• International edition
  • Australia edition
  • Europe edition

Murdered in Rorke's Drift, the man they called the 'white Zulu'

When David Rattray told a story, people listened. Whether around the roaring log fire of his South African lodge or out on a rocky outcrop in the majestic KwaZulu-Natal landscape, his arms flung out to emphasise a point, the historian was famous for keeping his audience spellbound.

Dubbed the 'white Zulu' after the tribespeople he championed, hero of reconciliation in a post-apartheid South Africa, friend of royalty and acclaimed author, Rattray had become an impassioned expert in the history of his country and almost single-handedly preserved accounts of heroism on both sides of the Anglo-Zulu war of 1879.

Late on Friday night, on his beloved Fugitive's Drift lodge he had built with his wife Nicky, the 48-year-old father of three was murdered, shot three times by six intruders who fled empty-handed. Police said the motive for the attack was unclear.

Yesterday black and white, famous and ordinary South Africans joined in a nationwide mourning. According to his wife, Rattray had pushed her to the floor out of the gunman's way before he was hit. The couple's three sons were away at school at the time and were yesterday on their way home to be with their mother.

Among Rattray's fans was the Prince of Wales, who was said to have been reduced to tears by Rattray's stories when he visited his lodge near the battlefield of Rorke's Drift with Prince Harry after Princess Diana's death in 1997. 'The prince was shocked and deeply saddened to hear of David Rattray's death,' said his spokesman.

The murder has thrown fuel on the already burning controversy in South Africa over raging crime rates, among the world's highest: there were 18,528 murders in South Africa last year alone, more than 50 a day.

President Thabo Mbeki is seeking to play down the crime crisis as the country prepares to host the 2010 football World Cup, but government officials were outspoken in denouncing Rattray's killing.

Sibusiso Ndebele, premier of KwaZulu-Natal province, said: 'David Rattray was a huge asset to our country who helped develop cultural tourism to promote economic development and alleviate poverty. His murder will fill all peace-loving South Africans with disgust.'

Ndebele said the South African government would 'see to it that those responsible for this vile murder are brought to justice'.

Rattray was the pre-eminent historian of South Africa's Zulu kingdom. Fluent in the language, he had talked to hundreds of people and gathered the oral histories that chronicled the stunning 1879 military victory against the British army at Isandlwana, portrayed in the film Zulu starring Michael Caine and Stanley Baker. He is credited as the first to write the history from the Zulu point of view and to help restore the proud reputation of Zulus, South Africa's largest ethnic group.

Rattray developed a thriving tourism business at the battle sites of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift, trooping visitors across the hillsides and transforming the landscape for them into a tapestry of struggle and bloodshed but also of reconciliation and hope. He described the violence between the British and the Zulus as a senseless tragedy and worked through tourism to help communities. Rattray told 'not only the history of his beloved South Africa but also about the miracle that he saw us living through today', said his wife Nicky.

'Tens of thousands of people from Prince Charles to KwaZulu schoolchildren have listened to this unique South African deliver his message of nation building and reconciliation,' she added. 'This famous son of South Africa now joins the unacceptable list of citizens who have lost their lives to the senseless banditry that is engulfing this country.' She added that business would continue as normal at Fugitives' Drift lodge, 'which is how David would have wanted it'.

Yesterday people were arriving from miles around to gather outside the house, according to family friend Mark Reid.

'There is a high level of anxiety in the veld around here. There is a buzz. Zulu people are coming from all over. A 90-year-old woman just arrived after walking 15 kilometres. She is sobbing. It is a tumultuous, traumatic time for the whole community,' said Reid.

'There was no more eloquent champion of contemporary South Africa. David spoke so movingly, saying that we have the potential to be the nation that we have worked so hard for,' said Reid. 'There was a fervour and light in his eyes when he spoke, whether to the famous or the unknown, about reconciliation in our country. He was a world-class speaker, blessed with an amazing intellect and a big heart.'

Guides to the battlefields, trained by Rattray, have been turning up all day to offer to help keep the tours going.

South African historian Kingsley Holgate said he believed Rattray had been killed by Zulus, who make up the majority in KwaZulu-Natal. 'How tragic that a man who gave his life to preserving the Zulu culture and bravery of the old Zulu order ended his life at the hands of the Zulus.'

Of his battle tales Rattray once said: 'They excite within us emotions which many of us in this modern age try to suppress'. The Zulus loved the British and the British always portrayed the Zulus as a people of great nobility and dignity,' he said. 'It is a tragedy that two nations with such affection and respect for each other ended up fighting and killing each other.'

Speaking last week on South African radio, Rattray said: 'Our history is inspiring and it is alive. Nothing is more exciting that what we are accomplishing in South Africa today.'

On the plain of Isandlwana, sprinkled with little heaps of white gravestones from the last century, South Africans' hopes for the future have had a tragic setback.

The zulu war

On the plains of Isandlwana, where David Rattray built his ranch in 1989, Britain suffered the worst of its colonial defeats with the slaughter of 1,200 men in one afternoon on 22 January, 1879.

At nearby Rorke's Drift soldiers fought what is regarded as one of the bravest British battles ever when one group of 120 troops held firm against 4,000 Zulu warriors. Ordered to defend their small supply base and its tiny hospital the vastly outnumbered soldiers resisted wave after wave of warriors so that by dawn the regiment's rifle barrels glowed red hot.

