Voortrekker – Zulu Conflict

The introduction of British rule in the CapeColony in 1806 led to dissatisfaction among the fiercely independent Afrikaners (of Dutch descent), resulting in an exodus of Voortrekkers to the hinterland, where they aspired to govern themselves and maintain their cultural identity and language.

Deeply religious members of the protestant order, they considered themselves akin to the children of Israel seeking their promised land. In 1838 one of these groups under Piet Retief chose to cross the DrakensbergMountains and enter Natal where their leaders had already made contact with the group of English adventurers and hunters that had established themselves in Port Natal (Durban).

The English informed Retief that before acquiring land in Natal he would need to negotiate with the King of the Zulu, Dingane. Retief and members of his party therefore paid Dingane a visit. Dingane was already suspicious of the white men, particularly after news of the way in which another party had driven off an attack by the Ndebele, who had their origins in Zululand and was perplexed as to what action to take.  He therefore tasked them with recovering cattle stolen from him by another powerful chief by the name of Sikonyela, hoping that Sikonyela would remove them as a threat, but Retief and his men completed the task with relative ease. This placed Dingane in a dilemma and during Retief and his party’s subsequent visit, he had them killed. The Zulu King then unleashed his warriors on the various groups of Trekkers who by now had moved down into Natal in anticipation of obtaining land. Over the period 12th to 19th February 1838 several hundred Trekker families were killed before the remainder were able to regroup and beat off the Zulus’ attacks. The Trekkers then formed a commando to seek retribution and to try and recover some of the stolen cattle but they were ambushed in the eThaleni Valley and forced to flee leaving young 14 year old Dirkie Uys to die fighting alongside his father. Eventually a stronger force, led by Andries Pretorius, was constituted and the Zulu army was defeated at the Battle of Blood River on the 16th December 1838. Dingane fled his capital Mgungundlovu and was eventually defeated by his half-brother Mpande at the Battle of Maqongqo in 1840.

Blood River Battlefield
Memorial Wagon Blood River

Battlefields and Historical Sites

Kerkenberg

Kerkenberg

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…

Doornkop

Doornkop

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

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

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

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…

Bloukrans

Bloukrans

After the execution of Retief and his men at Mgungundlovu, King Dingane despatched his junior regiments to drive the remaining Trekkers from Natal. Many Voortrekker families had left the protection of the larger laagers in order to establish their farms…

Sooilaager

Sooilaager

19th June to 1838 Maritz built a defensive laager using sods to build a wall underneath the wagons. It is here that Andries Pretorius joined the Trekkers on 22nd Nov and it is from here that the Wenkommando left for…

Skiets Drift

Skiets Drift

This drift was used by many Voortrekker parties including those of Maritz and Uys when they first entered Natal and by the “Wenkommando” when it crossed the Tugela on 28th November en route to Blood River. While a marker indicates…

Danskraal

Danskraal

The story has it that Pretorius’ Commando stopped here on its way to Blood River and a Dance was held to cheer their spirits. This site is on private property and is difficult to find. There is no on site…

Wasbank Laager

Wasbank Laager

It is at this laager on the 7th Dec 1838 that Pretorius, Landman and Cilliers formulated the “The Vow” and it was made for the first time. The marker is on the side of the Wasbank Dundee road but the…

Grave of Piet Retief

Grave of Piet Retief

Piet Retief and his party were executed here on the orders of King Dingane. The Memorial is near King Dingane’s Royal Residence, Mgungundlovu. Retief and his party returned to Mgungundlovu in early February 1838 after recovering cattle from Sikonyela. After…

Ophathe Battlefield

Ophathe Battlefield

27 December 1838 When the Wenkommando reached Mthonjaneni, they were deceived by a Zulu named Bongoza into believing they could recover much of their captured livestock in the oPhathe gorge. During their descent, they lured into an ambush by the…

Barefoot Lady

Barefoot Lady

After the British occupation of Natal in 1842 many of the Trekkers decided to migrate either back over the Drakensberg into what later became the Orange Free State and the Transvaal or north to the present Vryheid area where King…