Ladysmith

History

The Anglo Boer War dominates recorded history in this area. On October 30, 1899 (Mournful Monday), Boer forces started a siege on the town after British troops retreated there following their defeat at the Battle of Modderstroom. The siege lasted 118 days before British reinforcements arrived and were able to put an end to it.
Sir Winston Churchill gives a good account of the siege (and of the Anglo Boer War in general) in his book London to Ladysmith via Pretoria.

By car

Follow the N11 from the N3 for about 20km.

By air

• Castor and PolluxTwin British Howitzers used to defend the town during the Anglo Boer war.

• MOTH Museum

  phone: +27 36 637-3762

• Siege Museum

  phone: +27 36 637-2992

• Soofie MosqueA beautiful mosque that has been declared a National Monument.

• Statue of Gandhi

  phone: +27 36 637-7777
  address: Lord Vishnu Temple
  Mohandas Gandhi was a stretcher bearer after the Siege of Ladysmith and during the Battle of Spioenkop.

• Wagon Hill/Platrand Monument and Museum

  phone: +27 36 637-2992
  address: Wagon Hill/Platrand Battlefield
  A monument and museum in memory of those who died during the Anglo Boer War

• Spioenkop

  address: 30km outside Ladysmith
  Site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Anglo Boer War, mainly comprising British troops from the Lancashire Brigade. Winston Churchill, working as a war correspondent wrote, "Many of the wounds were of a horrible nature...." There are hiking trails through the complete battlefield (a map is available from the attendant), but be prepared for quite a walk; turn of the century battles covered quite a large area.

• Ladysmith Black-MambazoGet their CD. CNA, Game or any of the music stores in town will stock one.

• Idwala Lodge

  phone: +27 78 803-5545

• Platrand Lodge

  phone: +27 36 631-0204
  address: Fourie's Kraal Farm, next to the Ladysmith airfield

• Royal Hotel

  phone: +27 36 637-2176
  address: 140 Murchison Street

• The Royal Natal National Park is an hour's drive away.
• Spioenkop Nature Reserve and dam
• Cathedral Peak and Champagne Castle in the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park