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Rorkesdriftvc.com
Battlefield Tour – April/May 2004
We are
considering arranging a trip to South Africa to visit the Anglo Zulu War
sites in April/May 2004.
This will be starting
at Heathrow in London. There will then be a connection flight from Johannesburg
to Durban. Pick up from the airport and taken to the first overnight stay
at The Oyster Box Hotel. If you don't fancy the idea of eating a superb
meal on a veranda overlooking the Indian Ocean, we could arrange an alternative.
The arrangements are
made by the South African historians Ron Lock and Peter Quantrill who
have extensive knowledge on the subject and will be responsible for conducting
the tours. Ron and Peter have recently published “Zulu Victory –
The Epic Battle of Isandlwana and the Cover-up” and have a great
deal of experience of the South African battlefields.
Details are listed
below. Please send full contact details to [email protected]
or call +44 (0)1992 583584 to arrange your place!
Download PDF
Tuesday 27th
April 2004
Fly out from London
Heathrow in the evening with an overnight flight to Johannesburg. Connecting
flight to Durban.
Day
1 - Wednesday 28th
You will be
met on arrival at Durban Airport and transported to Umhlanga Rocks.
Overnight stay at the Oyster Box Hotel, which overlooks the Indian
Ocean at Umhlanga Rocks.
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The Oyster Box
Hotel |
Isandlwana Lodge
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Day
2 – Thursday 29th
Follow route of No.
3 Column via Pietermaritzburg, Greytown and Tugela Valley. Sites
of Fort Bengough and Helpmekaar. Overnight Isandlwana Lodge. A first
class hotel with rooms overlooking Isandlwana. Horse riding is available.
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Day
3 – Friday 30th
Site of the Battle of
Isandhlwana, Mandani Falls. Follow the route of Lord Chelmsford's
column on the day of the battle, into Magogo Hills and his breakfast
picnic site. Visit iTusi where Raw and Roberts encountered the Zulu
army. View the Mgwebeni Valley, the site of the Zulu bivouac. Overnight
at Isibindi Lodge (game reserve).
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The view over
the Isandlwana battlefield |
Monument and
graves of Melvill and Coghill |
Day
4 – Saturday 1st May
Another chance to visit
Isandhlwana. Walk the Fugitives' Trail part way. Afternoon visit
to Melvill and Coghill's grave above the Buffalo River and walk
down to the Fugitives' Drift. Afternoon, the battle of Rorke's Drift.
Overnight stay at Isibindi Lodge.
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| Day
5 – Sunday 2nd
Visit the Talana Museum
at Dundee with its Zulu War relics. Then to Blood River and the
famous Vortrekker battle site. Visit to the Zulu museum across the
river. Finally the Battle of Ntombi River where a convoy of the
80th. Regiment was wiped out in a dawn attack. Overnight Villa Prince
Imperial, Vryheid or Strathcona Lodge, depending on numbers.
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Blood River monument |
Site of final
redoubt and present day church at Rorke's Drift |
Day
6 – Monday 3rd
Battle of Hlobane. The
tour includes the hire of a horse for everyone. The horses are well
trained and of good temperament. Each horse is accompanied by a
groom who will lead the horse and rider if required. The plan will
be to ascend the eastern end of the mountain, following Buller’s
route, visit the graves of Campbell and Lloyd, cross the plateau
to Devil’s Pass. We then return by the same route to the vehicle
and go to the site of the massacre of Weatherly’s Border Horse.
A full day in magnificent country. Overnight Villa Prince Imperial,
Vryheid or Strathcona Lodge.
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| Day
7 – Tuesday 4th
Early morning
game drive. Battle of Kambula. The site has hardly changed since
Col. Evelyn Wood's column broke the power of the Zulu army in March
1879. An icon battle set in panoramic terrain. Overnight at Villa
Prince Imperial, Vryheid or Strathcona Lodge.
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James Rorke's
grave at Rorke's Drift |
Monument at Ulundi |
Day
8 – Wednesday 5th
Travel across
country to the site of the Prince Imperial's death and the memorial.
Then onto uMgungundhlova partly reconstructed capital of Dingane.
Execution site of Piet Reteif. Battle of Ulundi, view of the new
monument to Prince Dabulamanzi. Overnight at Shakaland. Zulu culture
and tribal dancing.
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Day
9 – Thursday 6th
Zulu culture,
stick fight and spear throwing - group participation. Battles of
Nyezane and Gingindhlovu. Eshowe. Site of the Old mission/fort and
British cemetery. Time permitting Fort Nongqayi and Zululand Museum.Fort
Pearson and British cemetery. Ultimatum Tree. Overnight Oyster Box,
Umhlanga Rocks.
Day
10 – Friday 7th
Either spend
the day at Umhlanga Rocks on the beach etc, or enjoy a trip to Durban
and visit the old fort (siege of 1842), Warrior’s Gate Military
Museum and have lunch overlooking the harbour. Late afternoon, board
transport to Durban airport for flight to Johannesburg with overnight
flight to London Heathrow.
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Memorial at Rorke's
Drift |
DETAILS:
Prices are given in SA RANDS (at time of press R11.5
to £1). The price inclusive of transport, guide fees, entrance fees,
accommodation D.B&B and picnic lunches is R12,750.00 per person, sharing.
Single supplement R1,500.00. Transport by Mercedes Sprinter or Condor.
Plus airfares, given in GDP. Return fare from London
Heathrow to Durban, with on flight from Johannesburg is £710, which
includes airport taxes.
A deposit of R2,500.00 will be required not later than
1st January ’04. Balance to be paid 2 months prior to departure.
Items not included:
Lunch and dinner on day one. Lunch and dinner on day ten.
Drinks, mineral water, refreshments and tips and the cost of the air fares.
There will be no group insurance and the organisers cannot
accept responsibility for any loss or damage. Participants should ensure
they have adequate travel and health insurance arrangements.
Any non U.K. participants can arrange flights to Durban
themselves if required, or connect with the on flight from Johannesberg
to Durban, similarly on the return Journey.
Alan Critchley,
www.rorkesdriftvc.com
OTHER PHOTOS...
Rorke's drift from
the bell tower on Oskarsberg |
The cattle kraal |
Isandhlwana, from
the hill the Zulu's attacked from |
Isandhlwana and
one of many Cairns |
The view from the
bell on Oskarsberg towards Rorke's Drift |
The grave of James Rorke |
The road to Rorke's Drift, with Oskarsberg in the distance |
The plaque on the wall of the memorial garden |
View out from Rorke's Drift itself |
Coffin Rock |
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