6 Day Battlefields Route Safari in South Africa
Amazing Safari in South Africa
A barrier of upward-pointing spears for the Zulu name, Quathlamba describes the craggy pinnacles that form the most spectacular part of the Great Escarpment of Southern Africa’s major watershed. The name Drakensberg derives from Dutch, meaning Mountain of the Dragon, for the jagged peaks seem like a natural domain for these fabled creatures. You will explore the intriguing history of the bygone battlefields while enjoying spectacular wildlife scenery. Explore bygone battlefields and game drives!
Key information
- Group safari
- Minimum group size of 2, maximum group size of 14 participants
- Children under the age of 12 years old are allowed to participate under the supervision of a parent or guardian.
- Starting point and ending point: Johannesburg
- Languages spoken: English
- Entrance fees and national park fees included
Meet the guides
Read more
Highlights
- Game drives at Nambiti Private Game Reserve
- Tours of Battlefields Route at Dundee-Rorke’s Drift area
- Visits to the Wine Cellar and Mouse Trap Deli and the Mandela Monument
- A visit to Dragon Rock Reptile Center and Drakensberg canopy tour
- Attending Drakensberg Boys Choir's concert
- 4 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners
- 5 nights' accommodation
Styles
Accommodation
Ndaka Safari Lodge (2 nights)
Tucked away in the center of the picturesque Nambiti Private Game Reserve, a-21,000 acre, Big Five, malaria-free game reserve, lies Ndaka Safari Lodge. Located in central KwaZulu-Natal near Ladysmith, just 40 minutes from the Drakensberg and close to the battlefields, in the heart of the wild, the lodge is the perfect halfway stop between Johannesburg (three and a half hours) and Durban (three hours).
Ndaka Safari Lodge features an African farmstead that has been converted into a family style getaway. Ndaka is a relaxed, 'home away from home', family-friendly lodge. The lodge has recently been refurbished and now has three standard lodge rooms in the main house and seven luxury safari tents. The open plan lounge together with the lapa (entertainment area) with its built-in barbeque, the deck, the large fully fenced-in indigenous garden, swimming pool, and open fire pit overlooking the bushveld make Ndaka Safari Lodge the ideal getaway for families and friends. They are located in the center of the Nambiti Private Game Reserve and access to the lodge is via the Memorial Gate in the north.
Dragon Peaks Mountain Resort
The accommodation at Dragon Peaks Mountain Resort comprises of a selection of two to 12 sleeper self-catering units, fully equipped, and all with TV. The resort provides beautiful shady, grassed, and paved caravan and camping sites with electrical points and three ablutions facilities. Sculleries and coin-operated laundries are also provided for the convenience of the guests. Furthermore, the resort has a restaurant and pub, The Oaks Superette, conference facilities, and a picturesque island wedding venue.
Fern Hill Hotel (1 night)
Fern Hill Hotel is one of the leading hotels in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, perfectly situated just off the N3 highway, yet tucked away enough to escape the hubbub. Fern Hill is the ideal destination for those wanting to explore the Midlands Meander, unwind in the country, or host an unforgettable wedding. For those with a penchant for superior food, Fern Hill's Snooty Fox a la carte restaurant is a destination in its own right.
The Lapha Guesthouse and Conference Centre (1 night)
The Lapha Guesthouse and Conference Centre is situated in the picturesque town of Dundee, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes and mountains of Northern KwaZulu-Natal. This area is host to some of the most renowned battlefields in the world, namely, Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift, Blood River, Spioenkop, and Talana. The truly genuine hospitality and efficient service from the staff at the Lapha will make you feel at home.
At the Lapha, they provide first class accommodation to both local and international guests, as it is ideal for business representatives, conference delegates, and small corporate groups. They have combined the usual comforts of your own home with the personal touch and warmth of a dedicated management team, creating a unique charm.
Program
Day 1
Leaving from the O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg, you will head to the province of KwaZulu-Natal to discover the Battlefields Route. A cross-shaped memorial in honor of British soldiers who died during battles around the Volksrust and Amersfoort areas is to be visited in the town of Volksrust. O'Neil's Cottage in the Newcastle area follows on the road between Newcastle and Volksrust.
The home of Eugene O'Neil became a makeshift hospital for British after the defeat at Majuba. The peace treaty ending the war was negotiated here. You will get lunch en-route and spend the night at Ndaka Safari Lodge in Nambiti (or similar) and enjoy a game drive to see the Big Five (elephant, rhinoceros, lion, leopard, and buffalo).
