879
In January 1879 an invading British force of some 1,700 under Lord Chelmsford
was annihilated by 20,000 Zulu warriors at Isandlwana Hill. Cairns mark the
places where the British soldiers fell and were later buried on this remote and
brooding battlefield.
Off the R68 between Nqutu and Babanango. Open daily
Fugitives Drift
The two brave officers responsible for saving the Queen's Colour from Isandlwana
are buried here, 15 km beyond Rorke's Drift. The Fugitives' Trail follows the
route along which the handful of survivors fled from Isandlwana across the
Buffalo River. Open daily.
Rorkes Drift
The museum and interpretation centre are on the site of the hospital where the
famous battle took place during which some 100 British soldiers repelled 4,000
Zulus for 12 hours, earning no fewer than 11 Victoria Crosses. 42 km from
Dundee, off the R68 to Nqutu Open daily
Hlobane
British forces under Colonel Wood were routed by a Zulu impi of about 20 000
men.
Approximately 20km from Vryheid, on the Hlobane road
Gingindhlovu
British forces attempting to relieve besieged Eshowe fought off an attack by
Zulu impis. Eshowe was relieved next day, 3 April 1879. Open daily.
Ulundi, 1879
The battle on 4 July ended in the final defeat of the Zulu army and the crushing
of the Zulu state, marking the end of the old Zulu order. The monument honours
both the Zulu warriors who perished in defence of their king, and the British
soldiers killed in the battle.
3 kms east of
Ulundi.
Prince Imperial's Memorial
A plaque marks the spot where Prince Louis Napoleon, heir to the Napoleonic
dynasty, met his untimely end on 1 June 1879.
NORTHERN CAPE
ANGLO-BOER
The Siege of Kimberley, 1899
Kimberley was a key outpost on the western front of the Anglo-Boer War. The town
was besieged by Boer forces for four months, during which rail and telephone
communications were cut and the inhabitants were isolated. A memorial designed
by Sir Herbert Baker honours the memory of the British soldiers who died during
the siege.
Modder River, 1899
Scene of a deadly battle in which 2-4000 Boers under De la Rey and Prinsloo were
overcome by a larger force of British troops under Lord Methuen. There are
memorials to the fallen on either side of the Modder River Bridge.
Magersfontein, 1899
The major battlefield on the western front in which 948 British soldiers and 276
Boers were killed, wounded or captured. The battle site and memorials have been
declared national monuments. It is told that on the night of 11th December each
year, one can hear the eerie and haunting playing of a Scottish bagpiper who
died here in battle. 35kms from Kimberley on the airport road.
FREE STATE
ANGLO-BOER WAR
Paardeburg, 1900
A pitched battle between 40 000 British troops, under Roberts and Kitchener, on
their way to relieve Kimberley, and 4000 Boer troops under the command of Cronje
and De Wet, which ended in defeat for the Boers
NORTH-WEST
ANGLO-BOER WAR
Siege of Mafeking 1899
During the early stages of the Anglo-Boer War, the Boer forces besieged the town
of Mafikeng, under the command of Colonel Baden-Powell for 217 days. It was here
that the Siege Cadet Corps and later the Boy Scout movement was conceived. The
local museum in present-day Mafikeng has an excellent exhibit on the siege.
Links to Useful Sites
Quick overview on South African
History
Tours to Battlefields
South African History Online -
www.sahistory.org.za
