Dundee and Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) and Anglo-Zulu War (1879)

Elandslaagte: 

Battle on 21.10.1899 – recapture of railway station which was occupied by the Boers. Several monuments and war graves in the vicinity. 

Dundee: 

22.10.1899 British forces withdrew from Dundee under cover of darkness.                                                                                      

Talana: 

The first shots of the Anglo-Boer War were fired here on 22.10.1899. The Boer forces seized Talana Hill but the British launched an infantry attack and the Boers were forced to retreat. At Talana Museum are exhibits of that battle and on the Anglo-Zulu War. The museum comprises 17 buildings with exhibits of mining, industry and agriculture.                             

Isandlwana:  The battle of Isandlwana ranks among the worst defeats suffered by the British Army during the Anglo-Zulu War.                                                

Rorke’s Drift:

A small number of British soldiers successfully defended their garrison against thousands of Zulu warriors.  

Fugitive’s Drift:

A few soldiers escaped from Islandlwana but were overtaken by the Zulu. They were buried where they fell.

Helpmekaar:

General Buller’s forces broke through the Boer defence lines in the Biggarsberg at Helpmekaar and opened the way for the recapture of Dundee. On the crest of the hill are the remains of a Boer fort and a British military cemetery with a single grave. 

Fugitives' Drift in KwaZulu-Natal is famous as the site where officers Melvill and Coghill gave their lives to save the Queen's colours of their regiment. They had earlier fought at the KwaZulu-Natal battlefield of Isandlwana, and when all was lost had been sent to save the pride of their regiment.

The famous Golden Mile / Marine Parade in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, stretches for 6km, with its long surf beaches, which are protected with shark nets and lifesavers patrol between 8am – 5pm. On the seaward side are many amusement parks, Funworld with bumper-cars, an aerial cableway, craft sellers, restaurants and a continuous row of hotels, apartments on the other side. Along the promenade visitors find the brightly decorated rickshaws with their drivers festooned in beads and tall, elaborate headdresses. A must visit is the uShaka Marine World.  After hours, the Golden Mile waterfront comes into its own and visitors may experience the Entertainment World complex and the Suncoast Casino.
 

Lake Sibaya

The Lake Sibaya is the largest freshwater lake in South Africa and an important wetland for waterbirds. Over 300 bird species have been recorded here e.g. yellowspotted nicator, brown robin, Woodward’s batis etc. There are also hippo and crocodile populations. Explore the rustic bush camp (Baya Camp) on the lake’s southern shore.   

The Natal Sharks Board is a research institute situated 2km outside of Umhlanga.  It is dedicated to studying sharks, specifically in relation to their danger to humans.  Audiovisual presentations are offered at the Natal Sharks Board and dissections are held.  When the personnel ‘service’ the shark nets that protect Durban’s beach front visitors have the unique opportunity to join them.

The KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board in South Africa services a combination of shark nets and recently-deployed drumlines, spread at intervals along 320 km of coastline in KwaZulu-Natal, thereby providing protection against shark attack at 38 localities. The Sharks Board in South Africa employs about 170 staff members, most of whom put to sea on 15 boats to service the equipment. The other members of staff are engaged in research, administration, public relations, store-keeping and maintenance.
 

Durban: Scenic drive along the North Coast to Tongaat, driving along the Sugar and Dolphin Coast

Highlights:
 

• Umgeni River Bird Park
• Umhlanga Rocks
• Harold Johnson Nature Reserve
• Tongaat

 
Umgeni River Bird Park: 

This lies in a scenic setting of waterfalls, lush tropical vegetation and 30m high cliffs along the Umgeni River. It has a collection of over 3000 exotic and indigenous birds e.g. coloured parrots, macaws, Asian hornbills etc.  Visitors can walk among the birds in large walk-through aviaries.

Umhlanga Rocks:

Walk along the promenade offering splendid views of the Indian Ocean with its sandy and rocky beaches. The lighthouse built in 1945 is a well-known landmark. The Natal Sharks Board has its headquarters here and a visit is a must to view audiovisual presentations and the display hall.

Harold Johnson Nature Reserve: 

A small nature reserve which covers 104ha of coastal bush and grassland on the banks of the Tugela River. A variety of animals roam around e.g. impala, bushbuck, blue, common and red duiker, zebra. Epiphytic orchids and ferns can be seen.

Tongaat: 

This was founded in 1849 and named after the River Tongati. It is one of the largest sugar-producing districts in the world. Tongaat is also the oldest Indian community in South Africa. During 1860 the Indian labourers arrived to work in the sugar plantations. Visit the Juggernath Puri temple, the tallest and oldest Hindu temple in South Africa. At Compensation is the Crocodile Creek, home to 7000 crocodiles.

Sugar Coast: 

The Sugar Coast in KwaZulu-Natal stretches from Umhlanga Rocks northwards to Zimbali and inland to Mount Edgecombe, Verulam and Hambanathi. The coastal hills are dominated by vast fields of sugar cane.

