Gary's adventures in Zululand. With Holts Tours. Alais forum member 90th

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He's is (red shirt) on the banks of the Thukela near the site of the Ultimatum Tree.

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And beside Northey's memorial at Gingindlovu.
Photo's by Ian Knight, Zuluwar Author and Historian.

The buggers got a beer in his hand !   

He's a big old lump. You wouldn't want to meet
him on a dark night. Good to put a face to a name.

He has taken some of the best picture's of Zululand
i have ever seen! go 90th!   

Ian knight took the photos.

springbok9 wrote:

The buggers got a beer in his hand !   

Sunglasses.

90th this Holts Tour. Do you have to make your own way the RD hotel.

Hi All .
Firstly , Ian has taken these photos , I'm good , but not that good to be in two places at once !   ,
Impi
I did send xhosa some pics I took , and enough of the old !!! , or the big lump may run into you on a dark night !     .
Springy
You missed the beer in the back pocket !!    
24th
I didnt get to the RD Hotel , we drove past it on the way to RD , from memory it's about 500 mtrs off the road , once you get to RD itself you wont think about going to the Hotel , as there is much to see and do at RD , we were only there for a day , but it's enough time to see what you need to see .
To all who have never been , and have been , and are thinking of going , I cant urge you enough to book next year , it seems it will run about the same time , which is late march through till April 11th or thereabouts . It's a little exy but you wont be disappointed , I cant wait for next year   . Oh , and the sunglasses .... we wear them all the time in Australia , it's a case of you have to , or you will suffer later in life , its well known down here that the ozone layer hasnt covered Australia since the 80's !    That's why we are also the leading skin cancer country of the world , I think they quote as high as 1 in 3 will get one down here ! Urghhhhh     . Pete does have a disk I sent him , which he will post the photos when he gets a chance ! .
I'll go easy on him as there are 936 of them !!! , and took nearly as many on my phone !!      
Cheers 90th

Certainly looking forward to the cascade of photos.   

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Trying his hand at spear throwing, and with me at Ulundi.

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Crossing he Ntombe, and at Campbell and Lloyd's grave on Hlobane (red shirt right).

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Here he is going down the Devil's Pass, Hlobane, and at the bottom (red shirt right).

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] And on Ntendeka ('the lower plateau of Hlobane) looking back up at Hlobane proper, with the Devil's Pass (which we'd just come down) in the centre.

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Driving a wagon at Blood River, and at Khambula.

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At the NMP memorial, iSandlwana, and climbing up to the 'last man' cave.

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At the 'last survivors' cave' and at the gate o the battlefield.

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At the 'last stand' cairns in the Manzimnyama valley (fugitives' trail) and with the rest of the group who did the trail walk.

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And his finest hour - waiting to cross at Fugitives' Drift (red shirt) - he wasn't looking forward to this at all! - and mid-stream (not looking back!).

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At the Buffalo (Mzinyathi) River at Rorke's Drift, and at Fort Melvill (left).

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Helpmekaar, and the whole group at Majuba, our last stop on the way back to Jo'burg.

Photo's and Text By Ian Knight. Zulu War Historian & Author. Holts Tours. 

Well done Gary
Memories for a life time, or until next year at least, see you there.   

Hear Hear, excellent!

I want to know how far that spear went! Some great photos.

Floating across in an arm chair, you lazy bugger.       Forgot the horse did you???   

90th "'last survivors' cave" Now you have see it close up. What's your view on the event could it have actually taken place. Fact or Fiction?

   , What a trip , truly sensational , great times and met some excellent people , who will be friends for life , one or two of which may return for next years tour !    
Impi
Sorry to say the photo looks far better than the actual result , I did come in second place from memory and wasnt beaten by a lot !   .
Springy
My horse was speared ............by an Aloe , nearing the river !    
Dave
I dont doubt the story of the last survivor , never have , as it's mentioned in Zulu Accounts , it just may not have been that cave , Ian said there are a couple more around the Mountain but we didnt go to those ones . But that cave had some sort of cover and could well have been the ' one '   , although it's small , I suppose a well aimed volley into , or at the cave , would have certainly made it difficult to survive it   
Cheers 90th

Hi All
The group of 3 photo's that has me at the NMP Memorial at Isandlwana , and the other , which has me climbing up to the cave , the Middle Photograph has me at the Graves of Abel & Rogers who were killed in the skirmish with the Prince Imperial on the 1st June 79 .   
90th   

So what takes place on these tours. Do you travel alone from the airport to Zululand or as a group.

