Blood River Battlefield, Dundee
The Battle of Blood River, Bloed River in Afrikaans, is the site of one of the most famous conflicts in South African history and an important site on South Africa's Battlefield Route. The Voortrekkers, under the command of Andries Pretorius, defeated King Dingane's impi or Zulu army at this site in 1838. The Blood River Monument and Ncome Museum, located on the opposite side of the Ncome River, tell the story from two different perspectives. The monument... Read More is a tribute to the Battle of Blood River. The museum is a memorial to the Zulu army as well as a Zulu cultural center. Events include monthly performances of traditional isiZulu and seSotho songs.
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Laager
 
Blood River Heritage SiteVoortrekkers, like other peoples such as nomadic Gypsies and American pioneers, laid out their wagons in a circular formation as a defense against raiders and nocturnal animals. These circular fortifications, called a laager in Afrikaans, were an improvised military camp. To pinch horses, cattle or goods raiders and animals had to slip between linked vehicles. And while the laager at Blood River Battlefield does not include original wagons the cast-bronze carts on display are identical to those used by Voortrekkers in 1838. |