Eleven Victoria Crosses were won - the highest number ever awarded for a single battle.

In 1999 a monument to the war - portrayed in the Sixties film Zulu starring Michael Caine - was put up. At the ceremony Rattray moved soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Wales's 1st Battalion and Zulu soldiers from the 121 South African Infantry Battalion to tears as he recounted the story. 'They were incredibly brave,' he said. 'They just never gave up.'

  • The Observer
  • South Africa
  • South Africa holidays

Most viewed

Call: 020 7843 3500 Enquire Now Enquire Now

  • Wishlist ( 0 )
  • Our Experts
  • Travel Tips >

An Introduction to Douglas Rattray

Joining us on our exclusive escorted tour, The History and Culture of South Africa will be one of the sons of the late and legendary David Rattray. Douglas or Andrew will be taking guests on a guided tour of some of the important battlefields of the Anglo-Zulu War, bringing the history of these extraordinary sites back to life. We recently had the pleasure of speaking to Douglas, to discover a bit more about him and find out what makes the featured battlefields on the tour such fascinating places to visit. 

An introduction to Douglas Rattray  

Douglas Rattray is the middle son of Nicky and David Rattray, and grew up at Fugitive's Drift learning of the stories of the Zulu people and their history from his father and the local community. After finishing boarding school at Michaelhouse in the Natal Midlands, he went off to study conservation in the Western Cape. He completed the practical component of his conservation diploma at Tswalu Game Reserve in the Kalahari, after which he made his way back home, to Fugitive's Drift, where he now lives and works. 

Doug is passionate about military history, South Africa's people and their history, and conservation. He takes great pride and pleasure in taking guests of Fugitive's Drift Lodge and Guest House out to the battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift, and recounting the stories of two of the most poignant battles of the Anglo-Zulu War; two important battles in British military history. 

What can you expect on one of the battlefields tours?

Informative, immersive, and often emotionally charged tours to the battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift leave guests with a better understanding of the valour, courage, and discipline of the British soldiers and Zulu warriors. The stories are told through the eyes of the men who fought and died on these battlefields; they relay the personal experiences of the combatants, focusing on the individual detail. 

Why particularly are the battles of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift so important?

As one author has put it, the 22nd January 1879 reads like a great Shakespearean tragedy, opening with the disaster at Isandlwana and closing with the restoration of the British military honour at Rorke's Drift. 

This campaign was fought at the height of the British Empire, and was in fact the first campaign to be well covered by the British Press. The battle at Isandlwana constituted what was arguably the greatest defeat that the British Empire suffered in her entire colonial history. The battlefield of Isandlwana is immaculately preserved and is regarded as one of the most unspoiled battlefields on earth. It is the site of the greatest triumph of the Zulu Nation, and one of the best examples of resistance to white colonial rule in South Africa. 

The battle of Rorke's Drift, which followed almost immediately from the defeat at Isandlwana, is one of the most famous battles that Britain ever fought. In a single action, a brave little band of 139 soldiers - many of whom were sick and disabled - held off over 4,000 Zulu warriors during a battle that raged for over 10 hours, in the dark. This battle saw eleven Victoria Crosses awarded, and five distinguished combat medals. Aside from being an inspiring story of courage in the face of overwhelming odds, the battle was immortalised in the famous film Zulu. 

Sign up for our newsletter

Africa travel latest, a guide to hot air balloon safaris in africa.

Thought that nothing could beat the thrill of being in a safari vehicle as it bounds along in search of the resident wildlife? Think again – think hot air balloon.

Chris Wain: Named one of the World's Top Travel Specialists 2024

Africa Travel's Chris Wain has once again been named one of the world's top travel specialists by Conde Nast Traveler.

A Guide To Golfing Holidays In South Africa

Get the lowdown on golfing holidays in South Africa.

A Guide To Birding Safaris In Africa

Felicity Balcomb

Discover why Africa truly is a bird lover's paradise.

A Guide To South Africa's Flora & Fauna

Julia Melim

Get the lowdown on South Africa's flora and fauna.

A Guide To Malaria Free Safaris In South Africa

Discover our run down of the top malaria-free safari destinations in South Africa.

A Gourmet Guide To Cape Town

Discover the flavours of Cape Town with our gourmet guide to the Mother City.

A Guide To Kosher Safari Holidays In Africa

Discover how easy it is to enjoy a Kosher safari in Africa.

The Best Places To See The Big Five

Discover the best places to see the Big Five from our Africa experts.

The Cape Region: A Foodie's Paradise

Read our blog and discover why South Africa's Cape Region is a foodie's paradise.

Tailor-made Request Form

Please complete the below details so that we can forward you a personalised holiday quotation

Please note that due to the fluctuating currency at this time, all quotes are subject to change at time of booking.

Fugitive's Drift

rattray battlefields tours

Top ways to experience Fugitive's Drift and nearby attractions

rattray battlefields tours

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Clarky57

Fugitive's Drift - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

  • (0.65 mi) Fugitives Drift Lodge
  • (5.61 mi) Isandlwana Lodge
  • (5.50 mi) Rorke's Drift Lodge
  • (4.45 mi) Rorke's Drift Hotel
  • (7.37 mi) Gecko's View

Zululand & the Battlefields Holidays

The road from Empangeni on the coast up into the hills is very beautiful. It winds through sugar cane fields that give way to orange groves and banana plantations as the landscape becomes increasingly hilly. These are the fertile hills of Zululand, traditional homeland of the Zulu people. The word Zulu means ‘heaven’ and Zululand, or KwaZulu is ‘the place of heaven’. Although famous battlefields bear witness to historic conflicts, this is peaceful farming country where people still enjoy a rich culture and live pretty much as they have always done.

