Bloodriver/Ncome Battlefields adventure || Historic site in KZN || Enjoying traditional vetkoek

The next battlefield adventure is to the Blood River museum. The museum has a great restaurant and accommodation. The Ncome museum is close but as well so you can make it a weekend of sightseeing. For a bit of history on the Battle of Blood River, check out the excerpt and scroll to the bottom of the description box.

If you are interested in the accommodation, for booking and prices,
call 074 2663 3025.

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EXCERPT FROM ‘Battles of KwaZulu-Natal’ by Ken Gillings:

On 5th November 1837, Piet Retief visited Zulu King Dingane kaSenzangakhona at his royal ikhanda. King Dingane appeared sympathetic to their requests on condition that some cattle - which he claimed had been stolen from him by the 'Trekkers- were returned. Retief's response was that chief named Sikonyela from the present-day Eastern Free State he been responsible for the theft, but undertook to retrieve the cattle.

On 3rd February 1838, Retief and his party of some 69 adults and 3 servants arrived at Mgungundlovu with the cattle and a treaty was drawn up ceding land to the trekkers. As Retief's party were preparing to depart two das later,they were surrounded and executed. The Zulu army immediately left Mgungundlovu and attacked the various Voortrekkers' encampments, surrounded by wagons and called "laagers”.

The Trekkers were assembled into a cohesive force by Commandant Andries Pretorius, and set off for Mgungundlovu. The Commando comprised approximately 462 men, and included 3 Englishmen and 123 black followers. It mobilised at Maritzlage crossed the uThukela River at Skietsdrif and advanced via Danskraal (Ladysmith).

On the 9th December 1838 the Commando laagered in the vicinity of Wasbank and took a vow to keep the day of victory against the Zulu army as holy as the Sabbath. The vow (Die Gelofte) was repeated every evening thereafter. The advance continued via the Biggarsberg and the Commando reached the Ncome River, a tributary of the Mzinyathi (Buffalo River on 15th December).

At dawn on the 16th December 1838, the Zulu left horn attacked the laager,while the rest of the army were massed in their regiments across the river, just in front of the ohaleni/Ntabanda ridges. The izinduna (commanders) remained on the high ground behind to direct the warriors.
As the mist cleared, Pretorius ordered the first volley to be fired from the laager, as the left horn rose in attack, chanting and hissing. The 'Trekkers maintained a constant series of volleys, and fired broken pot legs, pieces of metal and other debris from their guns into the closely-packed Zulu ranks, inflicting extensive wounds.

After some 15 minutes, the Zulus retired to a point some 500m away. Pretorius noticed that the main impi had remained across the river and directed gunfire into it, evidently killing some of the commanders. The enraged warriors rose and marched down into the plain, heading straight for the laager. The 'Trekkers directed a concentrated fire at them, forcing the warriors to change direction towards the drift which had been used by the left horn.

For at least an hour, wave after wave of Zulus made determined attempts to storm the laager, but instead of dividing into their traditional horn formation, they attacked together,resulting in a great deal of congestion.

As soon as Pretorius detected a slackening in the Zulu attack, he ordered Field Cornet Bart Pretorius to attack. He was twice driven back to the safety of the laager.

Andries Pretorius personally led a large force out of the laager, and pursued the Zulus. During this movement, a warrior turned and plunged his iklwa into Pretorius' left hand.

As the Zulus turned and fled, the 'Trekkers lined the banks of the Come and poured a devastating fire into their ranks. So great was e carnage that the river ran red with blood, which inspired the name of the Battle of Bloodriver.

The Zulu retreat became a general rout. They were pursued by the Voortrekkers in the direction o the twin-peaked hill (known as Vegkop) and across the plain on the other side of the river The aftermath of the battle was so devastating, that the plain has since then been referred to as "amathambo" (the bones).
The 'Trekkers recorded only 4 wounded, while over 3 000 Zulu warriors were killed or wounded in the battle.