For the week before and the week after the Summit, Majuba Lodge will be running its well known tours of the Battlefields of Northern KwaZulu-Natal

Tour includes visits to the epic Battles of :

Blood River – Where in 1838 a party of 646 Trek Boers laagered behind their wagons defeated the 12000 strong Zulu army of Dingaan bringing an end to his reign.
Isandlwana – Where on 22nd January 1879 the Zulu army of Cetshwayo overran the British camp killing and mutilating some 1400 Imperial troops and native Levies and forcing the British to retreat back into Natal.
Rorke's Drift – Where on the night of 22 and 23 January 1879 the eighty odd men of B company 24th Regiment along with some Commissary Officers and a number of hospital patients fought off some 4000 Zulus in a desperate 12 hour battle that earned them 11 Victoria Crosses.
Majuba – Here on the 28th February 1881 the Burghers of the Transvaal drove the British from their “impregnable” position on top of the hill inflicting some 256 casualties to their own 6.One of the most humiliating defeats ever suffered by the British Army. “Majuba, Majuba, remember Majuba”
Siege of Ladysmith - A visit to the world renown Siege Museum in Ladysmith. See how the British garrison held out against the Boer Siege for 4months during the Anglo-Boer War.
Spion Kop – From the Anglo Boer War, “that acre of massacre” fought over all day long between British and Boer till night fell and both sides withdrew. Leaving a hilltop of shattered bodies.

Garrison
For the duration of the campaign the “Natal Field Force” will be garrisoned at Majuba Lodge Newcastle. Each evening after supper “troops” will be briefed on the War and Battles to be engaged the following day.

Day 1 - Arrive Johannesburg International and travel to Majuba Lodge Newcastle where troops will be met by the officer commanding the Newcastle Garrison, “General” Denzil Hopkins and his staff.
19h00 – Supper will be taken in the all ranks mess (Conference Centre) and will be followed by an induction into the Natal Field Force and an orientation and briefing on the following day's campaign.

Day 2 – The Transvaal War of Independence.

07h00 – Reveille. Followed by breakfast at the all ranks mess
08h30 – Mount up (coach) for the advance on Laing's Nek
Visit Fort Amiel a typical frontier fort of the Victorian era. Go on to the Battlefields of Schuinshoogte, Laing's Nek and finally Majuba where in 1881 the Burghers of Commandant General Piet Joubert drove the British from their “impregnable” position on top of the mountain inflicting some 256 casualties against their own 6. A quite remarkable action.
A picnic lunch will be taken at Majuba and those that are interested can climb the mountain with our guide and visit the battle site.
19h00 – Supper at the all ranks mess with a briefing on the next days campaign

Day 3 – The Anglo Boer War

07h00 – Reveille. Followed by breakfast at the all ranks mess
08h30 – Mount up (coach) for the advance on Ladysmith
Visit the fascinating Siege Museum in Ladysmith before proceeding to Spion Kop where the most bloody of battles in this war was fought on 24th January 1900.
A picnic lunch will be taken at Spion Kop
19h00 – Supper at the all ranks mess with a briefing on the next days campaign

Day 4 – Zulu Wars

07h00 – Reveille. Followed by breakfast at the all ranks mess
08h30 – Mount up (coach) for the advance on Zululand
The first stop will be the Battle of Blood River where the battlefield is now marked by a laager of 65 full size bronzed wagons set as they were at the time of the battle.
From here troops will proceed to the Ingwebeni Valley where the 20000 strong Zulu army lay in wait to attack Lord Chelmsford's Central Column in the Anglo Zulu War of 1879. Then on to the world famous Battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift before returning to Newcastle via the Farmers' Brewery at Hattingspruit. A genuine German brewery where the product is brewed on the premises. A sure cure for any battlefield thirst!
19h00 – Supper at the all ranks mess

DAY 5 – For the pre-summit tour a morning visit will be made to Dundee, and the fascinating multifaceted Talana Museum and Battlefield.
- For the post Summit tour Troops will go to visit the beautiful church and monastry at Maria Ratschitz. Esablished in 1889 by 2 Trappist monks. View the beautiful hand painted frescos in the naive and ceiling. A tuly remarkable place.

FINAL DAY POST SUMMIT TOUR
After a casual breakfast troops will be Dissmissed with the General's thanks and taken back to Johannesburg Airport.

FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE BATTLEFIELDS SEE www.majubalodge.co.za