Anglo Zulu War

More than a century after the events, 20,000 British people still visit the battlefields every year! This is about much more than a battle.

These events are imprinted on the psyche of both the British and the Zulu. These hills witnessed the first major military defeat inflicted upon the forces of the British Empire by colonised peoples - before the tables turned so that, for over a century, a proud warrior people was reduced to a nation of miners and garden boys.

A visit to the battlefields is one of the most fascinating things you can do in South Africa and, unless that is your thing, it has nothing to do with military history.  It is about the relationships between the British crown and its subjects, and between white man and Zulu. It is about Zulu society, and about what happened when people of the Victorian age were tested to extremes.

Battlefield Tours

The Battlefield Tours have evolved out of the unique historical re-telling developed by the late David Rattray at Fugitives Drift , his protégé Rob Gerrard, guide at Isandlwana Lodge , Rob Caskie and a small group of other inspired guides who lead tours out of these lodges. Nothing can prepare you for the impact of standing at Rorke’s Drift at sunset and listening to one of these great raconteur-historians re-tell the events of that heroic night, when a force of around a hundred British soldiers warded off an attack by 4000 Zulu warriors.

See these sample itineraries that include Battlefield Tours:

KwaZulu Natal self-drive tour KwaZulu Natal deluxe self-drive holiday

Contact us, if you'd like to talk one-to-one about holidays in KwaZulu Natal and South Africa in general.

Shelley Phillips

Shelley Phillips

Travel Specialist

Explore South-Africa

South-africa combinations.

Fugitives' Drift Guest House image 1

Fugitives' Drift Guest House

Fugitives' Drift Guest House offers alternative accommodation on the Fugitives' Drift Reserve, just five minutes away fr...

Fugitives' Drift Lodge image 1

Fugitives' Drift Lodge

You feel steeped in history at Fugitives' Drift Lodge.The main building stands on 5000 acres, close to Rorke’s...

Isandlwana Lodge image 1

Isandlwana Lodge

Isandlwana Lodge has a spectacular setting high up against Nyoni Rock, where the Zulu commander stood during the Battle ...

 alt=

Three Tree Hill Lodge

Three Tree Hill Lodge overlooks Spioenkop battlefield, near Ladysmith. Its wood and iron construction is designed to res...

KwaZulu Natal - Self Drive image 1

KwaZulu Natal - Self Drive

If a 'sun-lounger' holiday is not your thing, this exciting two-week tour of South Africa's KwaZulu Natal, packed with o...

KwaZulu Natal Meander - Culture, Wildlife & Beach - Self Drive image 1

KwaZulu Natal Meander - Culture, Wildlife & Beach - Self Drive

Our KwaZulu Natal Meander is a relaxed two-week South Africa self-drive holiday. The journey includes a stay at a stunni...

South Africa road trip around KwaZulu Natal image 1

South Africa road trip around KwaZulu Natal

Pick up your hire car (comprehensive cover!) and start your journey through KwaZulu-Natal. On this 12-day self-drive adv...

Looking for inspiration?

You'll find expert travel guides, holiday ideas and insider tips now on the Rainbow blog

Top 5 First Time Safari Destinations

Top 5 First Time Safari Destinations

Salar De Uyuni - The World's Largest Salt Flat

Salar De Uyuni - The World's Largest Salt Flat

Sarah Frankish

10 Strange Animals and Where to Go to See them

Candice Buchan

Top five South Africa Safari lodges

Sustainable Tourism In Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Sustainable Tourism In Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Why choose us, passionate travel experts.

  • We've been leading wildlife travel since our first South Africa tours over 25 years ago
  • Our Travel Specialists have lived in their specialist area for years
  • We work with local guides to immerse you deeper in our diverse range of experiences

Personal & tailor-made

  • You'll speak to your own expert who'll share their first-hand knowledge
  • We'll make your itinerary seamless with 24/7 emergency contact available
  • Your Travel Specialist will listen to ensure you have the best chance of seeing the wildlife you love

Responsible by nature

  • We take care to actively contribute to the conservation of environments we visit
  • For select countries, we make a charitable donation on your behalf when you make your booking
  • We've partnered with conservation experts and NGOs to curate responsible tours

British Travel Awards Crest

For the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office check www.gov.uk/travelaware

Sign up to our newsletter

rattray battlefields tours

Subscribe for our newsletter and to hear about exciting offers and experiences

Stay in Touch

ITC Travel Group logo

Rainbow Tours is part of ITC travel group and is a trading name of International Travel Connections Limited, Bridgetown House, 80 Lower Bridge Street, Chester, CH1 1RU Registered in England No. 01030986 Vat No. GB 203 9167 24

Sarah Frankish

Make an Enquiry

We just need a few details about your trip so we can create a bespoke quote for you.

Your travel plans

Thanks for your enquiry.

You're one step closer to your next wild and wonderful adventure.

One of our knowledgeable Travel Specialists will now be assigned to your enquiry. They'll contact you as soon as possible to share their expert knowledge and start planning your trip.

