Tours in and around Dundee
You can undertake these as self drive tours – or hire a professional guide to bring the history to life for you.

This land is ancient.
Sketches, paintings, engravings and tools of the stone age San Bushmen testify to early and long occupation. By the 18thC Nguni tribesmen had given this area the name "Honey Mountains" for life here was sweet.

A lofty world of vast panoramas, this area can claim many titles – "No Man's Land", "The Turbulent Frontier", "Crossroads of South African History", "Land of the Covenant", "Land of Forts"' "Land of Missions".

Destiny marched with men along its winding roads and through its steep, narrow passes where bloody battles were fought between Zulu, Boer and Brit.

Black met Black in the great Shakan age. Boer confronted Zulu in 1838 and defeated King Dingane's impi's at Blood River/Ncome. Proud Imperial Britain bit the dust at Isandlwana on 22 January. That same day reputation was salvaged at Rorkes Drift.
The first of the Brit/Boer conflicts was brief, but never forgotten. "Remember Majuba" was to be a rallying cry for the conflict 20 years later. Boer challenged Brit in the most tragic of civil wars in 1899. Talana was the first dramatic battle of that three-year conflict.

Some of the most decisive battles of "Victoria's little wars" were fought in this region. Winston Churchill's historic reference to the town of Ladysmith, "famous unto the uttermost ends of the earth", holds true for the area as a whole.
The highroads to adventure cut through this area and many are the ghosts of people who passed this way. Brigands and bankrupts, officers and gentlemen, smugglers and cattle rustlers, men of the Cross and men of the Sword. All have lent romance to this corner of South Africa.
Colour, culture, character and the echoes of fierce clashes – all this and much more can be found in the tranquil and beautiful hills of northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Mercifully, this area offers more than just conflict. Its great natural beauty and its small wonders enchanted early travellers and continue to enchant.

Pride in the environment and their heritage is a real force in these mountains, where farmers have banded together in game conservancies to reintroduce game and protect surviving species. Bird viewers are delighted with their sightings. Trails, with evocative names, open these pleasure to ramblers.

The Battlefields Route is not a journey; it is a rich experience. These unspoilt battlefields have a palpable atmosphere. Tourist guides evoke vivid pictures of tough battles fought here and introduce the culture of the peoples that made the history and now give the area its unique character.

Midway between Durban and Johannesburg, the Battlefields Route is an interesting area and wherever you go, you can be assured of friendly hospitality.

Although the tours outlined in this brochure can be self-drive, each area has specialist guides who could accompany you to the battlefields or tour of your choice and bring the history alive for you.

Some sites have walk and talk tape tours that are available from Talana Museum, Dundee.

Please note that many of the battlefields have remained unchanged since the time of the battle and consequently have few or no facilities.
It is advisable to take liquid refreshments and food with you. A hat, walking shoes and sunscreen are also advisable. We also recommend that you fill your vehicle with fuel in the towns as you pass through them.
Entrance fees are charged at most sites and museums
Information offices in the various towns will be able to provide you with accommodation recommendations, tourist guides, maps and local area information.

Other brochures are available from these offices and the many museums.
Tourist Guides are available in most towns of the area.
For a list of accredited, professional guides contact Talana Museum at info@talana.co.za.

"The Red Soldier"

Isandlwana – Rorkes Drift – Fugitives Drift – Helpmekaar
(travelling distance based in Dundee 200km)

The initial battles of the Anglo Zulu War of 1879 are world renowned; the British defeat by the proud Zulu army at Isandlwana on 22 January 1879 and then the heroic stand by a handful of British soldiers at Rorkes Drift later that same day and night. 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded for the defence of Rorkes Drift and 1 for the battle of Isandlwana.

At Fugitives Drift the memorial to Lts Coghill and Melvill, who saved the Colours, stands high above the Buffalo River valley where the survivors from Isandlwana struggled to cross the swollen river.

From Dundee take the R68 to Nqutu and follow the signposts to Rorkes Drift, Isandlwana and Fugitives Drift and Helpmekaar.

