4 | The Anglo Zulu War 1879

Nyezane Battlefield

Nyezane Battlefield

Nyezane Battlefield, Eshowe Area, KwaZulu Natal

22 January 1879 The British coastal column moving up the north coast towards Ondini via Eshowe, crossed the Nyezane River and was about to commence its advance up the track towards Eshowe when the Zulu army was observed. The British…

The Siege of Fort KwaMondi

The Siege of Fort KwaMondi

The Siege of Fort KwaMondi, Eshowe Area, KwaZulu Natal

23 January to 3 April 1879 On the 23rd January Col Pearson’s Column reached the abandoned Norwegian Lutheran mission station KwaMondi which they then fortified with earth walls, a surrounding ditch and even wire entanglements and referred to is as…

Isandlwana Battlefield

Isandlwana Battlefield

Isandlwana Battlefield, Nqutu Area, KwaZulu Natal

22 January 1879 On the 22nd January 1879 the British Camp was attacked and overrun by some 20 000 Zulus, leaving approximately 1357 Imperial soldiers, Colonial Volunteers and Native Levies dead on the slopes of the hillside below this “Sphinx”…

Fugitives’ Drift

Fugitives’ Drift

Fugitives' Drift, Dundee Area, KwaZulu Natal

22 January 1879 The Fugitives’ Trail is the route taken by survivors of the Battle of Isandlwana who crossed the Buffalo River at Fugitives’ Drift. Lts. Melvill and Coghill (who were killed trying to save the Queen’s Colour) are buried…

Rorke’s Drift Battlefield

Rorke’s Drift Battlefield

Rorke's Drift Battlefield, Dundee Area, KwaZulu Natal

22-23 January 1879 After the Battle of Isandlwana the Zulu reserves, along with one regiment of the right horn, about 4000 warriors in total, crossed the Buffalo River and attacked the British Commissariat and Hospital at the Mission station at…

eNtombe Battlefield

eNtombe Battlefield

eNtombe Battlefield (Myer's Drift), Paulpietersburg Area, Mpumalanga

12 March1879 At Myer’s Drift on the eNtombe River, in the very early hours in the morning a Zulu force led by Chief Mbelini attacked a military convoy encamped on the banks of the river en route to Lüneburg. The…

Hlobane Battlefield

Hlobane Battlefield

Hlobane Battlefield, Vryheid Area, KwaZulu-Natal

28 March 1879 In the early hours of 28 March 1879 two British columns mounted an attack on the abaQulusi stronghold on Hlobane Mountain. Their advance was observed by the abaQulusi and their allies who attacked the one section of…

Khambula Battlefield

Khambula Battlefield

Kambula Battlefield, Vryheid Area, KwaZulu Natal

29 March 1879 On the29 March 1879 some 22 000 Zulu warriors attacked the fortified British position at Khambula (shown on earlier maps as Kambula). The Battle started at 13:30 and ended around 17:30 when Zulus were driven off and…

Gingindlovu Battlefield

Gingindlovu Battlefield

Gingindlovu Battlefield, Eshowe Area, KwaZulu Natal

2 April 1879 In the early morning the Zulu Army attacked Lt Gen. Lord Chelmsford’s relief column en route to relieve Eshowe. The British position was fortified and the British scouts had picked up the advancing Zulus so the attack…

Ulundi Battlefield

Ulundi Battlefield

Ulundi Battlefield, Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal

4 July 1879 On the 4 July 1879 Lt Gen. Lord Chelmsford crossed the White Mfolozi River and advanced across the Mahlabatini plain, where they formed square while on the march. It comprised four riflemen in line on the sides…