The morning was spent visiting the battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, famous for the battles between the British and Zulus in 1879.
Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift
Isandlwana was the scene of a defeat of around 2,000 British troops by 20,000 Zulus. The 1964 film Zulu is a depiction of the battle at Rorke’s Drift, where 140 British troops held out against 4,500 Zulus. We were provided with seats at the battlefield, where our guide, Dalton, told us the history of both battles.
Talana Museum
After a visit to the Battlefields, our next port of call was the Talana Museum. It is both an indoor and open-air museum, which prides itself on being ‘the home of precious relics’. We had an enjoyable meal in the restaurant, a typical mine dwelling house from the early 20th century. We then had a couple of hours in which to examine the other exhibits.
On the way to the battlefields …
A bronze memorial
An old steam train that spent 70 years hauling coal. The coach was originally built in 1931 as a dining coach.