Places of interest along this route

*Talana Museum – Dundee *Moth Shellhole Museum– Dundee

*ELC Craft Centre at Rorkes Drift *Elandskraal Trading Store at Elandskraal

*Military cemetery (1879) at Helpmekaar



Battles of 1879

Kambula – Hlobane – Ntombe Drift – Ulundi
(travelling distance based in Dundee

We recommend that Ulundi be done on a separate day due to the time and distance constraints.

On 12 March 1879 a British convoy was attacked at the Ntombe River. Further battles were fought on 28/29 March 1879. At Hlobane the British forces were defeated by a Zulu impi and the following day the British forces defeated a Zulu impi at Kambula. This battle was a major defeat for the Zulu army and is regarded as the turning point of the war.

The final battle of the war on 4 July took place on the banks of the Umfolozi River(battle of Ulundi). The Zulu army was defeated, King Ceteswayo was later captured and the kingdom of Zululand dismembered.

For this tour we recommend that you hire one of the professional tour guides as signs to some of the sites are sparse. Contact the Information Office in Dundee for detailed directions and pertinent information.

Places of interest along this route

*Nieuwe Republiek Museum – Vryheid * Lancaster Hill – Vryheid

*KwaZulu Cultural Museum and Ondini Battlefield – Ulundi
*Houses of Parliament – Ulundi *Itala Game Reserve – Louwsburg



"Route du Prince Imperial, Louis Napoleon"

Follow in the footsteps of Louis Napoleon.
(travelling distance from Dundee 340km)

Napoleon Eugene Louis Jean Joseph Bonaparte (1856 – 1879) only son of Napoleon III and the Empress Eugenie, came to South Africa with British reinforcements after the disaster at Isandlwana. He joined Lord Chelmsford's staff as an extra aide de camp. A gifted reconnaissance scout, the Prince set out on the ill fated 1 June 1879 to choose the camp for the army's march on Ulundi. Tragedy struck when the group offsaddled in the Tshotshosi valley close to supposedly deserted kraal. A group of Zulu warriors attacked through the long grass. A rearing horse and a broken holster strap prevented the Prince from mounting and escaping. The Prince, realising all was lost, turned to face his foes. His slayers said of him "He fought like a lion, and we did not dare to close till he sank down facing us." Thus in a distant land, the last drops of the blood of the Bonaparte dynasty were shed.

Proceed through to Nqutu (R68), turn left at the intersection to Nondweni along the Babanango/Vryheid road (follow the signposts) to the Monument Cross in the Tshotshosi valley – the cross was erected by Queen Victoria in affectionate memory of her "poor, dear Prince."

Continue on to Vryheid (with Lord Chlemsford the Prince visited Col. Evelyn Wood at Kambula) and then to the quaint town of Utrecht where the Prince was based. Return to Dundee.

Places of interest along this route

*Talana Museum – Dundee

*Utrecht Museum, military cemetery and Powkrowsky memorial.



"Remember Majuba"

Newcastle Town Hall, Zulu War Memorial, Fort Amiel Museum, Schuinshoogte, Majuba, Lang's Nek.
(travelling distance 250km)

Fort Amiel was built in 1876 by Major F. Amiel as a defence against the Zulu's. However, it was never used for that reason and became a transit camp, hospital and commissariat.

The battle of Majuba took place on 27 February 1881. General Colley led his troops up the mountain during the night, thinking it was the best position to hold. Early the next morning the Boers climbed the mountain to attack and drive off the British forces. General Colley was killed. There are graves and memorials on top of the mountain.

In Newcastle follow the signs to Fort Amiel and after this continue out of Newcastle towards Memel on the R34. 17km along turn right towards Ingogo. Proceed until you reach the Schuinshoogte battlefield. Continue on to the N11 and turn left. As you travel through Lang's Nek pass you will see a sign and a lay-by on the right side. From this point you get a good view of the valley below where the British troops attacked the hills. Continue along the road and follow the signs to Majuba battlefield.

Places of interest along this route

*Carnegie Art Gallery – Newcastle * Fort Amiel Museum - Newcastle
* Memorial in front of Newcastle Town Hall



"Under the African Sun"

Talana – Elandslaagte – Ladysmith - Spioenkop
(travelling distance from Dundee 170km)

The first battles of the Anglo Boer War fought in 1899 created world headlines. Talana, the first battle of the war and the first time the British troops wore khaki uniforms in the field; Elandslaagte fought in a raging thunderstorm and where Indian stretcher bearers did sterling work; and Ladysmith – the siege of this town created an unprecedented interest world-wide.