- Meal plan: dinner
Day 2
You will head to Ladysmith and meet up with a battlefields tour guide for a tour of the Ladysmith, Elandslaagte, and Midlands region. Lunch will be enjoyed en route and you will stay for the second night at the Ndaka Safari Lodge (or similar).
- Meal plan: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3
After a morning game drive on the third day, you will leave for Winterton in the Drakensberg. As you head to the Drakensberg Boys Choir’s Wednesday-afternoon concert, you visit the Thokozisa Lifestyle Center at the eastern side of Champaign Valley to view some Zulu arts and crafts and have lunch at the restaurant. Now you will visit the Dragon Rock Reptile Center and then head over to the Drakensberg Boys Choir's concert. You will spend the night at the Monks Cowl Golf Resort (or similar).
- Meal plan: breakfast
Day 4
You will head out to do the Drakensberg canopy tour and then to the Midlands Meander route and visit the Wine Cellar and Mouse Trap Deli, a Marrakesh cheese and chocolate heaven where you will savor a drink at the delightful Bierfassl Restaurant. Tsonga shoes and bags are next. Then, you are going to visit the Mandela Monument. You will overnight at Fern Hill Hotel near Howick (or similar).
- Meal plan: lunch
Day 5
You are on the way to the Dundee-Rorke’s Drift area, to meet a battlefield tour guide who will take you on a tour of the battlefields and historical sites of the area. Lunch is enjoyed en route and you will spend the last night at the Lapha in Dundee (or similar).
- Meal plan: breakfast
Day 6
You are going to head on your way back to the airport in Johannesburg. You may consider doing another tour with Amatungulu Tours.
- Meal plan: breakfast
Included excursions
- Attend a Drakensberg Boys Choir's concert
- A visit to Nelson Mandela Monument
- Discover two different Battlefields Routes with tours
- Drakensberg canopy tour
- Visit to the British Soldiers Memorial
- Visit to the Thokozisa Lifestyle Center
Guides
Jakes Conradie
Jakes Conradie is a South African-born who extensively traveled the country. He is competent to advise clients about all the essential aspects of traveling to South Africa. Having passed the SA Specialist Course from South African Tourism, he is always on the lookout to assist, improve the environment, and motivate communities to protect nature and all species in order to create a sustainable eco-system for future generations. His love for nature and history brought him to the most beautiful and spectacular places of South Africa where he wants to take his tourists as well.
Location
British Soldiers Memorial
The cross-shaped Memorial in honor of British soldiers who died during battles around Volksrust and Amersfoort areas are in a park on the north side of town on the west side of the N11 just as one leaves the town.
O’Neil’s Cottage
During the Transvaal War of Independence (1880-1881) the cottage, home of Eugene O’Neill, which lay in 'no mans land' between the British and Burgher forces became a makeshift hospital for British after their defeat at Majuba and there are graves on the site. The peace treaty ending the war was negotiated here and over a period of some 21 days in March 1881.
It had seated in its parlor Paul Kruger, President Brand, Marthinus Pretorius, Commandant-General Piet Joubert, General Sir Evelyn Wood, Colonel R. Buller, Major Clarke, and Captain Roberts as well as several others. The entrance to the cottage is directly off the N11. Visitors are welcome to view the newly restored cottage with inside display area between 08:00 and 16:00 every day of the week.
Thokozisa Lifestyle Centre
Hidden in the heart of the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg's Champagne Valley, located about 10 kilometers from Winterton on the R600, visitors will find the Thokozisa Lifestyle Centre. The charming center, which is covered by a thatched roof, was designed by a group of artists and houses an impressive variety of small shops, galleries, playground, restaurant, bar, and a tea garden, as well as the Central Berg Tourist Information Centre.
Visitors who make their way to the center, which has also been referred to as the Las Vegas of the Drakensberg, will find it extremely tempting to stay a while longer and browse through all of the 15 fabulous specialty shops or enjoy a delicious meal at the busy restaurant and bar with gourmet deli, while being surrounded by thousands of tiny weaver birds and sparrows which nest nearby.
Dragon Rock Reptile Centre
Dragon Rock Reptile Centre is situated in the heart of the beautiful Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal. They are a nature and reptile center. They believe education is the most powerful weapon with which they can change the world around. That is why they strive to educate people about the animals they have and animals in general. Combining the nature center with reptile center, they aim to send people home more aware of their environment.
Drakensberg Boys Choir
Worldwide there are many schools with boys’ choirs but the Drakensberg Boys Choir is unique and one of only a few of its kind. Globally, it is a boarding school using choral music as a significant vehicle for holistic education. The mission of the Drakensberg Boys Choir School is to prepare boys for life and leadership through excellence in music, academics, physical development, and social enrichment, in a Christian environment.
