Battlefields is located in the Mashonaland West province in Zimbabwe. It is the ancestral home of the Zulu people and has experienced many bloody battles between the British, the Boers and the Zulus during the 19th century. Over the period of seventy years these plains, rolling hills and river valleys have seen numerous brutal, blood chilling conflicts over land ownership, political independence and the desire for colonial domination. There are numerous national monuments and historical museums which are best explored by driving. The region is full of poignant memories and commemorates moving and often bloody events such as the Battle of Spioenkop, the Battle of Isandlwana and the Battle of Rorke's Drift where thousands of innocent people lost their lives. But now with the passage of time the town has evolved and has become an ideal destination for holidays. It offers some of the spectacular hills and rock formations of this far-reaching landscape where fearless, spear-wielding soldiers of Zulu kings first encountered the rampant British power.
|Currency||:||South Africa's currency is the Rand (ZAR).|
|Geographic Coordination||:||18°36'S 29°50E|
The spine-chilling sights of the battleground will take you back in time when the golden history of this town was being written down. You will be lost in the mighty tales of the valiant soldiers who fought bravely in the battle and laid down their lives. Some of the very popular sites are :
Blood River/Ncome Heritage Site : The Voortrekkers, led by Andries Pretorius, prepared here for battle against the Zulu kingdom in oder to take revenge of the murder of Piet Retief.
Isandlwana Hill : This place astounded the British Empire in what was to be the worst defeat in the history of their imperial warfare.
Ladysmith Siege Museum : The museum is considered to be one of the best Anglo-Boer War museums in the country. It narrates the famous legend of the 'Heroic Hundred' who fought against the Zulus.
Albert Falls Dam Nature Reserve : The source of the uMngeni River lies in the uMngeni Vlei area, an ancient wetland bounded by hills.
Chelmsford Nature Reserve : This reserve is situated on the Ngagane River, just seventy kilometers from Ladysmith. It is the third largest dam in KwaZulu Natal, a excellent place for water sports like swimming, sun bathing, surfing etc.
Ntendeka Wilderness Area : South Africa's smallest and arguably most beautiful wilderness area is Ntendeka, consisting of dense forests and dramatic cliffs with breathtaking waterfalls.
|Languages||:||Afrikaans, English are the languages used.|
The town gives you a comprehensive shopping experience although it doesn't have big shopping centers. But some of the main shopping centers are Ladysmith's Murchison Mall & Vryheid.