Isandlwana Battlefield
Nqutu, KwaZulu-Natal, 3135
The greatest victory in Zulu history—and likely the worst defeat in British military history—happened at Isandlwana in 1879, when Zulu warriors armed mainly with traditional weapons massacred a British force equipped with guns and cannons. Some of the survivors would go on to fight at nearby Rorke’s Drift, depicted in the 1964 British film Zulu.
The basics
Rock cairns and memorials mark the sites around the stark, Sphinx-shaped rock, where British soldiers were buried after the battle, making the Isandlwana battlefield a moving spot to visit. Most travelers also tour nearby Rorke’s Drift, where British forces held off a much larger Zulu army overnight, and Fugitives’ Drift, a ford where Isandlwana survivors escaped.
Many travelers choose to visit with a guide who can interpret these battlefield sites. Although the small town of Dundee is closer to Isandlwana, most tours start from Durban or Pietermaritzburg.
Things to know before you go
Isandlwana is a must for history buffs and a great choice for anyone who enjoyed the Zulu or Zulu Dawn films.
A fee is payable to access both the battlefield and the small on-site museum.
Isandlwana and all of the KwaZulu Natal’s Battlefield Route is a challenging destination for travelers who rely on wheelchairs.
How to get there
The Isandlwana battlefield site is in northern KwaZulu Natal. The nearest town is Dundee, about a 35-mile (60-kilometer) drive to the northwest. However, many travelers visit from Durban, about a 180-mile (290-kilometer) drive south, or Pietermaritzburg, about a 125-mile (200-kilometer) drive south. There are no public transit options.
When to get there
The Isandlwana battlefield and museum is open daily, from early morning to 4pm. It closes on Christmas Day (December 25) and Good Friday (the Friday before Easter in March or April). Winter (June through August) brings warm, dry days, which are perfect for exploring the Battlefield Route.
The Battlefield Route
KwaZulu Natal’s Battlefield Route includes more than 80 different museums, battlefields, cemeteries, and military historical sights that span early Zulu conflicts, the Anglo-Zulu War, the Boer wars, the Bambatha Rebellion armed uprising, and others. Besides Rorke’s Drift, Fugitives’ Drift, and Isandlwana, other sites from the Anglo-Zulu War include KwaMondi, Nyezane, and the tree where the British government presented their ultimatum to King Cetshwayo.
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