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…
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…
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…
This is the site of the epic battle in April 1818 between the forces of King Shaka and Chief Zwide of the Ndwandwe community. Shaka had concealed his civilian population and livestock in the Mhlatuze River valley but left a…
Open-air museum and partially reconstructed isigodlo (harem) of King Cetshwayo’s royal residence as well as Ondini Cultural Museum. 9km outside Ulundi along the road to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. Toilets, Museum Shop and refreshments available.
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…
This is the “Valley of the Kings” and within the park you will find the burial places of a number of early Zulu Kings and the “Spirit of Emakhosini” monument. There is also Mgungundlovu, the Royal Residence of King Dingane…
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…
King Mpande ruled Zululand from 1840 to 1872 and managed to live in harmony with both the Voortrekkers for the short time they governed Natal and later with the British. During his rule large numbers of Zulus migrated south and…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
