Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive and meet up at Johannesburg International or any other destination in Pretoria or Johannesburg. We depart for Volksrust (2.30 hour drive) to visit the battle site of Majuba. It was the decisive battle between the Boers and British forces during the First War of Independence (1st Anglo Boer War). It was the first time that Great Britain surrendered unconditionally in 310 years. You will do a quick stop at the base of Amajuba where your guide will recreate the battle without walking to the top of the mountain. After our visit we depart to visit the site where the Battle of Blood River took place. This was the decisive battle between Voortrekker and the Zulus. On the way to our overnight accommodation, we visit a Zulu Cultural Village and experience how the Zulus used to live and still do in many rural areas and in this way you can support the local community by purchasing one of their handmade products. Check in to your luxury accommodation (2 hour drive). After we freshened up, we receive a general overview and orientation from the host and or battle site guide and enjoy dinner whilst absorbing some of the fascinating history of this great conflict between Britain and the proud Zulu Kingdom. Then take time to view the pristine stars of the Southern Sky, including the distinctive Southern Cross (in winter) and the Orion (in summer). Day 2: We depart after breakfast on the first part of the tour – the battle of Isandlwana. The battle of Rorke’s Drift to follows the afternoon; a battle where 11 VC’s (Victorian Crosses) were awarded – more than any battle in the history fought by Britton. We will also visit the graves at Fugitive’s Drift and return to the Lodge with sundowners and dinner with the host again. Day 3: We book out and depart after breakfast and pay a visit to the Battle of Talana – the first battle of the Anglo Boer War. We then move on to book into Spioenkop Lodge. The farmstead, on which Spioen Kop Lodge is located, was seconded by the Commander-in-Chief of the British forces, Sir Redvers Buller, for his headquarters. Allow some time to settle in, enjoy lunch and then depart for Mount Alice, the site on which General Buller established his headquarters and Winston Churchill's camp. An orientation lecture on the origins of the Boer war followed by Sunset refreshments served on Mount Alice overlooking the Mountains and Spioen Kop Nature Reserve. We return to the lodge and enjoy dinner. Day 4: Breakfast is served, followed by a trip onto the Spioen Kop Battlefield, the site of the most futile and probably bloodiest battle of the Anglo-Boer War, fought on the 24 January 1900. Your specialist Anglo-Boer guide will paint a vivid picture of the personal trauma and military mindset that resulted in the slaughter of so many British and Boer soldiers. Astoundingly, there were three men on Spioen Kop that day, which were to influence the course of world history, Gen. Louis Botha, Winston Churchill and Mahatma Gandhi. Relive the memories of that day and walk in the footsteps of three great leaders. Lunch is served followed by a sunset boat Cruise on Spioen Kop Dam in the Spion Kop Nature Reserve, an opportunity to see some game before return to the lodge for cocktails followed by dinner. Day 5: Visit the site of Churchill's capture and the battle sites of Tugela Heights and Colenso follows after breakfast. After lunch, we visit the Ladysmith Museum to gain more insight in the relief of Ladysmith, etc. Returning to the Lodge, guests may cool down in the rock pool or simply relax before dinner. Day 6-7: We book out and visit the Didima Rock Art Centre before checking in to our luxury mountain resort. The Drakensberg Mountains offer superlative scenery and fresh mountain air, making it ideal for walking holidays at any level of fitness. Your hotel will organize guided walks each day – typically one short walk and one long walk, plus a walk to a San Bushmen painting. They also offer an outstanding location for bird watching holidays – particularly raptors, but also sunbirds, waxbills and the numerous other species found in the grasslands, riverine scrub and natural forests. Your resort has a swimming pool and luxury spa. It also caters for a horde of activities, from golf to horse riding, etc. Day 8: We depart for Johannesburg after breakfast and stop at a vulture restaurant where we witness from a distance how vultures are fed. Drop off at Johannesburg International Airport or venue of choice within the Johannesburg or Pretoria area. Notes: Price Includes:
Also see tour packages in: Africa South Africa Local Culture Cultural Journey Military History Email it to a friend: Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||



