2-Day Tour : Anglo / Zulu War
(Self-Drive option also available)

Durban to Durban

Day 1: (D)
After breakfast we depart Durban and travel past lush green fields of sugarcane. We travel past the Ultimatum Tree on the N2 Highway, which is the place on the Tugela River where the Ultimatum which precipitated the Anglo Zulu War of 1879, was delivered by the British to the Zulu's, and where the British crossing point into Zululand in the south was situated. The "Ultimatum Tree" has unfortunately died in the intervening years and we wont visit its original site.
From here we travel to Ulundi and the historical site of King Cetshwayo's residence at oNdini, which has been recreated on the exact site of the Royal capital following extensive archaeological excavation and the discovery of the original preserved mud and dung floors of the huts.
There is a site interpretative centre that has a fascinating display on the scale and layout of oNdini at the time of King Cetshwayo. Due to the enormity of the original capital only the isigodlo (the Royal enclosure) has been rebuilt. Cetshwayo's indlunkulu (the Great Hut) is particularly impressive and from the low opening it was possible to look half a kilometre downhill to the main entrance of the capital.
The oNdini Heritage Site also houses the KwaZulu Cultural Museum with exhibits of the history and arts of the Zulu people.

Overnight Isandlwana Lodge. Isandlwana Lodge is carved into the iNyoni rock overlooking the Isandlwana Hill, the site of the historic Anglo-Zulu war battle that took place on the 22nd of January, 1879. Today, the enigmatic mountain of Isandlwana nestles peacefully amongst the majestic beauty of the Zululand hills. In January 1879, however, it was the site of one of the most dramatic and enthralling events in the history of the Zulu Kingdom. Take time to relax at the luxurious Lodge and re-live the history of both the Anglo Zulu and Anglo Boer War.

Day 2: (Breakfast)
After breakfast we visit the museum and battlefield of Isandlwana, where on the 22nd January 1879 about 20-25,000 Zulus defeated the British, in what was to be Great Britain’s biggest defeat ever in her entire colonial history, at the Battle of Isandlwana. Over 1300 British and Allied officers and troops were killed in this battle, more so than in the Battle of Waterloo.
From Isandlwana we make our way to Rorkes Drift, where on that same fateful day a brave little garrison of 139 British soldiers held out all night against an immense Zulu attack, and in the process winning eleven Victoria Crosses for bravery, the most ever in a single battle in history.
After lunch we visit the graves of Lt’s. Melville and Coghill, history’s first posthumous recipients of the Victoria Cross, which was awarded for their brave attempts in trying to save the Queens Colours.