Isandlwana & Rorkes Drift Battlefields Day Tour

This full-day tour takes you north of KwaZulu-Natal to explore some of South Africa’s most iconic and historically significant battlefield sites. The journey begins at the Isandlwana Battlefield and Museum, where the Anglo-Zulu War began in January 1879. In a dramatic and brutal conflict, the British Empire’s attempt to expand into Zululand was met with a powerful and coordinated attack by the Zulu Kingdom. Despite the British having superior weaponry, they were vastly outnumbered and ultimately defeated by a Zulu force of around 20,000 warriors. The Battle of Isandlwana remains one of the most significant defeats suffered by the British in African colonial history, resulting in over 1,700 British casualties.

The tour continues to the site of the Battle of Rorke’s Drift, which took place shortly after Isandlwana on January 22nd, 1879, and extended into the following day. In this battle, a small British garrison of about 150 soldiers successfully defended their position against an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 Zulu warriors, securing a rare and celebrated British victory during the war. The final visit is to Fugitives' Drift and the Queen’s Colours memorial, commemorating those who fled the battlefield and those who perished. After a day immersed in the rich and often tragic history of the Anglo-Zulu War, the tour concludes with the return journey to Durban.