In the meantime, why not find out more about our responsible tourism efforts?

Thanks for your brochure request

Your brochure is on its way.

Battlefields Route

Battlefields Region Guides cover a variety of sites and areas of interest and persons seeking a Guide are advised to check the whole list in order to select the most suitable Guides for their trip.

Specialities

  • Battlefields
  • Zulu Culture
  • Wildlife/Birding/Nature
  • National Guide – Registered to guide throughout South Africa
  • Provincial Guide – Registered to guide in KwaZulu-Natal
  • Site Guide – Registered to guide on specific sites only
  • Special Focus – Special field if interest and speciality. Not all guides offer tours to all battlefields.

Armstrong, Des

rattray battlefields tours

Desmond Armstrong

  • Voortrekker, Second Anglo Boer War

Based in Howick, Desmond has a strong affiliation for his Irish roots and the Irish connection with the battlefields of KZN. A tour with him brings out of the Irish blarney, poetry and tales of the men and their links with the “home country”. Over thirty years of reading about and travelling around the area has given him an extensive knowledge of the battlefields from a very different perspective.

Tel: 033 330 8390 / 083 449 7709

Email: [email protected]

Arendse, Brandyne

rattray battlefields tours

Brandyne Arendse

  • Voortrekker, Zulu history, Anglo Zulu War, First and Second Anglo Boer War

Brandyne Arendse is a qualified battlefields guide for KZN. His passion for the history of this province has taken him to the remotest corners and investigated sites way of the beaten track. His wide knowledge of remote areas and seldom visited sites is remarkable and he is constantly out and about visiting sites and listening to the stories from people in these areas.

Tel: 082 775 2400

Email: [email protected]

Baker, Warwick

rattray battlefields tours

Warwick Baker

  • Voortrekker, Zulu History, Anglo Zulu War, First and Second Anglo Boer War

Warwick Baker is a specialist battlefields guide based in Durban. His interest in battlefields of KZN stems from childhood. An avid collector of Africana, he has done considerable research over the years and presents a view that is totally unbiased. Warwick tailors tours to suit client’s needs. He is also a provincial guide for KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, wild life and rock art.

Tel: +27(0)31 267 1163 / +27(0)82 417 5248

Email: [email protected]

Blackburn, Simon

rattray battlefields tours

Simon Blackburn

  • Spioenkop, Ladysmith and Relief of Ladysmith Battles

Simon Blackburn, with his wife Cheryl co-owner of Three Tree Hill Lodge at Spioenkop. He studied Zoology and started guiding in 1994, with experience at Singita ( 10 years), Kwando Safaris (3 years), Botswana, and many years at Three Trees at Spioenkop. He is a FGASA Level III DG Nature Guide, SATOUR KZN Tourist Guide #112, Botswana qualified guide and specialises in Walking Trails in Big 5 areas, and the historical sites of the Anglo Boer War in the Ladysmith area, with particular emphasis on Spioenkop and Colenso.

Tel: +27(0)36 448 1171 / +27(0)82 379 1864

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.threetreehill.co.za

Botterill, Don

rattray battlefields tours

Don Botterill

  • Anglo Zulu War, Second Anglo Boer War Battles

Don Botterill is a KZN registered tour guide specialising in one and two day tours to the Battlefields. His interest in Battlefields history stems from the involvement of his great grandfather who was sent to South Africa as part of Lord Chelmsford’s forces in 1878 resulting in four generations of his family becoming born and bred KZ Natalians. Don’s tours are personalised single party groups in a reliable and comfortable vehicle with all permits and licences in place. Visitors gain a true understanding of Zulu and Boer history and culture of the times as well as British Colonial attitudes.Don brings the battles back to life by explaining the strategies and retracting the footprints of the combatants and discussing the bravery and suffering of the men involved and examining the weapons of the time.

Tel: +27(0)031 764 3063 / +27(0)82 456 1805

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.daytourskzn.co.za

Caskie, Rob

rattray battlefields tours

Rob Caskie works on a freelance basis involved mainly in lectures on the Anglo-Zulu War. Rob Caskie is a charismatic and engaging storyteller whose imaginative talks are lifelike as he takes you through the battles of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. He is a guest lecturer on tours to the Antarctic and Alaska. Based in the Western Cape and is available to guests who wish to engage his services.

Tel: +27(0)82 4000 470

Email: [email protected]

Coleman, Anthony

rattray battlefields tours

Anthony Coleman

Anthony Coleman was awarded the KwaZulu-Natal Service Excellence Award – Best Tourist Guide of the Year, 2008-2009. He has led many general and specialist tours within KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa and has established a reputation as a professional and accomplished Guide/lecturer with an easy going but informative manner. Anthony is also an accredited Trainer and assessor for Tourist Guides and is a qualified National Guide. He has consistently been complemented as being passionate knowledgeable and fair in his narration of the incredible events that have made our history the most remarkable in the world.

Tel: +27(0)34 212 3401 / +27(0)72 204 2986

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.battlescenes.co.za

Durham, Elisabeth

rattray battlefields tours

Elisabeth Durham

  • Isandlwana, Rorkes Drift, Prince Imperial, Blood River

Elisabeth Durham was born in France and regularly conducts tours in both English and French. She is also available as a translator for French speaking groups. She conducts tours to Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift, Talana, the site where Louis Napoleon, Prince Imperial of France was killed.

