ZULU ASSAULT ISANDLWANA
ISANDLWANA BATTLE 22 JANUARY 1879
On the 22nd January 1879, Lt. Colonel Pulleine was in command of 1774 British troops encamped on the eastern slope of Isandlwana. By 10am Pulleine had received a dispatch from Lt. Gen. Lord Chelmsford to break camp and move the entire contingent to Chelmsford’s location 13 miles southeast of Isandlwana mountain. Tents were being struck, oxen hitched to wagons.
At 12 o’clock the camp was attacked by 24-25 000 Zulu warriors, using the tactics of the horns of the buffalo. The Zulus totally surrounded the camp annihilating 1 329 British soldiers.
Lt. Melvill gallantly attempted to save the Queen’s colour and was helped by Lt. Coghill whilst trying to cross the Buffalo river. Lt's. Melvill and Coghill died in their attempt to save the colour and the honour of the regiment.
Thou great and mighty chief!
Thou who has an army
The red soldiers came:
We destroyed them.
The mounted soldiers came:
We destroyed them.
The mounted police came:
We destroyed them
When will they dare
To repeat their attack?
Zulu Victory Song, sung after the Battle of Isandlwana
Our tours are done in English or Zulu. With advance notice, we may be able to secure a French or German speaking guide for guests not fluent in English.
THE BATTLE OF HLOBANE, 28TH MARCH, 1879
Hlobane is a flat-topped mountain 80 kms North of Isandlwana. Here on the 28th March, 600 mounted men attempted to dislodge upwards of 6,000 ABA Qulusi warriors and capture their cattle. This was to prove the 2nd worst disaster of The Anglo Zulu War. It is a full day tour and requires a minimum of 6 people.
Other Zulu War battle sites near Isandlwana Lodge are:
THE BATTLE OF KAMBULA, 29TH MARCH, 1879
Just after one o’clock on the 29th March, the victorious Zulu Army that had defeated the British Force at Isandlwana, mounted an all out assault on Colonel Evelyn Woods fortified camp at Kambula. This was to be the turning point in the war. Although on three occasions the 20,000 Zulu Force were to get close to breaking the British defensive position they were finally driven off and suffered enormous casualties.
PRINCE IMPERIAL MONUMENT
Visit the place were Prince Louis Napoleon, only son of Napoleon III and
Empress Eugenie and an aide de camp on Lord Chelmsord’s staff, were
killed in an ambush on 1 June, 1879, while on a reconnaissance mission.
THE BATTLE OF ULUNDI, 4TH JULY, 1879
This was the final battle, bringing about the capture and imprisonment of King
Cetshwayo, the resignation of Lord Chelmsford and destruction of the Zulu Empire by Sir Garnett Wolsley and the beginning of the Civil War that ended in 1906.
The museum at Ulundi houses many Zulu artifacts, exquisite beadwork and the Bible Queen Victoria gave to King Cetshwayo.
Our tours are done in English or Zulu. With advance notice, we may be able to secure a French or German speaking guide for guests not fluent in English.
Zulu assault Battle Painting courtesy of artist William Race
Call +27(0) 34-271 8301/4/5
African holiday and tourist destination & hotel
accommodation (cell phone +27 (0)82 415 3679)
lodge@isandlwana.co.za
Isandlwana Lodge, P.O. Box 30, Isandlwana 3005, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Fax +27 34 271 8306; E-mail: info@isandlwana.co.za