In the first half of the 19th century, desire for independence from British rule drove large numbers of Afrikaners, mainly farmers, away from the settled areas into the then unpopulated hinterland. Conditions on the Great Trek were harsh and dangerous but it achieved its aim of independence for the Transvaal (1852) and the Orange Free State (1854).

This however was the age of Empire and in 1877 the Union Jack flew over Pretoria. Following the defeat of the Zulus in 1879, negotiations between the British and the Boers broke down and fighting broke out, leading to the humiliating defeat of the British at Majuba Hill in February 1881. The life of the new republic was short. With the discovery of diamonds in Kimberley and Gold in the Transvaal the Afrikaner way of life was again threatened by an influx of ‘Uitlanders’ keen to make their fortunes. The conflict began again.

This was a war of huge distances, sieges and guerrilla warfare where deaths from dysentery outnumbered those from weapons. The British failure to achieve a quick victory, the sieges of Kimberly, Ladysmith and Mafeking and the failure of attempts to relieve these key places was severely damaging to British prestige. The war dragged on, battles gave way to guerrilla fighting and the burning of farms, leaving a bitter and enduring legacy.

We travel from the beautiful hilly country of northern Natal, to the open veldt around Kimberley. This is a good time of year to enjoy these largely untouched, interesting places; days will be warm, the nights crisp and clear. Our historian is the writer and presenter Ian Knight whose encyclopaedic knowledge brings the period to life.

ITINERARY
Day 1 (Monday): Fly overnight London – Johannesburg (or overnight in Natal if you are combining the two tours).
Day 2: Arrive at Johannesburg and drive to Natal and the battlefields of 1881; the pass at Laings Nek and the battle of Majuba.
Day 3: At Dundee we find out what happened at Talana Hill, then to Elandslaagte, where Sir John French’s cavalry put the Boers to flight. After lunch we will study the Siege of Ladysmith, visiting the Platrand, the ridge dominating the south side of the town and scene of the only serious Boer attack, and look at Caesar’s Camp and Waggon Hill.
Day 4: Today we look at the attempts to relieve the siege. Boer forces stretched along the Tugela river and commanded the heights above. We will study the ground, the high cost of crossing the river, the loss of the guns at Colenso and the eventual capture of the hills south of the town. The siege was finally relieved on 28 February 1900.
Days 5 & 6: We look at the British disaster at Spion Kop, one of the most emotive battlefields of the Boer War, where the long mass grave bears witness to the poor planning and murderous short range fire-fight. We then drive west, staying overnight in the foothills of the Drakensburg. On to Kimberley where will see the Big Hole, visit the fine McGregor museum and the memorials to the missing of the war.
Day 7: Today we study the action of the relieving forces at the Modder River and visit one of the blockhouses along the railway (built after the siege was raised). The Boers withdrew to the hills at Magersfontein, the last major obstacle on the road to Kimberley. Here the their skilful use of the ground and accurate fire caused heavy casualties and the British withdrew, back to the Modder.
Day 8: To-day we examine the eventual victories that ended the campaign in the Northern Cape. General Sir John French led a mounted force around the Boers eastern flank, and Kimberley was relieved on 15 February. Piet Cronje moved west with 400 wagons, which were surrounded near Paardeberg; He surrendered on 27 February, the anniversary of Majuba. The war of battles was almost over. Guerilla warfare was about to begin.
Day 9: Fly back to Johannesburg then take the overnight flight to London, arriving in the early morning of Wednesday 5th May.