Map showing key locations during the Anglo Zulu War 1879

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Posts : 1261 Join date : 2010-04-12

How far is Helpmakaar from Rorkes Drift? In good old English miles!

Guest

Wonder why they invariably miss showing
Myers drift and the intombe?.

Posts : 921 Join date : 2011-10-21 Location : Algoa Bay

Hi Chard,
9.63 English Miles.

regards

barry

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 58 Location : UK

How long would it have taken, to cover those miles back then with wagons, if one had a good reason to move fast!

John
Barry has given the point to point distance that the horsemen used. The wagons used the pass itself. To get to the pass you would firstly travel around two miles across the open plain, cross two streams and turn up to the mountain, around another mile. so before becoming 'invisible, to the mission station around 2 to 3 hours. Once on the approach and you start to climb then waqgons would be double teamed and spend a day getting to Vermaaks. On the mountain top its pretty flat, ish to Helpmakaar so around another two hours or so. So total time I would estimate at around 21 to 22 hours. The alternate route would be an hour to 90 minutes for a mounted man and 2 1/2 to 3 on foot.
Cheers

Posts : 1086 Join date : 2012-05-12 Location : NYC

The grades seemed steep in an SUV. It would have been completely exhausting in a wagon without springs...especially for the oxen!

Posts : 2558 Join date : 2009-04-06 Age : 58 Location : UK

Thanks so getting from the drift with sick men in wagons is a no! Thanks for the replies.