Drakensberg Canopy Tour
Situated in an indigenous forest of the Central Drakensberg, in the shadow of the towering Cathkin Peak, the Drakensberg Canopy Tour awaits you. Boasting Africa's first elevated rock face walkway with a good mix of both cliff face and treetop platforms and cable slides over the forest up to 60 meters high, the Drakensberg Canopy Tour must automatically go to the top of your must-do list.
Experience nature like never before as you slide through the forest canopy and enjoy a unique birds-eye view of the world around you. Set within the magnificent Blue Grotto forest, the Drakensberg Canopy Tour is guaranteed to take your breath away. The forest is home to over 150 species of birds including the rare Bush Blackcap.
Wine Cellar and Mouse Trap Deli
The original Midlands wine cellar, established in 1996, believed to stock the widest selection of wine in KwaZulu-Natal (approximately 2,500 labels plus stock). It is a family run business priding themselves on personal, knowledgeable service. Sarah goes down to the cape to work the harvest, assist in the winemaking, and then handpicks wines they sell under their own label in addition to recognized labels. In store, they have wine tasting facilities, regular wine / whiskey and brandy tasting evenings have become sought after events!
In stock, they have a wide range of liqueurs, whiskeys, brandies, cigars, and coffee beans which they can grind for you. They are a family with a passion for the wine trade, always striving to learn more. They take finding wine treasures for you seriously. On the same location is Mouse Trap Deli, with an assortment of cheese, deli products and more.
Chocolate Heaven
Who would have ever thought, the finest chocolate in all the land, would have its origins in an old antique shop in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands? Good old-fashioned hard work and some crazy ideas replaced the dusty old furniture and made way for hand-crafted artisanal chocolates. Not much has changed, they still use old-school methods and the finest quality ingredients in their pure couverture Belgian chocolate, free of preservatives, palm oils, hardeners, or extenders.
These are not ordinary chocolates though. They do add dollops of passion and lots of fun into each and every one of them! This gives the chocolate a deliciously distinct feel and tastes that they are famous for. Their wide selection of over 40 delicious combinations includes biltong, curry and koeksisters, to traditional favorites like fudge, caramel, Turkish delight, shortbread and freshly dipped strawberries. If it is fun, adventure, and great chocolate you looking for, their original chocolate dipping experience is perfect for the whole family.
Tsonga shoes and bags
Using the world’s finest leather that goes with the handcrafted promise found in every Tsonga bag and pair of shoes, their signature hand-stitching technique allows the shoes to flex and move with your feet in unique comfort that is unmistakably Tsonga. It is 100 percent made in Africa. They want to share leather bound story with you. From their passion for design creativity to their rich African heritage, to the people who transform 100 percent soft, genuine leather into the finest collection of footwear, handbags, and accessories for you to enjoy.
Mandela Monument
The genesis of the project at the Nelson Mandela Capture Site and the installation of an internationally recognizable sculpture in the Natal Midlands landscape is a response to the modest original monument on the site consisting of a plaque set into a wall on the side of the road. View the exhibition which takes you through the life of Nelson Mandela and his heroic role in the struggle against Apartheid and establishing a democratic South Africa.
Food
You will be provided with the following meals, as per the itinerary:
- 4 breakfasts
- 3 lunches
- 2 dinners
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
What's included
- Game drives at Nambiti Private Game Reserve
- Tours of Battlefields Route and Midlands Meander
- Attend a Drakensberg Boys Choir's concert
- A visit to Dragon Rock Reptile Center
- Visit to the Wine Cellar and Mouse Trap Deli
- Trips to the Thokozisa Lifestyle Center and the Mandela Monument
- Drakensberg canopy tour
- Transportation by private vehicle
- Airport transfers
- Entrance fees
- National park fees
- Services of driver / guide
- Professional guide at specialist venues
- Meals as per itinerary
- 5 nights' accommodation
What's not included
- Other meals
- Alcoholic drinks
- Drinks
- Gratuities (recommended)
- Travel insurance
- Flights
- Porterage
- Visa fees
- Excess luggage charges (where applicable)
How to get there
Recommended Airports
O. R. Tambo International Airport
309 km
Transfer included
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB).
You will be picked up at any of the following spots for the start of the tour between 08:00 and 09:00:
- O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
- Gautrain Centurion Station
- Your centrally located hotel
Please request a quote for home pick up or if your hotel is not on the route.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 40% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookAllSafaris.com. All major credit cards supported.