Tel: +27(0)34 212 1014 / +27(0)72 779 5949

Email: [email protected]

Duval, Pierre

rattray battlefields tours

Pierre Duval

  • Anglo Zulu War Battles, Second Anglo Boer War

Pierre Duval has an unbelievable love for South Africa. Since a child he has grabbed every opportunity to explore the countryside. While specializing in nature, Pierre has an excellent knowledge of the country’s historical and cultural side. He is one of the few tour guides that are accredited on a national level, allowing him to tour the whole country. He has been guiding full time since 1998, and is the owner of BushBaby Safaris.

Tel: +27(0)82 466 8350

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.bushbaby.co.za

Friend, Sean

rattray battlefields tours

Sean Friend

  • First and Second Anglo Boer Wars, Anglo Zulu Wars

Sean Friend is a Specialist History Guide based in Newcastle. He takes tours to the 1879 Zulu War and 1899 Boer War sites, but Majuba Mountain and the battles of the Transvaal War of Independence are his current favourites. He also conducts tours to Hlobane, Kambula, Ntombe Drift and other sites in the Vryheid area, as he spent many years living in Vryheid.

He also does lectures on the South African defence Force (SADF) in the Angolan / SWA Border War.

Tel: +27 82 367 9100

Email: [email protected]

Garner, Paul

rattray battlefields tours

Paul Garner

  • Anglo Zulu War Battles

Paul Garner is a guide with over 30 years’ experience leading tours in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana, including expeditions in search of the Lost City of the Kalahari. He has an abiding passion for Africa, its history, fauna and flora, with a special interest in Birding, Battlefields and Rock Art. He is an active member of The Wildlife and Environmental Society, The Endangered Wildlife Trust, Birdlife South Africa and the South African Archaeological Society.

Tel: +27(0)34 212 1931 / +27(0)82 472 3912

Email: [email protected]

Gordon, Allan

rattray battlefields tours

Allan Gordon

  • Anglo Boer War Battles

Allan Gordon is a registered tour guide who has a passionate interest in the battles of the South Africa African War, the Anglo-Zulu War and the First Boer War. He is a keen amateur historian and an accomplished and avid collector of military medals. Through his passion for medals, their history and their owners, Allan offers a unique, fascinating and interactive battlefield touring “experience-with-a-difference”.

Tel: +27 82 455 9279

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.battletoursza.com

Hamman, Johann

rattray battlefields tours

Johann Hamman

Johann Hamman is a KZN Provincial Guide who studied Military History, as well as Law and Political Science. He has conducted many people to the Anglo Zulu War and Boer War battlefields in Kwazulu-Natal and the Free State. He passionately believes that a people who denies its history, does not deserve its future. He has four ancestors who fought in the battle of Blood River and one who fought on Spioenkop. He is a former Namibian police officer, born in Windhoek, Namibia, and he travelled extensively in Europe.

Tel: +27(0)82 267 2527

Email: [email protected]

rattray battlefields tours

Simon Haw has been taking tours since 1974. Most of these have been school tours and have covered sites as far away as Kimberley and Mafikeng. His career included twenty years of teaching mostly History. He was subsequently promoted first as an educational researcher and then for the last twelve years as a History subject advisor. He retired at the end of 2007 and is now an accredited KZN tour guide with a particular but not exclusive interest in battlefield tours. He is the author of For “Hearth and Home”: The story of Maritzburg College and “Bearing Witness” a history of the Witness newspaper, as well as contributing to a number of current History and Social Science textbooks.

Tel: +27(0)33 343 3847 / +27(0)82 824 8326

Email: [email protected]

Heron, Alistair

rattray battlefields tours

Alastair Heron

  • Spioenkop and Ladysmith Area

Alastair Heron is a qualified Battlefield and Cultural guide who has studied history and psychology. He is the manager of family owned Spion Kop Lodge, who offer Tours of the KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields.

They also offer tours that include Birding, Sunset Boat Cruises, and Hiking Trips to the San Rock Art Paintings.

Tel: +27(0)36 4881404 / +27(0)82 5730224/5

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.spionkop.co.za

Heron, Raymond

rattray battlefields tours

Raymond Heron

Raymond is the owner of Spion Kop Lodge. He is an Anglo Boer War raconteur and registered guide. His tours focus mainly on the events around the battle of Spioenkop and in the Ladysmith area of the KwaZulu Natal Battlefields. With his passion and unique ability, Raymond transports you back in time, using the theatre of the mind as he paints vivid pictures of the personal trauma and military mindset of the time, which, enables you, to envisage the past that changed the future of our country.

Tel: +27(0)36 488 1404 / +27(0)82 573 0224/5

Email: [email protected]

Horn, Vincent

rattray battlefields tours

Vincent Horn

  • Ladysmith and Relief of Ladysmith Battles

Vincent is a Provincial Nature and Culture guide, (Reg no:1204) he grew up in the Ladysmith / Colenso area. Vincent conducts tours to all the Battlefields in KZN. (Spioenkop, Colenso, Ladysmith, Isandlwana, Rorke’s drift etc)

Special interest is the digital capturing of all monuments, war graves and battlefield sites.

Tel: 036 631 0740 / 083 781 0740

Email: [email protected]

Jonker, Pierre

rattray battlefields tours

Pierre Jonker

  • Ladysmith Area

Qualified Battlefield Guide, Pierre also holds an honours degree in Geology.