The Talana Museum is situated on part of the Talana battlefield. An audio tour of the museum and battlefield is available at the museum reception.

The history has been brought alive by excellent and evocative museums on this site – coal, glass, beads, military history, agriculture, railways and the social and cultural life of the town and region - or hire the resident museum guide to conduct you around and bring the events of yesteryear alive.

Visit the cairn where Gen Sir William Penn Symons was mortally wounded, climb Talana hill to see the remains of the 2 British forts, the Boer and British gun positions, the Boer cannon road and the memorial to the men of Hobart of Tasmania. On the reverse slopes of Talana hill is "Thornley" the farm and buildings used by the Boer forces as their headquarters, mortuary and hospital during the battle.

Talana Museum is open weekdays 8:00 – 16:30, weekends and public holidays 10:00 – 16:30.

In Dundee you can visit military cemeteries in St James churchyard ( here Gen Penn Symons is buried, as is Lt Hanna, the first soldier to be killed by the fragments of a shell from a Long Tom), Betania (behind the Wesleyian church in McKenzie St), the Dundee cemetery, and the Boer memorial on the clock tower of the Dutch reformed Church ( corner of Wilson and Beaconsfield St). Boers killed in the battle were originally buried on top of Talana hill, but were re-interred under the clock tower in 1929 and Anton von Wouw was commissioned to carve the bronze relief that adorns the memorial.

From the museum travel through Dundee and along the R602 to Elandslaagte and follow the signs to the battlefield. After your visit continue on to Ladysmith along the N11. In Ladysmith visit the Siege Museum in the main street (follow the signs) and here you can obtain further details on siege sites around the town.

From Ladysmith travel out on the R103 and turn right to Bergville just outside the town. Follow the signs to Spioenkop battlefield – NOT Spioenkop Sam or Nature Reserve.



Siege and Relief of Ladysmith

(travelling distance based in Dundee 300km – 330km)
Travel to Estcourt and work your way back to Dundee.

South of Estcourt is the battle of Willowgrange, which was the most southerly point reached by the Boers in Natal on 23 November 1899.

In Estcourt visit Fort Durnford museum, which served for a time as the headquarters of Gen Hildyard. There is a monument to the Anglo Boer war at the southern end of Alexandra Street.

Continue on towards Ladysmith and stop at the site of the armoured train incident. It was here that a young Winston Churchill war correspondent for the "Morning Post", was captured when the British reconnaissance train was derailed.

Continue along the road and turn right to the Chieveley cemetery (signposted) This was the site of No 4 military hospital during the battles of Colenso and where Lt Freddie Roberts is buried.

Return to the road and continue on to Colenso. Turn in to the Clouston Field of Remembrance. This was the site of Gen Buller's HQ during the battle of Colenso. Memorials from the battle of Colenso, which were relocated from the battlefield many years ago, have been placed here.

Take the off ramp to Colenso and follow the sign to Ambleside cemetery, where the men of the Irish Brigade lie buried, killed in the "loop" on 15 December 1899. Retrace your route and follow the signs to the site of the guns. It was here that the British forces lost 10 of their 12 guns during the battle of Colenso.

Continue through Colenso and just before the old bridge visit the museum in the old tollhouse. Continue across the original Bailey bridge erected by British troops and shortly after returning to the main road turn right at the Newcastle/Ezakheni sign. This will take you through the area in which the battles of Tugela Heights, which relieved Ladysmith, were fought. Look out for memorials and signposted sites along both sides of the road.

Continue on into Ladysmith. Visit the Siege museum for more details on sites to see in and around Ladysmith.



In Voortrekker Footsteps

Saailaager – Blaaukrantz – Site of the Vow – Wenkommando Pass – Blood River – Ncome – Umgungunhlovu – Piet Retief Grave.

We recommend that you do this tour over 2 days. Day 1 south to Estcourt and day 2 east to Blood River/Ncome and Ulundi.

(travelling from Dundee Day 1 Drive from Dundee to Estcourt.

Start your tour in Estcourt. Follow the sign to Saailaager.

Visit Saailaager, one of the sites where early Voortrekker settlers in Natal were killed by Zulu forces. It was also here that the first irrigation furrow was dug.

