New Member Introduction

Good evening all. I've been a member of the forum for a short while and have enjoyed reading through all the threads. I'm about to start a thread or two of my own but thought I should introduce myself first.

I'm a tour guide based in Durban and although wildlife tours is where I spend probably 90% of my time, I have over the years taken people of tours of Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift - initially hiring the fantastic local guides and as I learnt more and became more confident, conducted the tours myself.

I was extremely fortunate to have spent 14 days on a detailed Anglo Zulu War tour with Ken Gillings just weeks before he so tragically passed away and, I must say it was a definite eye-opener! Although I didn't agree on everything he wrote (we spent quite a few of those evenings on tour discussing the varies theories accompanied by a few bottles of wine), his knowledge on the subject was inspirational - we even spent the last day chatting about his next project, the Bambatha Revolution.

I've also had the great experience of getting to know Charles and Paul of the Rorkes Drift Hotel, and have had a great deal of assistance from Pat Rundgren whose thoughts on Rorkes Drift mirror mine, I look forward to learning more from him about the Boer war.

The Anglo Zulu War has been a fascinating subject to me since discovering the "Washing of the Spears" some 20 years ago - who would of thought I would one day be walking and conducting tours to the very same sites!

I do plan to ask quite a few questions on this forum, so hopefully you will all go easy on "me", especially if some of my questions seem simple or have been discussed in great detail already.

Finally, I am off to the battlefields next weekend (the 26th) to watch the re-enacments (which I've now been informed are scheduled to take place the day before) and to participate in the unofficial tour of the area, to be conducted by local guides. I'll be staying at the Rorkes Drift Hotel (I stay there every single tour - love the place) for a night or two - so perhaps if any of you are in the area, a drink at the bar on me.

Looking forward to being more involved and learning!

Hi Sheldon,

Welcome to 'the club'. There are many on the forum who will give  good answers to your questions. 
I hope that the 140th commemorations next week go well .  The signs in the sky however  give me much forboding as a large storm front was starting to menace the  N. Zululand coast at midday today. Lets hope it dissipates.



regards



barry

Morning Sheldon
I do believe we met at RD late last year. Welcome to the forum.
Pity you cant get to RD a little earlier, I know Charles is fully booked. A fairly large group of forum members will be there until the 25th.
Regards

Sheldon welcome. Hope you enjoy your time with us, always good to see new members joining. Looking forward to your posts.

barry wrote:

Hi Sheldon,

Welcome to 'the club'. There are many on the forum who will give  good answers to your questions. 
I hope that the 140th commemorations next week go well .  The signs in the sky however  give me much forboding as a large storm front was starting to menace the  N. Zululand coast at midday today. Lets hope it dissipates.


regards

barry

Barry it won’t be as big as the storm, that took place at Isandlwana 140 years ago.

Sheldon,

Greetings from sunny Dundee.

I can confirm the re-enactment is on the Friday, due to voter registration over the 26th-27th, and King Zwelithini did not wish to impede his people’s democratic rights.

The Diehards will be at iSandlwana on 26th for photograph opportunities, though.

JY