Battlefields

King Senzangakhona’s Grave

King Senzangakhona’s Grave

eMakhosini Opathe Heritage Park, Ulundi, KwaZulu Natal

Senzangakhona, father of King Shaka, Dingane and Mpande. Buried at esiKlebheni, near Mgungundlovu. Site of the repository of the inkatha (national symbol of office) of several Zulu kings. Access to the site marker is off the Babanango/Dingaanstat road. From the…

King Shaka’s Grave

King Shaka’s Grave

King Shaka's Grave, KwaDukuza, KwaZulu Natal

1828 King Shaka was buried here in 1828 after his assassination by his half brothers Dingane and Mhlangana while his army was on campaign. Alongside the grave is a monument erected from funds collected by the Zulu nation, initiated by…

Mgungundlovu

Mgungundlovu

Mgungundlovu, eMakhosini Opathe Heritage Park, Ulundi, KwaZulu Natal

Site of the partially restored royal residence of King Dingane kaSenzangakhona between 1829 and 1838. Nearby is the mass grave of Voortrekker Piet Retief and his party, who were killed at Mgungundlovu on the 6thy February 1838. Open-air museum at…

Ndondakusuka

Ndondakusuka

Near John Ross Road Bridge, Mandeni, KwaZulu Natal

2 December 1856 Site of battle between Prince Cetshwayo and his brother Prince Mbuyazi, which established Cetshwayo as King Mpande’s heir. Possibly the bloodiest battle in Zulu history when the uSuthu faction of the Zulu nation that supported Prince Cetshwayo…

Dingane's Spring

Dingane’s Spring

Dingane's Spring, Ulundi Area, KwaZulu Natal

Take the Mtonjaneni turnoff on R34. A short distance past Mtonjaneni Lodge on the right you will see the directional sign and then an interpretation board. Follow the path down the hill to a perennial spring with trees covering the…

Kerkenberg

Kerkenberg

Kerkenberg, Olivier’s Hoek Pass Area, Free State

21st October 1837 The Trekkers reached this site in mid October and stayed through till mid November, sending out parties to find ways down the escarpment. On 12th November that Retief’s daughter Debora painted his name on a rock to…

Blijde Vooruitzicht

Blijde Vooruitzicht

Blijde Vooruitzicht, Olivier’s Hoek Pass Area, KwaZulu-Natal

This monument stands on the top of Retief’s Pass and is the point where his party stood and gazed on what they believed was “their promised land”, the beautiful hills and valleys of Natal. Little did they know at that…

Doornkop

Doornkop

Doornkop, Chieveley Area, KwaZulu-Natal

10th January Onwards – Chieveley Area near N3/R74 junction Retief arrived at this laager site on the 10th January 1838 with the cattle recovered from Chief Sikonyela and a meeting was held as to how they would be returned to…

Saailaager

Saailaager

Saailaager, Estcourt Area, KwaZulu-Natal

12 February 1838 The Zulus attacked the Voortrekker laagers in the Bushman’s River area after the execution of Piet Retief and his men but were repelled. Restored Voortrekker house on site. Follow Alfred Street in Estcourt, across the Little Bushmans…

Rensburg Koppie

Rensburg Koppie

Rensburg Koppie, Estcourt, KwaZulu-Natal

17 February 1838 Marthinus Oosthuyse became one of the heroes of the Trek when on the 17th February 1838, at the age of 20 he heard gunfire in the direction of the encampments of the van Rensburg, Pretorius, Loggenberg, and…

Veglaer

Veglaer

Veglaer, Estcourt Area, KwaZulu-Natal

The site of a three day attack by Zulus on the Voortrekkers’ laager (13-15 February 1838). The actual site is now beneath Wagendrift Dam. A Diorama explains battle and shows the Voortrekkers’ battle tactics. From Estcourt, take the Wagendrift road…