posted by Jerry on Jun 27
For practically the whole of the nineteenth century, a number of the bloodiest battles in history were conducted among Zulu, Briton and Boer for the ownership of the ground and sovereignty. A lot of these were concentrated in an immense battleground that extends from the Drakensberg Mountains, north to Volksrust and east into Zululand, spanning plains of wonderful natural beauty that offer much more than just simply well-known battlefield sites to the holiday maker.
It is challenging to appreciate that this beautiful and now peaceful land once rang with the bitter struggle. Rather, the hills, valleys and ridges now echo with the call of wildlife, an amazing selection of birdlife or are merely breathtakingly quiet, allowing visitors to absorb the undeniable atmosphere.
From basic, safe camp sites to exclusive private game ranches, lodging is on hand to match every taste, standard and budget, together with a selection of activities as wide as the plains for which the area is notable. White water rafting, mountain biking, abseiling, 4×4 trails, horse riding and hiking are several of the options on the market to the more adventurous, whereas those interested in other pastimes can enjoy a game of golf at an assortment of 9 and 18-hole courses, casino thrills or the chance to check out their fishing skills.
The rugged magnificence of the landscape is marked with reminders of the violent history, particularly haunting memorials on the plains of Isandlwana, where the Zulu army demolished over 1,000 British soldiers, gravestones at Fort Pearson and the monument at Spion Kop, undoubtedly one of the most fiercely fought struggles of the Anglo-Boer War.
The site of the notorious Battle of Blood River amongst Voortrekker and Zulu is home to the Ncome Museum, where the history of the Zulu people is charted. The museum and original laager reconstruction memorial will offer you a fascinating alternative interpretation of the battle, in both their accounts recorded and in the style by which they commemorate those who fought here. The place of the Battle of Rorke’s Drift by the British and Zulu is much unchanged since that bloody encounter with stone walls erected to shield the British still effectively intact.
A great many monuments and well-preserved artifacts give an ideal backdrop to an region where re-enactments of the Colonial-era wars among British troops and Zulu warriors, help modern day visitors to discover the bloody dramas with almost all of frightening reality. Experienced guides bring their own personal touch in terms of detail, feeling and historical interest to the encounters in contrast to the normally stark visual landscape.
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