Nestled in the heart of South Africa, the Drakensberg Mountains stand as a majestic sentinel, guarding the nation’s rich history and natural beauty. This World Heritage Site not only offers breathtaking landscapes but also a glimpse into the past through its historical sites and memorials.
Known as uKhahlamba in the Zulu language, which translates to “Barrier of Spears,” the region is a living museum of South Africa’s past. In addition to Kwa-Zulu Natal battlefields, the Drakensberg is adorned with historical sites that reveal the region’s rich cultural heritage. Whether you’re fascinated by the tales of indigenous people, the clashes between colonial powers and local communities, or the legacy of Nelson Mandela, the Drakensberg offers a unique opportunity to connect with South Africa’s past.
They serve as reminders of the complex history of South Africa, the wars fought here and the effect they had in shaping the country.
Churchill Capture Site: This historically significant site commemorates the moment when Sir Winston Churchill, the British statesman and future Prime Minister, was captured during the Second Anglo-Boer War. The site, located near Estcourt on the Colenso road, is a popular tourist attraction and historical landmark in the region. Churchill, who was a young war correspondent at the time, was traveling on an armoured train with British troops when it was ambushed by Boer forces and he was taken as a prisoner of war. He was held captive for two months before escaping and making his way back to British lines.
Retief’s Klip: In the Northern Drakensberg, Retief’s Klip or Kerkenberg, is a stunning rock formation named after Piet Retief, a Voortrekker leader who was killed by the Zulus in 1838. After travelling from the Cape Voortrekker leader Piet Retief descended into the valleys of the Drakensberg and entered Natal in search of new lands and grazing for their cattle. While Retief went to meet the Zulu King Dingane to negotiate this, the remaining voortrekkers ascended to reach this area where they rested for a period. The name Kerkenberg means church as the shape of the mountains reminded the travellers of such.
Retief soon returned to tell the travellers the good news that they could settle in the land and he proposed Natal as the final destination of their migration and selected a location for its future capital, later named Pietermaritzburg in his honour. On the following day, Retief’s birthday, his daughter wrote his name in ash on one of the rocks where it can still be seen today. Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end happily, as Retief went on to be murdered by the Zulu King Dingane near Eshowe.
Kaalvoet Vrou: The Barefoot Woman is a bronze statue located close to Retief’s Klip at the top of the Drakensberg just in the Free State. It is located along the route that the Voortrekkers took up the side of the Drakensberg to get away from the British in Natal and commemorates Susanna Catharina Smit, sister of Gerrit Maritz, who is famous for saying that she would rather walk barefoot back across the Drakensberg than again have to live under the yoke of British rule, which they saw as oppressive and discriminatory.
Van Rensburg Kop: On the back road from Estcourt towards Mooi River, this particular site is a personal one for us because if the story that happened here had not unfolded as it did Magda (co-owner of Treks, Trips, ad Trails) would never have been born. This small hill marks the site of a battle that took place between a group of Voortrekkers and a large Zulu force. The Voortrekkers were outnumbered by the Zulus, but they managed to defend themselves by taking up a position on the top of the koppie. The Battle of Van Rensburg Kop was a significant event in the history of South Africa. It was one of the first major victories of the Voortrekkers over the Zulu people, and it helped to secure their position in the Natal region.
Spionkop: Also spelled Spioenkop. This hilltop in South Africa is located reasonably close to the town of Winterton. It is the site of the Battle of Spionkop, which was fought during the Second Boer War on the 24th of January 1900. The battle was a British defeat, but resulted in heavy casualties on both sides. The British forces trench at the summit of Spionkop (now marked by white stones) became the final resting place for many of the soldiers.
The legend goes (dispelled as a myth by some) that General Louis Botha, Winston Churchill and Mahatma Ghandi were all present at the same time on the top of Spionkop after the cessation of the battle and if any one of them had been inadvertently killed, especially Churchill or Ghandi, 20th century history would have been totally different. Today, it is a popular tourist destination, and it is also a place where many South Africans come to pay their respects to the fallen soldiers on both sides.
The Nelson Mandela Capture Site: The Nelson Mandela Capture Site is a historical landmark and museum in South Africa that commemorates the arrest of Nelson Mandela on 5 August 1962. The site is located on the R103 route in the Natal Midlands, approximately five kilometres outside of the town of Howick in KwaZulu-Natal and is a popular stop to visit on your way to the Drakensberg when travelling to or from Durban. Mandela’s arrest marked a significant turning point in the struggle against apartheid, and his subsequent imprisonment and release became iconic symbols of the fight for freedom and equality. The Nelson Mandela Capture Site Visitor Centre features a range of interactive exhibits and a display of historical artefacts and photographs. The most iconic feature however is a sculpture made up of 50 steel columns that reveal Mandela’s face when viewed from a particular angle.
So, what are you waiting for? Pay us a visit and discover not only the breath-taking scenery and the majesty of the mountains but the ever-present history that is just waiting to be explored and appreciated.