Dolphin Coast:

Along this stretch of coast from Ballito northwards to Zinkwazi Beach many bottlenose dolphins can be seen offshore and surfing with the waves.

The Sibaya Casino & Entertainment Kingdom in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, basks lazily in the green hills just north of Durban. Conveniently situated between Umdloti and Umhlanga, Sibaya is the ideal getaway for those seeking all the thrills and spills, laughs and luxury KwaZulu-Natal has to offer. With every convenience from state-of-the-art conference facilities to placid ocean views, the Sibaya Casino & Entertainment Kingdom which is part of the South African Sun International hotel group is nothing short of being home away from home.

Valley of Thousand Hills and visit to cultural villages

This area of KwaZulu-Natal is named after the thousands of hills which tumble down to the mighty Umgeni River. View the magnificent scenery with unspoilt nature and wildlife. The hills are covered with traditional (beehive) Zulu homes while along the spine of the Valley you will find colonial buildings.

Cultural Villages

PheZulu Safari Park: 

Visit this Zulu village with its beehive huts where the Gasa clan will explain their beliefs, rituals and artifacts. The will also entertain you with their traditional dancing. A 3hr drive exploring the valley and meeting Zulu folk in their own homes is also offered by the park as well as an excursion to view the wild animals. Visit the Reptile Farm to see the crocodiles and the collection of snakes.

Isithumba Village:

This Zulu cultural village is situated next to the Umgeni River. Share a meal in the homes of the Zulu folk and hear more about their traditions. 

Izimtaba Cultural Village:

Zulu dancing and cultural shows take place three times a day.

Day trip to Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve and Fairacres Estate

Oribi Gorge

The Oribi Gorge is situated along the spectacular forest-cloaked ravine of the Mzimkulwana River. The river has etched a spectacular gorge into the mountains to create a rugged, natural landscape of breathtaking beauty. Over centuries, the sandstone cliffs of the gorge have been carved out by the river. At the base of the cliffs there are rocks over 1000 million years old while the cliffs were formed from sandstone deposited about 365 million years ago. The canyon has been named after the small antelope, Oribi. The forests are home to leopard, caracal, serval, bushbuck, blue duiker and samango monkey and the grasslands are the home of the oribi. The gorge is a bird-watchers paradise, with over 255 species of birds. There are 500 plant species e.g. orchids, proteas, aloe and many species of cycads.  Visitors can explore the reserve along six nature walks, ranging from 1km to 9km.

Fairacres Estate

Spectacular views of the Oribi Gorge can be seen from vantage points along the cliff edge e.g. the Horseshoe Bend in the Mzimkhulwana River. Other rock formations with imaginative names which can be seen are. Overhanging Rock, Sphinx, Pulpit, Leaning Tower and Baboon’s Castle. Lehr’s Waterfall is also a popular attraction.
 

The Zulu people called the magnificent Howick Waterfalls 'KwaNogqaza' meaning “Place of the Tall One”.  According to local legend the pool at the bottom of the Howick Falls is the residence of the Inkanyamba a giant serpent-like creature. According to lore only sangomas can safely approach the falls and then only to offer prayers and other acts of worship to the inkanyamba, ancestral spirits and the 'Great God'. The Howick Falls Gorge walk winds down from the top to the foaming pool at the bottom.

The Howick Falls is a waterfall in Howick located in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. This waterfall is approximately 95 meters in height and lies on the Umgeni River.  The falls were most likely first seen by European explorers in the early 1800s. However, the KwaZulu-Natal province has known human occupation for well over 30, 000 years and it is likely that it was a well known site prior to any western influence given the rich legend surrounding the area. Many people have been swept over the falls, especially in the pioneer days of the province, as some settlers thought the easiest place to cross the river was just above the falls.

Estcourt:

Colenso and Anglo-Boer War Battlefields

Colenso

This town lies on the banks of the Tugela River surrounded by the Drakensberg.

Armoured Train Cemetery:

It was near this site that Winston Churchill was captured by Boer forces, who derailed the armoured observation train which he was travelling. A plaque just off the road records the event and the cemetery set among trees. Off the R103 near Frere.

Chieveley Military Cemetery

Here Lt. Freddy Roberts, the son of Lord Roberts, lies buried. He was posthumously awarded the VC. Follow the dirt road past the railway station to the cemetery set among trees. Off the R103 from Estcourt to Colenso.

R.E. Stevenson Museum(Old Toll House)

Erected in 1879 as the house of the Bulwer Bridge. The military historian Dr R.E. Stevenson made a study of the Battles fought in and around Colenso during the Anglo-Boer War. Obtain the key from the police station next door.

Anglo-Boer War - The Battle of Colenso took place on 15 Dec, 1899. Reminders of the battle may be seen at the Clouston Garden of Remembrance and most of the 5th Brigade soldiers killed on that day were buried in a mass grave at Ambleside cemetery.

