Bike & Battle

Arrive at Base Camp by 15h00 for a briefing and a casual acclimatization ride at 16h00 (explore the environs of base camp and overview of the area). This might include a short bit of night riding, so bring some lights. At dinner there will be overview of Anglo-Zulu War by historian/raconteur and a detailed briefing of the first full day on the trail.

To get the best idea of all leading up to the battle, riders will transfer (own cars) to the Isandlwana Museum. The raconteurs will be on hand for a short tour of the museum before riders take off on the trails of the area. the route will take the riders into the most rural part of the old Zululand where the Zulu Army was giving Lord Chelmsford and his troop a real ‘run-around’. After a break at Chelmsford’s breakfast spot, there’s short hike-a-bike to the plateau and awesome single track descent to Mangeni Falls on rough cattle trails. Mangeni is the ‘tea stop’ where a raconteur will fill the riders in on Chelmsford’s plans to make camp there. From Mangeni the route is along the ridge roughly following the British Army’s route back to Isandlwana. After a break and lunch at the battle site, riders will hear a full recount of the batlle and its aftermath. It’s then a short way back to cars and transfer back to the base. Evening dinner, usual festivities and briefing of the next day follow.

As for the previous day, riders transfer to the start near the Buffalo River in their own cars. The route runs largely in communal lands between the two main battle sites with the ride being from the Buffalo to and around the entire Isandlwana site before returning roughly on the original wagon trail supply line from Rorke’s Drift to Isandlwana which also served as the retreat for many of the British soldiers. The ‘tea stop’ is at Dunford’s Donga where the raconteurs will fill in more if it’s importance. Finally the riders cross the bridge over the Buffalo just above the original drift and make their way to the outpost for lunch and to hear the full story of the defense of Rorke’s Drift.

Due to popular demand from previous Bike & Battle participants, Adventure Day has a more technical bias on trails very seldom ridden. Less adventurous riders need not worry as an easier route is planned to still challenge the riders, but within their comfort zone. At first riders follow a dirt road to the commercial farm area from where there is a long climb on rough farm tracks to the foot of the Helpmekaar escarpment. here the routes split with the easier route contouring along the foot of the escarpment while the riders keen on a nice technical descent have a hike-a-bike up to the wagon trail above. The rewards trump the climb to the top of the Wagon Trail, with no doubt every rider having their skills tested on the descent before meeting the easier route back in the farmlands. While riding the last few kilometers on district road back to base there will no doubt be much chatter between the riders as they take in the Battlefields Experience.