LOCATION
Located 4 hours from Durban in the heart of the renowned battlefields of the Anglo-Zulu War.

SEASON:
SUMMER: Above 30 degrees celcius
WINTER: Below 10 degrees celcius

ACCESSIBILITY
BY ROAD: Four hours drive from Durban
BY AIR: Nearest airstrip - Dundee which is 72 kms.

PRIVATE CHARTERS: Into Dundee, limited size planes.

HEALTH
Malaria Free Area

HISTORY:
Join us and historian Rob Gerrard on a tailor made historic tour as we recapture all the rich detail of the history of Isandlwana and the surrounding areas.

Today Isandlwana nestles peacefully amongst the majestic beauty of the Zululand Hills, but in January 1879 it was the site of one of the most dramatic and enthralling events in the history of the Zulu Kingdom.

It was here at Isandlwana that part of the central column of the British Invasion Force under the ultimate command of Lt. General Lord Chelmsford was virtually annihilated by King Cetshwayo’s Zulu army. Lieutenants Melvill and Coghill died in their attempt to save the Queen’s colour.

Later the same day 4500 Zulus attacked a re-supply depot at Rorke’s Drift, held by a handful of British soldiers, many of whom were sick. Following a battle of eleven and a half hours, the Zulus were repulsed and eleven Victoria Crosses and five Distinguished Conduct Medals were awarded.

The Anglo Zulu War is an enduring story of courage and self-sacrifice, bloodshed, and tragedy. Isandlwana Lodge is situated in the very heart of the historic locations where these remarkable events took place.

Rob Gerrard FRGS, and ex-Gordon Highlander, is our battlefields historian and we can organise custom made tours to numerous places of interest.

ISANDLWANA BATTLE: 22 January 1879
On the 22nd Of January 1879, Lt. Colonel Pulleine was in command of 1774 British troops encamped on the eastern slope of Isandlwana. By 10 am, Pulleine had received a despatch from Lt. Gen. Lord Chelmsford to break camp and move the entire contingent to Chelmsford’s location 13 miles southeast of Isandlwana. Tents were being struck, oxen hitched to wagons.

At 12 o’clock the camp was attaked by 24-25000 Zulu warriors, using the tactics of the horns of the buffalo. The Zulus totally surrounded the camp annihilating 1329 British soldiers.

Lt Melvill gallantly attempted to save the Queen’s colour and was helped by Lt Coghill whilst trying to cross the Buffalo river. Lts. Melvill and Coghill died in their attempt to save the colour and the honour of the regiment.

RORKE'S DRIFT: 22 - 23 January 1879
The camp at Rorke’s Drift was a re-supply depot and included a hospital and store. Prior to the battle both hospital and store had been fortified as well as the rectangular area adjoining the two buildings. At about 4.30 pm on 22 January 1879 this camp garrisoned by 139 British soldiers, of whom 36 were sick or wounded was attacked by 4500 Zulu warriors. The battle that took place was to last for eleven and a half hours before the Zulus were repulsed.

Eleven Victoria Crosses and five Distinguished Conduct Medals were awarded for valour.

THE ANGLEO BOER WAR: 1899 - 1902
“By Christmas the war would be over” were the confident cries of the British public and soldiers in 1899, at the start of the Anglo Boer War which was to prove the longest, bloodiest and costliest war since 1815 for Queen Victorias proud British army.

Today’s Kwa Zulu Natal was not only the location of the Anglo Zulu War of 1879 but of many of the great Anglo Boer War Battles such as Talana, Elandslaagte, Ladysmith, Colenso and Spioenkop. Future world leaders would come to the fore: Winston Churchill, Jan Smuts, Gen. Botha and Mohandas Ghandi.

Isandlwana Lodge is well situated for visits to these historic battlefields.

THE BATTLE OF TALANA: 20 October 1899
Gen. Penn Symonds had 4000 men under his command. He had told White that in his opinion the Natal Government’s decision that Dundee should be held in the event of a Boer Invasion of Northern Natal was right.

To the north of Dundee is Talana Hill, a long flat topped ridge-like feature. To the east of Talana is Lennox Hill. Both rise about 600 feet above the town of Dundee and are separated by Smith's Nek. To the north-west was Impati Hill. Between Dundee and the bottom of Talana is a wooded area of eucalyptus trees. The town of Dundee lies one mile to the south of Talana. The British garrison was encamped one mile east of the town on a slight slope called Riley’s Hill.

On the night of the 19th of October, Gen. Lucas Meyers, and Utrecht and Wakkerstroom Commandos supported by three 7t mm Creusot Guns and a PomPom, where positioned on top of Talana and 1000 men of the Middelburg and Vryheid commandos on Lennox Hill. Gen. Marolla, with 1500 men, occupied Impati Hill.

At 5.40 am the British troops were dismissed from muster parade when the first 75 mm Creusot shell landed by the artillery battery’s tented area, galvanising the British troops into action.

