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Battlefields

Rorke’s Drift Tours from Durban

Our Rorke’s Drift Tours from Durban give you the best possible options when it comes to exploring the battlefields of the past in South Africa.

Our Rorke’s Drift Tours from Durban offer the best opportunity to discover more about the pivotal historic event of the Battle of Rorke’s Drift.

Who can forget the immortal words shouted by one of the defenders at Rorkes Drift, “here they come, thick as grass and black as thunder!” The battle of Rorke’s Drift has gone down as one those endearing heroic last stands of the British Army that still captures the public’s attention.

Rorke’s Drift Tours Index

Before we get to the meat and potatoes of this post, I thought I’d mention that we can include a safari tour with your battlefield tour when visiting Durban.

Day Tour to Rorkes Drift

The first thing that I need to point out is that regardless of what tour you decide to embark on, all of them stop not only at Rorkes Drift, but at the battlefield of iSandlwana as well – fact is both battles go hand in hand.

On the day tour to Rorkes Drift you’ll head up to the area of Nqutu where the battles took place via the ‘coastal route” that Col Pearson invaded Zululand along in 1879. Not soon after leaving Durban (about 45min) you’ll cross the uThukela River where Fort Pearson was located as the launching point for the invasion and where the Ultimatum Tree was located.

It is a 4 hour drive to the first battlefield of iSandlwana, but you’ll go past the battlefields of Gingindlovu and Nyzane as well as skate past the Zulu homestead of KwaBulawayo – these sites are fascinating and will help break up the 4 hour journey.

The first stop is iSandlwana where Zulu forces overwhelmed the British force still remaining in the camp after Lord Chelmsford had departed in the early hours on the morning of the 22nd January 1879. Here you’ll spend about 90 minutes enjoying the guided tour of the battlefield.

After this you’ll head onto the main attraction, Rorke’s Drift.

Although partially destroyed during the battle, the residence/hospital was rebuilt by the missionaries after the war as an almost faithful reproduction, though slightly smaller with a few changes.

Here you’ll get to enjoy a humble lunch at the small community tuck shop and then tour the site proper. The original barn is now a church (it was a church when Otto Witt converted it) and the cattle kraal still stands.

Here your guide will take you through the events that inspired the film Zulu and created a tourism industry off of it’s own. After the roughly 90 minute tour, it’s back to Durban.

Find out more about this Rorke’s Drift Day tour.

2 Day Rorke’s Drift Tour from Durban

It’s a slightly later start to the day on our 2 day tour Rorke’s Drift Tour, but we do visit more sites than on the single day tour. On day 1 you’ll visiting KwaDukuza where King Shaka of the Zulu people was assassinated; this is the perfect opportunity to learn more about Zulu military tactics.

From here it’s on to the battlefield of Gingindlovu where Lord Chelmsford had his first victory against the Zulu. After a bit of lunch in the area of Eshowe it’s onto the our overnight stop, Dundee.

On day 2 you’ll get a tour of iSandlwana followed by Rorke’s Drift. Thanks to the fact you’ll be staying overnight in the area, you’ll have a bit more time to explore the site compared to the day tour. Again we’ll have lunch here as we like to support the local community.

At around 2pm you’ll then head back to Durban.

Check out the details of my 2 day Rorke’s Drift Tour from Durban.

3 Day Rorke’s Drift Tour from Durban

This is probably one of our most popular battlefield tours, our 3 day Rorke’s Drift Tour from Durban, thanks to the fact you get so much more time to explore!

It’s a 7am start and much like the 2 day tour, we stop at KwaDukuza, Gingindlovu and Eshowe. Typically we’re at the accommodation by around 4pm the same day.

On day 2 you’ll visit iSandlwana, Fugitive’s Drift and Rorke’s Drift all in the one day – that’s the benefit of staying in the area of course.

Day 3 you have the option of visiting the battlefield of Ulundi or the battlefield of Spionkop. Regardless of which option you choose, you’ll be back in Durban in time for supper.

Find out more about our 3 day Rorke’s Drift Tour from Durban.

Gallery of our Rorke’s Drift Tours

A steep hill called isandlwana is surrounded by dark clouds in the afternoon sky. In the foreground lay piles of stones painted white to mark the remains of fallen british troops.
The hill called Isandlwana where the battle occurred in 1879
The fields Hospital at Rorkes Drift
One of the displays at Rorkes Drift
The battlefield of Isandlwana
Rorkes Drift
Looking onto Fugitives Drift
Serious disscusion over the advantage of assagy and martini-henry
The Mzinyahti (Buffalo) RIver
A group fo 20 Britsh reenactors dreesed in 1879's military uniform stand in a company and pose before the hill called isandlwana and point their martini henry rifles at the pphotographer
British reenactment enthusiasts pose at the foot of the hill called Isandlwana
The cemetary at Gingindlovu
A white memorial to the fallen at Rorkes Drift stands in a small walled cemetary
The memorial at Rorkes Drift inside the walled cemetary
The hospital building seen from the redoubt.

FAQ

How do we book a Rorke’s Drift tour?

Visit my contact page and send me an email; please include which tour you would like, the group size and of course your travel dates.

What does it cost?

It’s best to visit the individual tour pages for the costs. Please remember the prices do change so best is to just ask for a quotation.

What’s included?

On my trips, transport, entry fees and accommodation is all included. I also include meals with the exception of lunch; only because some people eat lunch, some don’t so I don’t feel comfortable charging.

How do we get around?

I (or one of my colleagues) will pick you up and drop you off at the end of the tour; this is included. Depending on the group size you’ll be in a sedan, a 7-seater or a mini-bus. All have aircon (it get’s hot out there) and have all the necessary permits and licences.

Who conducts the tours?

Either I or my colleague Brandyne will conduct the tours. Both of us a qualified specialist battlefield guides with an extensive background in the Anglo Zulu War. And we are both qualified general guides as well. In the cases of both of not being available, we’ll ensure that a registered and approved guide accompanies you.

I have dietary requirements, can I be accommodated?

I will accommodate any requirements wherever possible. Over the years I have have vegans, meta eaters, pescatarians, those suffering for Celiac disease and many more – I’ll always make a plan for you.

Where do we stay?

There are a couple of options, when you book we’ll go through them with you and select the best option available at the time.

What do we wear?

Depends on the time of year, but for the most part, the days are pretty hot and in winter, the nights are chilly. The best advice I can give is dress in layers. Typically I’m in shorts and a light shirt but always have a jacket / jersey handy, and usually in sandals.

What can we do after the tour?

We do offer a number of safari tours as well. After or before your Rorke’s Drift Tour you can visit St Lucia and the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve, just have a look at our safari page for more info.