The Zulu wars of the late 19th century were more than just some little skirmish going on somewhere near the ends of the earth. At the time Britain was a mighty superpower and these savages with sticks, to quote a contemporary, gave them more than a run for their money. It was also at the hands of a Zulu impi that the Napoleonic dynasty came to an end, now that may have altered the course of European history a bit. And, of course, many of the British soldiers who came out here to fight a cause they didnt really understand, still have relatives and descendants in Britain and quite a few people find it interesting to come out and see where great-grandpa fought the Zulus. A visit to a battlefield always raises questions about our place in history, and our methods of handling conflict. The battles between the Zulus and the British cant really be separated from those between the Zulus and the Boers, and between the Boers and the British. Generally, the whole area and era was pretty bloody. | | Day 1 | Fly in to Durban and relax. | | Day 2 | Drive out to Babanango or Rorkes Drift, and settle in to your lodge. Over dinner, discuss your routing with your host.
| | Day 3 | Do an escorted trip to Isandlwana, Rorkes Drift and Fugitives Drift.
| | Day 4 | Visit Ondini, Cetswayos last capital, and check out the museum there.
| | Day 5 | Theres not much left to see at the battlefield of Gingindlovu, but its the first place in history where a gattling gun was used in battle. Needless to say, it took the Zulus by surprise.
| | Day 6 | Visit the Prince Imperial Monument, near Nqutu, and ponder for a moment, how history might have been different if the line of Napoleon had not been cut short here.
| | Day 7 | And then for an idea of the other threat faced by the Zulus, visit the monument at the site of the Battle of Blood River near the town of Dundee, and pop in to Umgumgumdhlovu, near Ulundi , which is where the Zulu chief Dingaan killed Piet Retief and his men. His grave is still there. | | Day 8 | Return to Durban stopping en route to see the Ultimatum Tree at Tugela Mouth, where you can ponder the causes of the Zulu wars, and Shakas monument in Stanger.
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