Over exaggerating.

Posts : 1603 Join date : 2009-09-21

I have spent some time looking at photos of Zulu’s. It is said that a Zulu Army can run fifty miles and fight a battle after. (This was said in the film Zulu) By the looks of some of the Zulus I have been looking at I doubt they could run five mile’s let alone fifty. So I going to take it the idea was based on fiction. Can anyone covince me otherwise.

Dave.

Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25

Back in the days of Shaka he drilled his troops frequently, forced marches sometimes covering more than fifty miles a day in a fast trot over hot, rocky terrain. Not sure if they were up to it in 1879.

Posts : 2593 Join date : 2009-04-24

On their advance to Isandlwana The Zulu impi had advanced over 50 miles in 5 days. That just over ten miles a day, which would be more accurate. 24th is probably right, but back in Shaka’s day, if they didn’t run they would have been killed.

Posts : 747 Join date : 2009-10-18

"Shaka used impis with a modified encircling tactic - impondo zankoma ('bull's horns'); Impi troops would divide into four groups. The main group (isifuba, 'chest') would face the enemy, two wings (izimpondo, 'horns') on two sides of the enemy and then force them towards the center. The fourth party (usually the veterans) remained as a reserve. They travelled light, and carried their own food or foraged along the way. The image of the Zulu warrior who could "run fifty miles and fight a battle at the end of it" is not at all true, but the barefooted Zulu warrior was swift, and could cover perhaps 25 miles a day. Thus tactics against their enemies (other African tribes, the Boers, and the British) were surprise and overwhelming force, rather than siege or long campaigns. During the Anglo-Zulu War, British commander Lord Chelmsford complained that they did not 'fight fair'."

Posts : 1261 Join date : 2010-04-12

Some further information to enhance a Zulu’s capability of running.

"Shaka insisted that troops wear no shoes - they could run faster and were not disabled by the loss of their sandals. Training for this was to stamp thorns into the ground with bare feet." (OUCH !!!)