Drive out of Estcourt along the R103 and follow the signs to Blaaukrantz – another of the sites where Voortrekkers were killed.

As you continue to Ladysmith you will be driving past many of the sites mentioned in the Siege and Relief of Ladysmith tour.

From Ladysmith follow the N11 and turn off to Elandslaagte/Glencoe (R103)

At the 4-way intersection turn right to Wasbank. Just before the Wasbank river pull up on the side of the road and look to your left. A hill bulges out from those around it with a band of rock around the top. It was beneath this hill that the Voortrekkers took the Vow on 9 December 1838. From this point on the road follows closely the route taken by the Voortrekkers on their way to fight what became known as the battle of Blood River. As you travel along you will pass the farm "Biggarsgat", named in memory of an incident in which Alexander Harvey Biggar, an 1820 settler, who acted as a guide to the Voortrekkers, fell into a hole in the river.

Continue on up Wenkommando pass, also known as Ndumeni Pass as the road winds up Ndumeni mountain (meaning "where the thunder rolls") and on into and through Dundee.

Continue along the 33 and follow the signs to Blood River. After your visit to the site, travel across the river to Ncome, where a Zulu cultural centre and museum tells the story from the Zulu perspective.

Continue along the R33 to Vryheid and take the road to Ulundi R34. Follow the signs to

Dingaanstad/Mgungunhlovu. This is the site of King Dingane's Royal kraal ( now partly reconstructed), and also the grave of Piet Retief, the Voortrekker leader and his followers who were killed here in February 1838.

Places of interest along this route

*Fort Durnford Museum – Estcourt *Anglo Boer war sites between Estcourt and Colenso *Talana Museum – Dundee *KwaZulu Cultural Museum and Ondini Battlefield – Ulundi



Mountains and Missions

Maria Ratschitz – Hime Bridge – Site of the Vow – Wenkommando Pass
Travelling distance from Dundee 130km

Maria Ratschitz is a beautiful mission station at the base of Hlatikulu mountain. Originally founded by Trappist monks in 1886, the station fell into disuse in the mid 1970's and 80's. However, in recent years a major restoration project has brought life and hope back to this centre. Nuns stroll the grounds, church services are held regularly and visitors are welcome.

After this visit continue on to the N11 and turn left. Follow the road towards Ladysmith. Stop at the Hime Bridge (signposted), which was built in 1883 to cross the Sundays river for the transport of timber to the Kimberley diamond fields.

Continue along the N11 and turn left at the Elandslaagte sign and return to Dundee via Wasbank and Wenkommando pass. As you are about to enter Dundee You will notice Orange Grove Dairy on your right. This is the oldest Jersey stud farm in South Africa.

Places of interest along this route

*Elandslaagte battlefield *Site of the Vow *Wenkommando Pass *Orange Grove Dairy



Cannibals and Rock Art

There are a number of caves originally occupied by cannibals in the Helpmekaar/Elandskraal area. The rock Itshe Lamazimu where the cannibal king, Uluapale, sat is still there, as are the marks, on the rocks,where the assegais were sharpened. Below these rocks is a large flat rock known as the 'pantry" , where the hamstrung victims were kept until 'meal times".

In this same area in the Biggarsberg range are a number of Bushmen paintings.

Professional guides conduct tours to these and other Bushman painting sites on request.

Tours may also be arranged to go into cannibal caves, (which were opened in 1982 for the first time) having been sealed in 1828 on orders from King Dingane, after a battle against the cannibals in the Elandskraal valley.



What bird is that?

Recognised experts, conduct birding tours, to various sites within this area.



Other activities available in this area.

Helicopter flights over the battlefields
Abseiling in the Buffalo River gorge or at Fort Mistake
White water rafting along the Buffalo river – grade 4 and 5 rapids
Evening game viewing trips
Tour into Zululand to meet Zulu families, enjoy their hospitality and spend time learning their culture and experiencing their life style in the rural areas.
Walking tour of the centre of Dundee
Annual walk from Isandlwana to Fugitives Drift(on the banks of the Buffalo river). Follow in the footsteps of the men who escaped from Isandlwana battlefield.
Special arrangements can be made for groups to do this walk at any time of the year.