From an early age he read military history, specifically the Anglo Boer War and the Second World War. Whilst Geology has taken him to many parts of the world, he has now found that the years of interest has an outlet at Three Tree Hill Lodge, where Pierre is the resident Battlefield Guide. He has also benefited greatly from mentors Ron Gold, Simon Blackburn and author Dr Robert Davidson.

Tel: 082 379 1864

Email: [email protected]

King, Colin

rattray battlefields tours

Colin Sellen King

  • Voortrekker, Anglo Zulu War, First and Second Anglo Boer War

Colin is a Provincial Guide, Culture and Nature for Gauteng and Mpumalanga Provinces as well as being registered as a Swaziland Tourist Guide.

Colin has been a registered guide since 1999. He has worked as both was a fulltime Guide and admin assistant with a Durban based Tour Company, and as a freelance guide in his own tour business. Viewfinder Guided Tours and Safaris. He guides guests of Thompsons Touring, Shaka Tours, Discover Durban Tours, Ricksha Tours, and Safaris for Africa on the Battlefields of KZN.

His personal interaction and association many other battlefield guides helped to develop his enthusiasm for the KZN Battlefields. Colin is a dedicated, knowledgeable and passionate Tour Guide who thoroughly enjoys his Tourism involvement, particularly in the areas of Culture, Historical Battlefields and Wildlife.

Tel: 031 4640060

Cell: 083 3037099

Email: [email protected]

Leveridge, Norman

rattray battlefields tours

Norman Leveridge

  • Talana Battle

Norman Leveridge works at Talana museum as a part time research assistant and archivist. He has always been interested in the history of the area as he lives on a historic farm and has a passion about military uniforms and the blockhouses of the Anglo Boer War.

Working with documents in the archives has given him unique access to local and detailed information about the battlefield sites.

He is also a registered nature guide.

Tel: 081 809 7243

Masuku, Bornwell

rattray battlefields tours

Bornwell Masuku

Bornwell Masuku is the collections manager and education officer at Talana Museum. He has shown considerable interest in the museum collections and in explaining them, particularly to school groups.

He has a deep interest in Zulu cultural history, the battlefields and coal mining.

Tel: 073 385 7382

McFadden, Pam

rattray battlefields tours

Pam McFadden

Pam McFadden, a graduate of the University of Natal and University of South Africa, has done considerable field research into the military conflicts fought in KwaZulu-Natal and has regularly conducted tours around these sites for over 40 years. She has had 4 books published on the battles of the area. As Curator of the Talana Museum from 1983 – 2022 she was responsible for the development of the museum and battlefield, which is acknowledged as being one of the finest in South Africa. She is an Honorary Life Member of the Battlefields Guides Association in recognition of all the years of guiding, training and promotion she has done for the area and professional tour guiding and is also the Chairperson of Battlefields Guides Professional Association.

Tel: +27 79 490 5933

Email: [email protected]

Mitchell-Innes, George

rattray battlefields tours

George Mitchell-Innes

  • Elandslaagte Battle

George Mitchell-Innes lives on his farm at Elandslaagte and from this base conducts guests on tours of the Elandslaagte battlefield and other sites in the Ladysmith area. He has an excellent collection of material relating to the battle of Elandslaagte.

Tel: +27(0)36 421 1860 / +27(0)82 734 3118

Email: [email protected]

Mncube, Bryan

rattray battlefields tours

Bryan Mncube

  • Isandlwana, Rorkes Drift, Fugitives Drift

Bryan Mncube was brought up in Rorke’s Drift. Since his childhood, he has done a lot of travelling and working in Europe and in a number of other countries within Africa. He comes from a Marketing and Logistics background, but has always been passionate about South Africa’s remarkable history – in particular the history surrounding the Zulu War, and about sharing these amazing stories of human courage and endeavour with the world.

There are many powerful lessons that are to be extracted from these subjects. Bryan has learnt that the stories that he tells on the Battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift are not just stories about conflict; but are about human beings, and about compassion. For Bryan, being back home and telling his home stories, sharing this platform with the best lecturers in the field, and being part of keeping the legacy of David Rattray alive through the magic of the story, is an absolute honour.

Tel: 034 271 8051 / 087 285 1172

Email: [email protected]

Ntanzi, Mphiwa

rattray battlefields tours

Mphiwa Ntanzi

His passion for the Anglo-Zulu war began at an early age after having been told the stories of both his Grandfather and Great Grandfather’s bravery fighting for the Zulu’s during the battles of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift.

This has equipped him with unique accounts and knowledge of this part of South African history. He is part of the Fugitive’s Drift team.

Email: [email protected]

Parkinson, Chris

rattray battlefields tours

Christian Parkinson

Christian Parkinson has a passion for military history and exploring the battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal. As well as guiding, he also runs the popular Redcoat History Podcast and YouTube channel which examines the campaigns of the British army during the Georgian and Victorian eras. His tours currently focus on the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. For more information, please visit his website www.redcoathistory.com

Cell: +27 60 991 8671

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.redcoathistory.com

Rattray, Douglas

rattray battlefields tours

Douglas Rattray

From a very young age, Doug had an interest in all matters military; particularly the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. He shared his late father’s enthusiasm for the rich history of our area. Doug is passionate about Fugitives’ Drift, having returned at the age of 24 after having completed his diploma in nature conservation.