The Battle of Thukela took place on 21 February, 1900. To visit the graves and memorials on the side of the road turn off from the Colenso road towards Ezakheni/Newcastle.

Estcourt:
 
Moor Park Nature Reserve and Gaint’s Castle
 
Moor Park Nature Reserve: 

A day permit, obtainable at the gate, is necessary to view the many species of game that roam over grassland, thornveld, valley bushveld and sandstone cliffs and 190 bird species can be seen. The reserve offers a 6km self-guided trail (Old Furrow Trail) plus many other interesting trails. Veglaer, where the Voortrekkers fought a 3day battle against a large Zulu force in 1838, has been inundated by the Wagendrift Dam. On Makhabeni hill overlooking Moor Park is one of the oldest iron age sites dating back to AD1300 and on the southern side of the dam are large fossil beds with many fossilized trees lying exposed on the surface of the ground. 
 
Giant’s Castle:

Giant's Castle Game Reserve lies in the Central Berg region of the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park. Its name comes from the silhouette of the mountain escarpment that resembles the profile of a sleeping giant. The 3 mountain peaks which tower above are Gaint’s Castle (3313m) in the south, Mafadi (3346m) and Injasuti Dome (3409m) in the north. 

It was created mainly to protect the Eland, Africa’s largest antelope and for the numerous species of vultures. Visit the “Vulture hide” and view the Bearded Vultures and other endangered species feeding in winter. Other game to be seen are grey rhebok, mountain reedbuck, common duiker and oribi. There are many hiking trails from under 2km to overnight trails with huts.

A guided tour to the Main Caves is a must to view over 540 rock paintings of the San people (Bushmen). 

Howick, Howick Falls and Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve
 
Howick: 

Visit the Howick Museum with displays of informal settlement dwellings and the early history of the settlers plus military badges. The Military Cemetery is close to the site of an Anglo Boer War military hospital and concentration camp. 
 
Howick Falls:

The Umgeni River plunges 94m over sheer dolerite cliffs into a narrow gorge as it makes its way down stream to the Albert Falls Dam. These falls was proclaimed a national monument in 1951 together with 32ha of land around it. A viewing platform provides fine views over the falls.  A 2hr walk will take you to the pools at the base of the falls.
 
Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve:

This is situated below the Howick Falls and is an area of 650ha. There are many drives to view giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, nyala, impala, eland and other mammals plus the many birds which are home to the reserve.

Harrismith:
 
Sentinel Drive, Royal Natal National Park, Retief Rock and Sterkfontein Dam 
 
Sentinel Drive: 

After Phuthaditjaba the gravel road winds along the Witsieshoek Pass. The 6km drive with the Sentinel Peak (3165m) towering above passes the Breakfast Rock, The Dome, The Pudding and Witches reaching the car park at the base. A short walk from the car park to the Escarpment edge will reveal dramatic views of the Royal Natal National Park far below or take a 3hr hike to the top of the Amphitheatre and the 3282m Mont-aux-Sources.

Royal Natal National Park: 

This has the most spectacular mountain scenery with the awe-inspiring Amphitheatre. It stretches between the Sentinel in the west and Eastern Buttress and the Devil’s Tooth in the east, the sheer basalt wall rises over 700m above the Little Berg, which the Thukela Falls plunge more than 600m in five leaps over the Escarpment edge. There are many footpaths for visitors to ramble along. 

Retief Rock:

This landmark in on a route followed by the Voortrekkers. Piet Retief, the Voortrekker leader, left the camp in 1837 to visit the Zulu king and by 12 Nov. he had not returned. On this overhanging rock Retief’s daughter wrote, ’P. Retief Den 12 Novr. 1837’, in green paint.

Sterkfontein Dam and Nature Reserve:

The dam lies in the upper reaches of the Nuwejaarspruit and forms part of the Drakensberg Pumped Storage Scheme. The Nature Reserve is dominated by grasslands and cream-coloured sandstone outcrops. Animals to be seen are oribi, reedbuck, mountain reedbuck and grey rhebuck and many species of birds including vultures. 

 

Scenic drive from Ladysmith: Bergville, Royal National Park
 
Bergville

This village established in 1897 is now an agricultural and trading centre. Visit the Upper Thukela Blockhouse built during the Anglo-Boer War by British forces. A 1/2hrs drive to the northeast is Spioenkop and iNtabamnyama battlefields, where Boer and British forces met in battle from 20-24 January, 1900.

Royal Natal National Park

The Royal Natal National Park is home to the most spectacular mountain scenery with the awe-inspiring Amphitheatre. It stretches between the Sentinel in the west and Eastern Buttress and the Devil’s Tooth in the east, the sheer basalt wall rises over 700m above the Little Berg, which the Thukela Falls plunge more than 600m in five leaps over the Escarpment edge. There are many footpaths for visitors to ramble along.