Spioenkop Battlefield — Attraction in Okhahlamba Local Municipality

Very surprised that this is not under tge control of the British war graves commission! However, it is a herritage site for Kwazulu Natal and there is a fee of around R30 to enter. You get a nice plan of the area of the battle and on the flip side a history related to markers on the circular route laid out with explanations. There is no bias towards either side of the conflict but a simple to understand explanation of what took place. As an Englishman i did find it fascinating that the arrogance of the English comanders showed through and was the main cause of the deaths of the English troops. Lack of understanding of what was going on and as officers fell in battle who was then in command. Tgere us from time to time I understand an historian that gives tours but allas it was boxing day and I was the only person there. The graves and memorials to the variouse troops and field stretcher bearers are well maintained. There are several dioramas pointing out tge points if interest and gun replacements that all in all brings the battle into perspective. Well worth the visit and the drive along dirt roads to get there. Do take water with you there are no places for refreshments and in the heat its advisable to stay hydrated and heads covered...

Hauntingly atmospheric, Spioenkop is the site of one of the most brutal battles in military history. The might of Queen Victoria's forces went into close-quarter combat here against Boer commandos, in a fierce and often chaotic engagement that is still much discussed by history buffs and strategists alike. The terrain is rocky, thorny, and hostile, and even today you can sense the hardship both sides must have endured. Present at the battle were three men who would go on to be leaders in their own right: Louis Botha, who would become the first Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa; Mohandas K Gandhi, a stretcher bearer who would go on to help found modern India; and a young war correspondent and officer by the name of Winston Churchill. To visit this site is to feel the past come alive, and to be moved by the bravery of the combatants as well as the futility...

This battlefield site is on a high point in the area with fantastic views over the surrounding hills and valleys. It is the site where so many brave but I'll informed and I'll supplied British troops lost their lives to a small band of dedicated Boer fighters. The atmosphere among all those people who lost their lives too early for a cause they barely understood is peaceful but disturbing at the same time. Visit the site with somebody knowledgeable about the proceeding of the time or do a lot of reading beforehand. Take some maps and information about the battle and a pair of binoculars and be prepared to walk around the paths to view the different spots on the battle map and investigate the different monument beacons. You will come away from this site with a new...