Today, the enigmatic mountain of Isandlwana nestles peacefully amongst the majestic beauty of the Zululand hills. In January 1897, however, it was the site of one of the most dramatic and enthralling events in the history of the Zulu Kingdom.
Isandlwana Lodge offers twelve luxury rooms all en-suite and tastefully decorated in a mixture of traditional and modern styles. All rooms face the historic and scenically beautiful Isandlwana plain with a view of the mountain.
Unwind in our pool after a daytrip in the Battlefields, look for a quiet moment in the library, a chat in the lounge or enjoying the view from the balcony.
Rob Gerard, FRGS, author and ex-Gordon Highlander is our local historian at the lodge. He created unforgettable daytrips for our guests, with a vehicle or horseback.
The Battle of Isandlwana
Here at Isandlwana, the British invasion forces were heavily defeated by the Zulu warriors from King Cetshwayo. It was the biggest defeat for the British army since the Kriml War. 4500 Zulus attacked the supply post at Rorke's Drift after the Battle of Isandlwana. Only a handful British soldiers defended the post. This battle went into history as the most heroic one in British history.
Battle of Rorke's Drift 22-23 January 1879
The camp at Rorke’s Drift was a re-supply depot and included a hospital and store. Prior to the battle both hospital and store had been fortified as well as the rectangular area adjoining the two buildings. At about 4.30pm on 22 January 1879 this camp garrisoned by 139 British soldiers, of whom 36 were sick or wounded, was attacked by 4 500 Zulu warriors. The battle that took place was to last for eleven and a half hours before the Zulus were repulsed.
Eleven Victoria Crosses and five Distinguished Conduct Medals were awarded for valour.
The Battle of Talana on 20 October 1899
Gen. Penn Symonds had 4 000 men under his command. He thought that an invasion into Dundee was necessary against possible Boer attacks.
North of Dundee is the Talana Hill, a long hill with flat summit. East of Talana is the Lennox Hill, 600 feet high and separated by Smith’s Nek. In the northwest is the Impati Hill. There is a eucalyptus forest between Dundee and Talana while Dundee is only 1 mile from Talana. The British garrison camped 1 mile east of the village on a Riley’s Hill.
The Boer general, Lucas Meyers, occupied the top of the Talana and Lennox Hills during the night of 19 October and got the next day support by 3000 Boer commandos and three 75 mm Creusot Guns on the Talana Hill. 1000 men from the Middleburg and Vryheid Commandos took post on the Lennox Hill while General Marolla took post with 1500 man on the Impati Hill.
A granate fell at 05h40 in the British artillery camp which was already the end for the British troops.
The Battle of Elandslaagte op 21 oktober 1899
On 20 October 1899, Generaal Kock's Commandos took the Elandslaagte Station in hands taking a British transport train and cutting off the telephone lines between Dundee and Ladysmith. Kolonel Shiel patrolled west of the station while Major Erasmus took position with two 15 pound canons three miles east of Elandslaagte.
The station was an important strategic point for the British army due to the telephone lines between Ladysmith en Dundee.
Brigade General Ian Hamilton launched an infantry attach against the Boer positions on 21 October. The battle ended with a British success. The campaign is described as a typical battle during the Anglo-Boer War.
The Anglo- Boer Oorlog 1899-1902
‘By Christmas the war would be over’, these were the words from British politicians and soldiers in 1899. The Anglo Boer War would turn out into the most bloody war against Queen Victoria's army since 1815.
The KwaZulu Natal history is an important heritage from the Anglo Zulu War (1879) and many battles from the Anglo-Boer War: Talana, Elandslaagte, Ladysmith, Colenso and Spioenkop. Future world leaders were also part of the campaigns such as General Jan Smuts, General Louis Botha, Mohandas Ghandi and Winston Churchill.