Following in David’s footsteps, Doug has done numerous international lectures of the Anglo Zulu war and the battlefields in KwaZulu-Natal.

Ross, Colin

rattray battlefields tours

Colin Ross is a registered guide and member of the International Guild of Battlefield Guides. With his military background he puts a soldier’s perspective on his battlefield walks and talks, which are known for their client interaction, humour and enjoyment as characterised in his popular Battlewalks social media posts.

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.battlewalks.co.za

Rundgren,Pat

rattray battlefields tours

Pat Rundgren

  • Voortrekker, Zulu History and Culture, Anglo Zulu War, First and Second Anglo Boer War

Pat Rundgren has operated for many years as a registered military specialist guide in the Dundee area. Formerly in the Rhodesian Security Services, Pat is a collector of militaria and has just completed his second book. He regularly contributes articles to overseas military history and collectors magazines. He organises adventure tours, hikes, white water rafting, Zulu cultural and battlefields tours.

Tel: +27(0)34 212 4560 / +27(072) 803 2885

Email: [email protected]

Spiret, Liz

rattray battlefields tours

Elizabeth Spiret

Elizabeth (Liz) Spiret was born and educated in the UK. She served as museum assistant in the Siege Museum for 8 years, is a trustee of the Siege Museum and a committee member of Ladysmith Historical Society. Her particular interest is the Siege of Ladysmith and surrounding battles of the Anglo Boer War 1899-1902. She has conducted tours around these sites for many years.

Tel: +27(0)36 637 7702 / +27(0)72 262 9669

Email: [email protected]

Smith, Kevin

rattray battlefields tours

Kevin Smith

Kevin Smith was a schoolmaster at Kearsney College for 30 years where he organised and conducted many safaris/tours throughout South Africa and overseas. He is a qualified and registered National Tour Guide, KZN 1894, and is able to guide you through all nine South African Provinces. His love for, and interest in, the environment, both past and present, has led him into taking safaris through Battlefield Sites and Game Reserves throughout Southern Africa. Kevin provides a Personal Brochure for each client with photographs taken at the various monuments and then cut + pasted into notes, maps and diagrams of each of the battles visited. Together with detailed information on all Battle Sites in the country and from the constellations of our night sky in terms of astronomy and astrology to biogeography, ecology, animal, bird identification to trees in term of names, traditional uses and superstitions, Kevin is able to bring your surroundings both past and present to life.

Tel: 084 555 9600

Email: [email protected]

Van Schaik, Bryan

rattray battlefields tours

Bryan van Schaik

  • First and Second Anglo Boer War, Anglo Zulu War

Bryan has had a strong interest in the South Africa battlefields since high school days. He has studied anthropology and psychology through UNISA specialising in the Battlefields region. He is a registered guide for KZN and particularly the battlefields region. He has conducted many tours in the region over the past 15 years.

Cell: +27(0)78 519 4451

Tel/Fax: +27(0)31 207 2728

Email: [email protected]

Wells, Sheldon

rattray battlefields tours

Shelldon Wells

Shelldon Wells is a tour guides based in the city of Durban, South Africa. He regularly takes visitors on guided tours to Rorkes Drift, Isandlwana and many other battlefields of the Anglo Zulu war. He offers options of day tours, overnight and multi-day tours and has a collection service from your accommodation in the Durban or surrounding areas.

See website for further information.

Tel: +27 (0) 74 995 6669 / +27 (0) 31 762 3374

Website: www.cctouring.co.za

Durban Safaris and Tours

Booking a Rorkes Drift Tour from Durban

I remember watching the film Zulu with my Dad many years ago and still to this day remember the thrill of visiting the site for the first time. You can experience the same thrill by joining a tour to Rorkes Drift from Durban

  • Post author By shelldon
  • Post date May 18, 2023
  • No Comments on Booking a Rorkes Drift Tour from Durban

A steep hill called isandlwana is surrounded by dark clouds in the afternoon sky. In the foreground lay piles of stones painted white to mark the remains of fallen british troops.

Are you a battlefield enthusiast? Did you watch the film Zulu or Zulu Dawn with your parents years ago? Have you read the many, many books or perhaps even perused YouTube video’s about Rorkes Drift or iSandlwana? Or are you just the adventurous type looking to explore a corner of the world so different from your own?

Whatever your motivations are, spending time at the battlefields of Rorkes Drift and iSandlwana is an experience that you’ll never forget. How do you get there though, where can you stay, what will you see; these are some of the questions I have been asked over the years and I hope to answer them in today’s blog post.

Where are the battlefields of Rorkes Drift and iSandlwana?

  • Self drive to Rorkes Drift or go with a tour?
  • Is it better to do a day tour or spend a few days in the area ?
  • Where can we stay when visiting Rorkes Drift?
  • Is Rorkes Drift safe to visit?

How do I book a tour to Rorkes Drift with you?

  • Watch this blog post video instead of reading

Fortunately for us here in the great city of Durban, both the battlefields of Rorkes Drift and iSandlwana lie closer to Durban than Johannesburg or Cape Town. It’s a quick and easy flight to King Shaka International Airport 20 min north of Durban after which you can hit the road north to the battlefields.

