Natal Battlefields

The Natal Battlefields are a beautiful, yet eerie, place. The name is a collective one referring to an area of rural cattle country in KwaZulu Natal. This was the scene of many of the epic Anglo-Zulu and Anglo-Boer battles in the 19th century. Here you will learn of the enduring stories of courage and self-sacrifice, bloodshed, and tragedy.

We believe that a 2 or 3 night stay here is a must for anyone interested in history and culture. (There are some great walks on offer as well.)

To give you a unique perspective on the Natal Battlefields’ passionate history, we recommend at least two nights and preferably three nights so that you have time to relax as well.  You can enjoy fascinating guided tours to sites such as Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. (Believe me, you’ll get very little from just visiting the sites independently. As it is through the telling of the human stories that the battles come alive.) The battlefield guides are consummate storytellers!  Older children of around 10 years and upwards may be equally captivated by the tours. And several Natal Battlefield lodges in the region are family-friendly.

However, there is more to this area than Zulu battlefields. Some of the lodges offer guided horse trails and guided hiking. If you stay at lodges close to the Drakensberg, such as Three Tree Hill lodge, you'll be able to visit the Drakensberg amphitheatre for a day of hiking as well.

Similarly the Namibiti Game Reserve lies close-by so it is very easy to combine walking in the Drakensberg, the Natal Battlefields and game-viewing on a Big Five safari.