Day Eight: Battle of Blood River, Isandlwana, Rorke's Drift, Shakaland

After another early rise, RHS' cultural and musical bandwagons journeyed South to visit the site of the 'Battle of Blood River' on the Ncome River. Taking place on the 16th December 1838, between the travelling Boers (led by Andries Pretorius) and Zulu tribe, the site now commemorates the former's victory, with a visitor's museum and 64 iron-cast Boer wagons. 

Thomas Craggs-Ward and Seb Starling, performing 'sunset ceremony with drum-beatings and bugle' at the entrance to the museum.

The Iron-Cast Wagons... Said to be more spacious and comfortable than Cornwallis.

The students take in the ambience of the battle site, after a marginally biased lecture from a local guide.  Apparently, the Boers victory had little to do with them firing guns and the Zulus being armed with spears. 

 We then moved swiftly to Isandlwana, the site of one of the worst British military defeats on 22nd January 1879.  After journeying from Rorke's Drift, the ill-prepared regiment from the British army (looking rather conspicuous in the African savannah, wearing redcoats and white helmets) were set upon by the Zulu army. Despite the latter being a part-time, indigenous army with less-advanced weaponry, the British army, was swiftly annihilated and a number of white cairns show the resting place of those British soldiers.

 

  

The last resting place of an unamed British soldier.

We then travelled a short distance to the site of Rorke's Drift, the battle the British prefer to remember between British and Zulu forces, enshrined in the historically inaccurate film 'Zulu'. After a number of myths were dispelled, (the battle actually took place at night), students had the opportunity to visit the museum, standing on the site of the besieged hospital, where a historic 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded.

 

Thomas Craggs-Ward and Seb Starling don their No1s at Rorke's Drift.

The RHS Drummer, Bugler and cultural followers in front of Rorke's Drift.

After visiting these fascinating battlesites, we then journeyed to 'Shakaland' - a recreation of a traditional Zulu village - built in 1985 for the movie, ShakaZulu, a biopic of the Zulu King, King Shaka.

In the evening, the RHS troop were entertained by some traditional Zulu dancing, in a 'boma'.  Dominic Torrington had a particularly eventful evening, as he was called on stage to perform a dance. His mother should never have mentioned that it was his birthday...

Dominic Torrington enjoying his unique birthday experience.

Apparently, he just wanted an ipod...

The day was then rounded off by some banter round the camp fire and a virtuoso xylophone solo performed by Mrs Wilby, using wooden spoons!