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Our next adventure took
us to Kwa Zulu Natal to learn more about Spionkop Battlefield. We
were welcomed with a lovely fruit juice arriving at Spionkop Lodge in the
Ladysmith area. A lovely historical guest house in a large tranquil
garden area, with asparkling pool after the long drive where we had a
restful afternoon till dinner time. This was a treat and much
talking about ourtrip to the Spionkop Battlefield with Raymond Heron as
our Historian Guide the following morning after breakfast.
Raymond, Lynette and UK
Group
Spionkop Lodge
What a wonderful morning was spent at the Spionkop
Battlefields with Raymond Herron and all the information and knowledge he
had available to share. The Battle of Spionkop was fought about 38km
south-west of Ladysmith on the hilltops of Spionkop along the
Tugela River, during January of 1900. It was a battle that led to the
deaths of hundreds of British and Boer soldiers, it was
the scene of the most futile and certainly the bloodiest of the four
battles fought to relieve the besieged town of Ladysmith from the
surrounding Boer forces. That dreadful day of bloodshed cost the British
some 1,200 casualties, of whom over 300 were killed and in total Boer
casualties amounted to some 300 men.
The tapestry of the conflict is rich with names of men who
went to war in South Africa – Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi, Jan
Smuts, Robert Baden-Powell, Louis Botha, Deneys Reitz, General Redvers
Buller, Lord Kitchner, and Lord Roberts to name but a few. Winston
Churchill was a war correspondent who witnessed this battle and
wrote: ‘Many wounds were of a horrible nature.’ Spionkop was
the iconic British defeat during Buller’s second and disastrous attempt
to cross the Tugela River and relieve Ladysmith. The British were 20 000
troops against 8000 Boers. Most Boers were countrymen, running their
farms from the back of a horse with a rifle in one hand.
These rural Boers brought a life time of marksmanship to
the war, an important advantage further exploited by Joubert’s
consignment of smokeless magazine rifles. With strong field craft skills
and high mobility the Boers were a natural mounted infantry. Many
questions were asked by the clients which kept our Guide on his toes. But
we all felt it was very interesting and the morning had gone too fast.
For accommodation. Contact Lynette - 036 488 1404 www.spionkop.co.za .
 
October visitors from UK
Raymond and Tour Group at Mount
Alice
Monument on Mount Alice
Our next visit was to Cathedral Peak Hotel in the Dreakensberg for 2
nights. Here we could relax enjoy the mountain scenery and also go for
many walks. We were offered helicopter flights over the Drakensberg, and
also managed to visit Falcon Ridge birds of Prey the next morning. This
was absolutely fantastic to see, where Greg and Alison who are the owners
of Falcon Ridge showed us what their birds could do.
Falcon
Ridge Birds of Prey. Contact Alison - 082 774 6398
 
After visiting the Falcon Ridge, we proceeded to go and visit the KwaZulu
Weavers who were kind to show us what
were making. Besides the making of beautiful cotton and
woolen carpets we were also able to see how their scented candles were
made. The have an interesting curio shop, selling clothes and many
articles for the home.
Next door to the KwaZulu Weavers, we were able to have
lunch at the Waffle Hut. They specialise in savoury and sweet
waffles and pancakes. They also serve a delightful selection of
breakfasts and light lunches.
Contact Adri - 036 488 1500 www.kwazuluweavers.com
Next visit en route to Cathedral Peak Hotel was the Didima
Resort, where we has an amazing experience listening to one of their
historians telling us all about the San Culture. We then visited
their Museum and the San Rock-Art Interpretive Centre, which provided
fascinating insights into the art and culture of the San.
What a wonderful day spent in the Drakensberg which was
again much too short to see everything. Back to the Hotel
for an delicious Buffet dinner which was enjoyed by
all. Our accommodation and service was of a high standard.
Contact: Cathedral Peak Hotel - 036 488 1888 www.cathedralpeak.co.za
Another place which we could not wait to see was Shakaland
where we were going to have an educational about the Zulu
Culture and spend an evening with them. We were greeted by a few
young men dressed in their Zulu attire. They escorted us by singing
all the way to the reception, where we were again welcomed by some of the
staff serving us with fresh fruit juice. Afterwards they escorted us to
our interesting accommodation, which was a traditional Zulu Hut.
Our educational lecture commenced with us being taken into
a miniature village where we were seated on large logs while our Guide
explained what each hut meant and why they lived in this way. This was
very fascinating to us. After that we were introduced to the Chief
of the Village and many photographs were taken.
Then we saw some very athletic young men showing us how to
throw spears at a distance and some exciting stick fighting was
performed. After all this excitement we were escorted to the Big Hut
where we were entertained by some wonderful Zulu dancers and singers, and
to end the evening a traditional buffet was served. During our meal we heard
thunder and saw a rather large electric storm developing, and down came
the rain. I can imagine what it must have been like for the folk in the
1800’s sleeping in tents, wagons or perhaps a Zulu hut as we were and
enjoying the rain. A wonderful “Out of Africa” experience was enjoyed by
all, especially for our overseas vistors.
Unfortunately the next morning early after having a lovely
breakfast we set off for our next adventure which is going to be a cruise
up the river to watch Hippo’s at St Lucia.
Contact: Shakaland Lodge - 035 460 0912 www.shakaland.co.za.
 
Visitors Hut at
Shakaland
Myself and the Chief
Our newsletter is getting too long and there is still so
much to write about so I will save the rest of our trip to St Lucia,
and of the other Battlefields for my following newsletter.
Below visiting Durban Botanic Gardens en route.
 
Tea Break at the Botanical Gardens,
Durban
Japanese Sunken Garden
Chris and I wish you all a wonderful summer season, and
hope that you all get some lovely rain like we have just had in Cape
Town, but definitely need much more. The Tours have taken me through many
towns and our country and most of them are very short of water, although
Natal seems to be getting a bit greener since the last visit.
Thank you for all who have so kindly sent on our your latest rates for
the summer season going through to 2018, which is right around the
corner.
Warm Regards and God
Bless,
Thought for the day:
Dear Friends, let us love one another ……..
1 John 4:7
Corbett Tourism Consulting,
Marketing and Tours
P.O. Box 11535, Bloubergrant,
7443
Cape Town, South Africa
Mobile: +27 (0) 747 092 502 / 073 1409 700
elainecorbett@ctcmarketing.co.za
Twitter: ElaineCorbett7
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