THE BATTLE OF ELANDSLAAGTE: 21 October 1899
On the 19th of October 1899, Gen. Kock’s Commandos captured Elandslaagte Station, a British goods train, and cut the telephone lines between Dundee and ladysmith. On the 20th, Kock’s Commandos occupied the station. Col. Shiel patrolled west of the station and Maj. Erasmus positioned two 15 pound guns on a rocky hogsback ridge three miles east of Elandslaagte.

The station was of prime importance to the British, linking Ladysmith by rail and telephone to Dundee.
On the 21st of October, Brig. Gen. Ian Hamilton launched an infantry attack on the Boer position. This was to be a British victory and was described by many as one of the few classical battles of war.

ZULU CULTURE:
The history of the Zulu people did not end in 1879. It is still a vibrant force today, and we can arrange for you to visit their homes and discover the Zulu way of life.

Enjoy their tribal dancing: taste their foods, visit a traditional khaya and admire the colourful art and craft work, perhaps even visit a local Sangoma.

We are also within easy reach of the beautiful emaKhosini Valley, where the story of the Zulu nation began. We can guide you through the graves of King Shaka’s ancestors, and take you to visit eMgungundlovu, the royal residence of King Cetshwayo, close to the Ulundi battlefield where the Anglo Zulu War ended on 4 July 1879.

GAME RESERVES:
Isandlwana Lodge is within comfortable driving distance of several of Africa’s most spectacular game reserves, enabling guests to combine enjoyment of Zululand’s rich wildlife heritage as well as the living history of the battlefields.

The adjoining Umfolozi and Hluhluwe game reserves, the most long established on the continent, host “The Big Five” (elephant, rhino, lion, leopard, and buffalo) but are perhaps the best known for the part they played in preventing the total extinction of Africa’s rhino population. Both the Black and the white species of rhino are found here.

Mkuzi game reserve (superb natural parkland beneath the Lebombo Mountains) is world famous for its abundance of bird life. More than 500 species of birds have been recorded in Mkuzi where visitors are encouraged to use the numerous hides on the river bank and lakeside to view the passing panoply of wildlife.

Among numerous other reserves run by the KwaZulu-Natal Nature Conservation Services, the newly proclaimed Itala Game Reserve in the north offers visitors an opportunity to mingle with herds of giraffe, zebra and amazing variety of antelope in a unique setting of valleys, surrounded by almost mystical rock formations, reminders of the wild and untamed Africa of yester-year.

HORSE TRAILS:
We now offer the unforgettable experience of horseback trails through the limitless landscapes and remote rural Zulu settlements of KwaZulu Natal.

The ride as far as the eye can see with no fence or boundary is a rare experience to most. As one savours the experience, it is easy to imagine the creak of ox wagons, the crack of the rifles, the chant of the warriors and the smell of gunpowder, leather and smoky bivouacs under the vast African sky.

Learn to know the soil of Africa, its pulse and heartbeat, as your sure-footed trail pony carries you past this dramatic backdrop of past battles and bloodshed. The scene of future hope and reconciliation.

HLUHLUWE UMFOLOZI:
This is a large and incredibly scenic park with rippling hills covered in low acacia bush, and lofty viewpoints giving a bird's eye view of who's doing what where. The north of the park is more rugged and mountainous with forests and grasslands, while the south and west is more undulating with open savannah. Hluhluwe is a difficult word to pronounce but something sounding like "Shoushlooee" is close enough.

The park contains an immense diversity of fauna and flora and is particularly famous for its conservation of black and white rhino. It contains hundreds of endangered black rhino and the largest population of white rhino in the world.

Apart from game-viewing drives, there are two self-guided auto trails, for those wishing to self drive themselves around the park. There are a number of picnic sites and several self-guided walks providing magnificent views. Two daily walks in the company of a field ranger can be booked through the camp office and extended several day hikes are undertaken in the southern Umfolozi part of the park.

ANIMALS & BIRDS:
Hluhluwe Umfolozi is home to 1,600 white rhino and 370 black rhino - an impressive number which means you are very likely to see one or both species. It also contains the rest of the Big Five; buffalo, elephant, lion and leopard, as well as many other species including blue wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, waterbuck, nyala, kudu, bushbuck, warthog, cheetah, hyena and jackal plus about 24,000 impala. You may have some close encounters with elephants as they often cross or block the road right in front of your vehicle.

In excess of 300 species of birds have been recorded.

SEASONS:
Rainy Season: This is a hot and humid sub-tropical area and most rain falls during the months of September to April. Annual rainfall is 29-39 inches (750-1,000mm).
Dry Season: The dry season lasts over winter from May to August and the temperatures are very pleasant with warm days and cool nights.

HLUHLUWE AND UMFOLOZI GAME RESERVE SPECIALITIES
· Black and white rhinos
· Rippling scenery with splendid viewpoints
· Self drive, self walk or guided walks
· 'Big Five' animals
· Close encounters with elephants