Zululand and Battlefields – South Africa
A history that shaped South Africa
As the wind sweeps the emerald grass plains, and the Indian Ocean’s cobalt tide washes the white sanded beaches, the flowing rivers and glinting lagoons all glean the ancient secrets of what is now known as Zululand. Located within the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal; Zululand extends from Dolphins Coast to Richards Bay, and bordered inland by the northern Pongola and southern Tugela Rivers.
Visit the area and immerse yourself in one of Africa’s ancient cultures, its brutal history, and the deeply spiritual traditions and age old customs of its passionate people; Zulu tribe.
The lush landscape of Zululand offers the beauty of nature’s scenic splendour which is home to many of Africa’s wildlife. The area is South Africa’s largest concentration of wildlife conservation areas, with world renowned protected parks such as the Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, Hlugluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, Pongola Game Reserve and Phinda Private Game Reserve.
Explore Zululand and encounter Africa’s Big Five, revel in the atmosphere of its ancient history, or stopover at a Zulu village and experience the warm welcome of the traditionally adorned locals.
The best season for Zululand
The subtropical climate of Zululand is predominantly hot and humid in summer and mildly humid and warm in winter. Rain is mostly expected during summer months, with an annual rainfall of up to 1400 mm.
The average maximum temperature is 30°C (86°F) during the months of January and February and a temperature of around 24°C (75°F) may be expected for the rest of the year
Accessing Zululand
By vehicle, Zululand is easily accessed and is estimated to be a 3 hour drive along the N2 national road from Durban. Durban’s King Shaka International Airport is located about 2 hours from Zululand, by vehicle. By air, Zululand may be accessed via the regional airport at Richards Bay which has daily flights from Johannesburg.
Advice from Safari Russ:
“Some of the greatest stories ever told relate to the brave British soldiers who endured daring dangerous voyages, then extreme climatic conditions and fierce and hostile opponents in the Ango-Zulu wars. Specialist guides and lodges offering battlefield tours reenacting some of the most extreme conflicts with stories of bravery and courage.”
Iconic Moments of Zululand
The Blood River Battle in 1838 which took place in Dundee and resulted in the death of about 3000 Zulus by the hands of the Voortrekkers. The second battle took place in kwaDukuza in 1856 two brothers of the Zulu tribe which left more than 6000 killed. Most notably battles are the Isandiwana and Rorke’s Drift battles which took place in 1879 at Nquta.
The Zulus ambushed the British which resulted in the largest defeat in colonial warfare outside of Europe but the display of defense against the Zulus and heroism at Rorke’s Drift resulted in the highest decorated battle in British history. Anglo-Boer Wars took place between 1880 to 1881 and 1899 to 1902.
The second Anglo-Boer war was the first of the twentieth century, which introduced trench warfare. Interesting to note is that Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi and Louis Botha were present at the Battle of Spioenkop which took place near Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal.
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– Safari Russ –
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