‘Barrier of Spears’

The high peaks of the Drakensberg were known by the Zulu as the ‘Barrier of Spears’ (later renamed ‘Dragon Mountains’ by the Dutch). This is now part of Kwa-Zulu Natal which may be described as a country in one province. It is an area of immense scenic and climatic contrasts, ranging from the Drakensberg, with its dramatic mountain ranges and river valleys, to the golden beaches of the south. It was on the beautiful plains of the Zulu Kingdom that the British and the Boers came up against a real ‘Barrier of Spears’ at battlefields including Isandlwana, Wagon Hill, Ladysmith and Rorke’s Drift (visited with a specialist guide).

In addition to all of this, Zululand offers a myriad of wildlife experiences. Search for the ‘Big Five’ in Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, a large scenic park with rippling hills and covered in low acacia bush with an immense diversity of fauna and flora. It is famous for its conservation of both black rhino and white rhino, with the largest population of white rhino in the world. The visit is further enhanced by a cruise and a steam train, and attractive accommodations with no one-night stays.