Rorke's Drift day tour from Durban: Two 1879 battlefields
You stand on the exact ground where the British and Zulu fought in 1879
A full-day guided tour from Durban to Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana Battlefield in KwaZulu-Natal, where you walk the sites of the 1879 Zulu War battles. Your guide describes what happened at each location, starting with the museum at Rorke's Drift, then moving to Isandlwana where the British camp was overrun. The drive itself passes through the landscape where these events unfolded.
Step-by-step itinerary
Visit Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana Battlefields
- Explore Rorke’s Drift Museum
- Walk the Isandlwana Battlefield
- Rorke’s Drift Museum Entry included 2h
- Isandlwana Battlefield Entry included 2h
What’s included
- Your guide speaks English and walks you through both sites.
- entry to the Rorke's Drift Museum and Isandlwana Battlefield.
- all fees and taxes.
- hotel pickup from Durban.
Times
- Every day 06:00
Before you book
Operated by Durban Safaris and Tours
Prices and times updated 4 days ago
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The experience
The tour centers on two battlefields from January 1879. At Rorke's Drift, you'll explore a small museum and stand where the British defended a mission station against a Zulu assault on the 22nd and 23rd. Your guide walks you through what happened that night. Then you move to Isandlwana, where on the 22nd the Zulu army descended on an unprepared British camp and destroyed it. You get to walk that battlefield and see the ground from the British positions.
A qualified guide travels with you the whole day, pointing out interesting sites along the route and explaining the landscape of KwaZulu-Natal as you drive. The guide speaks English and carries the knowledge to help you understand not just the events themselves but why they mattered and how the terrain shaped what happened. This is not a rushed stop-and-go. You have time to absorb each location.
The day is long (a full 12 hours from pickup to return), which is what it takes to reach both sites from Durban, spend real time at each one, and drive through the country in between. Pickup is included, so you don't arrange transport yourself. Children from age 12 can join. Younger children can come but the walking and the pace are built for older kids and adults.
Is this one for you?The guide delivers the tour in English, so you need to follow spoken commentary to get the most from it. If you're comfortable with that and want to stand on the actual ground where these battles happened rather than read about them, this full-day format gives you the time to absorb both sites.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (15 to 18 years); Child (12 to 14 years). Children under 12 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What exactly happened at Rorke's Drift in 1879?
On the night of 22–23 January 1879, a small British garrison at a mission station defended against a massive Zulu assault. The museum at the site tells that story, and your guide walks you through the defense and what made it significant in the broader Zulu War.
Can I actually walk on the Isandlwana Battlefield?
Yes. Isandlwana is the site where the British camp was overrun on 22 January 1879, and the tour takes you onto that ground so you can see the terrain and understand how the battle unfolded from the positions where the British stood.
How long is the drive from Durban to the battlefields?
The full day is 12 hours, which includes the drive to both sites, time spent at each location, and the return to Durban. Most of that time is on the road and at the battlefields themselves, not in transit between them.
What's included in the tour price?
The guide, entry to both the museum and the battlefields, all fees and taxes, and hotel pickup from Durban are included. Tips and purchases of souvenirs or curios are separate.
Rorke's Drift day tour from Durban: Two 1879 battlefields
12h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 261 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.