Do you have any photos of the accommodation in the evening, where you all get together over a drink and discuss the days events

Are you able to visit the Isandlwana Battlefield in the evening or does it close.

Do you have the same guide throughout the trip.

What's the prices like for beer wine ect.

Is there Barbecues or is it a set table menu.

Are the guide present in the evening to answer and questions.

How much spending money would you suggest taking to ensure a good time is had!

Can one pay with a credit or debit card for drinks, food ect when visiting the various Battlefields.

Can trips to Isandlwana battlefield on horse back be arranged, or is that another tour altogether.

90th were there any pitfalls that you didn't expect during your tour, hidden costs ect. ?

Trip adviser reviews.

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Hi John
There were no ' Hidden ' pitfalls , but there were a couple of bonuses , those being Morme Gorge , The Scott - Douglas & Cotter Gravesite at Kwamagwasa . It is expensive but well worth it , as I said I'm going again next year !   .
90th

Chard I'll do my best to answer your many questions !   
I'm not to sure how it worked from the uk as I had to join them at Durban Airport , that is the starting point of the tour . But I can tell you that it seems all of you leaving from the uk meet at the airport ( Heathrow ) and travel together to J'burg then onto Durban . If you send me your private email address I'll send you the pics I took of the accommodation , which I can assure you is first class in my opinion . Isandlwana Battlefield closes at 6pm ( Dark ) , so no evening's on the actual battlefield , which you dont need to do , as you will spend a fair bit of time there anyway . The two guides being Ian Knight & Paul Marais are with us all trip , and they are excellent as you can imagine . The Tour was expensive , but all meals are covered , as is wine with the evening meal ( 6 or so bottles for the group , possibly a couple more ) , and on one or two instances for lunch from memory . Beer wasnt expensive by Aussie standards in the bar at night time , not sure about wine or spirits , but I never heard anyone complain about the prices . No BBQ's , all the evening meals are 3 course or Buffet affairs , B'fast is usually a Buffet as well , lunch can be Sandwiches , Rolls , Fruit , picnic hamper per person , or a two or three course meal at other times , you wont go hungry I can guarantee you of that . Ian and Paul are always available to answer questions , all us old buggers were usually in bed by 11 pm as you are usually knackered , and then up at 7 am or earlier , no sleep in's thats for sure   . I dont think you need much spending money as there isnt really anything you need to spend it on as everything is covered in your tour cost .
The only time you will need money is to buy souvenirs etc , which aren't overly expensive in any case . Ian will no doubt bring along a few books for people to purchase , he did sell all of them on this trip , and would've sold more if he had them ! LOL . From memory the tour cost about 4,500 GBP's which included all your airfares , meals , some drinks at dinner etc , all drinks during the day on the bus ; water , juices etc are also free , that price also includes a single room for yourself , it's cheaper if you
share , I think it was 4 or 500 quid cheaper by sharing . Go to the Holts Battlefield Tours website , look in Colonial Campaigns , the Zulu War Tour may still be on their site . Hope I've answered all your questions ? , feel free to ask for more info   
90th.   

I might add that a can of beer is around 60p. A whiskey and soda at a quid. At R18.20 to the pound SA is the best holiday destination around for value.

Hi Springy
I was trying to say that !     .    .
Cheers 90th.

Gotta advertise as much as we can, right now we need the foreign currency out illustrious leader needs to do some more extentions to his 258 million Rand house in Nkandla.       

Hi Springy
Yes I've seen his sprawling mansion from a distance , it was sitting atop a hill if I remember it correctly . I know our Sth African connection wasn't , and isn't very happy with the amount of funding that's been appropriated .      
Cheers 90th   

My bloody tax money in there. All R3 of it.   

Springy I'm sure he got some of mine as well !    
90th   

Strewth 90th,
Mate that does not look like a bonza technique for a cuddy wiffer throwing a spear, I bet you would struggle to beat a sheila throwing a stubby  

I'd love to give it a burl, but being a big old lump also we might do better having a go at a slab, end up rooted and chucking the empties. 

Ripper photo's by the way and thank you so much for taking the time out to send them.  
cheers
Richie

 No Worries Richie , happy to do so   
Cheers 90th