The landscape of the central region of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is dotted with small industrial towns and rolling farmland, but its compelling history makes up for what it lacks in scenic drama.
This area is better known as the Battlefields, and still bears the scars of the South African wars: the Zulu-Boer War (1838-1879), the Anglo-Zulu War (1879-1896) and the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). There are dozens of battlefield sites to visit, from simple graves marked with a plaque or cairn of stones to elaborate memorials marking important and strategic battlefields. The most evocative are those at Isandlwana, Rorke's Drift and Blood River. The best way to appreciate the history is to go on an organized tour; with a good guide the dramatic stories can be very moving.
The battlefields area is approximately four hours from both Johannesburg and Durban.
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