Now from Durban, the trip to the battlefields is about 4 hours regardless of which road you take; some roads are better than others of course. If you have a look at Open Street View or Google maps , you’ll see Rorkes Drift is pretty far inland.

rattray battlefields tours

Typically for a day tour I’ll pick you up at 6am and we generally get to the battlefields around 10am, and we’ll leave at about 3pm to get back to Durban around 8pm. It is a long day for sure (but so worth it).

Back to the top of the page

Self drive to Rorkes Drift or join a tour?

As a tour guide, specialising in the Anglo Zulu War battlefields, it kinda goes without saying I would prefer you booked a tour to the battlefields with me. But, it’s perfectly fine to self-dive to the battlefields yourself.

Two routes to Rorkes Drift

From Durban, there are two main routes to get to the battlefields. The best one in my opinion and the one I use 99% of the time, the route that take you north from Durban and then swings west towards Rorkes Drift – I call it the coastal route.

The Coastal Route

The coastal route is great since it give you just achingly gorgeous views of Zululand, absolutely breathtaking views that stretch out into tomorrow. Even on overcast or rainy days where perhaps the views are cut short, the sheer ruggedness of the terrain is balm to the heart – I cannot describe just how beautiful the views are.

Along the way of the coastal route you’ll be able to view the battlefields of Gingindlovu and Nyzane, the Mtonjaneni hills, the forts of Person and Tenedos, the Ultimatum Tree, the bivouac sites at Babanango and Sitezi as well as the most likely site of the Battle of Italeni.

The other option is the inland route I call the “western road”. Here you leave due west from Durban towards Pietermaritzburg all the way to Ladysmith before heading northwards to Rorkes Drift.

rattray battlefields tours

The Western Route

On the Western Road you’ll see Pietermaritzburg where the British pushed off from, the spot just outside Colenso where thd future British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was captured, a bunch of Boer war sites and depending on your time, the old site of Helpmekaar.

Why you should book a tour

The problem though of travelling yourself is that you may very well miss out on seeing these sites as many of them of not well marked, or in the cases of forts for example, require a bit of information.

The road is also not very well sign posted. If using the Coastal Route you really have to watch for two particular turn off’s, if you miss them (and so many have), you’ll be going on one hell of a scenic drive before you finally get to the main road again!

Tolls and other road obstacles

If you do choose to self-drive, you do need to know that regardless of routes, you will need to have cash readily available for the tolls on the routes and need to keep a weather eye out for goats, dogs, cattle and children, all of whom like to dash across the road with little warning!

Back to the top of the post

Is it better to do a day tour or spend a few days in the area?

You can get to the Rorkes Drift from Durban and back in a day, I do it all the time, but it is a long day.

I’ll pick you up at 6am, by 10am we’re close enough to begin the tour proper, by 11am we’re walking on the battlefield of iSandlwana, at 1pm we’re at Rorkes Drift and around 2:30pm we’re starting in the return journey of 4 hours – it’s a long day.

The other option is of course is staying overnight in the area. Typically we leave Durban after breakfast at 8am, we stop at a number of sites along the way, getting to iSandlwana after a lunch time picnic. Then it’s onto our accommodation for dinner and bed and the next day we head out to Fugitives Drift and Rorkes Drift.

So spending a night or two in the area is far better than a day trip because it’s a little more restful, there are more sites at which we can stay, you’ll get more out of the experience since there’s more time to absorb it all.

Have I convinced you to take a trip to Rorkes Drift yet? If not, keep reading, if yes, then why don’t you take a look at the three tours I offer? The best and possibly the most popular is the 3 day tour , but I also offer a 2 day tour as well as a 1 day tour to the Rorkes Drift and iSandlwana.

If you do decide on a few extra days in the battlefields, there are other experiences you could think about. Nearby is the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve, as is Itala Game Reserve. Two hours or so is the Drakensberg Moutains and if you’re so inclined, there are a number of Boer War sites dotted about as well. All the more reason to extend you stay!

Where can we stay near Rorkes Drift?

There are a few places you can stay when visiting Rorkes Drift. I have my favourites but there are definitely options to suit a few budgets.

The veiw from the Mzinyathi (Buffalo) River up to the Rorkes Drift Hotel

Whichever you prefer, just email me your dates and I can make a booking for you.

Rorkes Drift Hotel

First off there is a the Rorkes Drift Hotel. The newest of the 3 hotels within minutes of Rorkes Drift and the most affordable. The hotel overlooks the actual drift that the early settlers and travellers to the region used to cross over the Mzinyathi (Baffalo) River. Rooms a simple and comfortable, the food is homely and delicious and the hosts are the owners so they take a personal interest in your stay.

Isandlwana Lodge

The second option is Isandlwana Lodge which reopened not so long ago after closing during covid. Some of the larger groups stay here as is has the most amazing views over the iSandlwana battlefield. The rooms are lovely and the food is hearty and delicious. Rates are inline with the amazing views and service.

Fugitives Drift Lodge

The third option is Fugitives Drift which I think may the most well known since the owner, David Rattray, wrote books about the battles at iSandlwana and Rorkes Drift. The lodge overlooks the Mzinyathi River and is a stones throw away from Fugitives Drift where Lt’s Melville and Coghill famously won their posthumous VC’s. Fugitves Drift Lodge is amazing, the decor is all Anglo Zulu war, the food is superb and is happens to be a working game farm so there are loads of wildlife like giraffe, wildebeest and more roaming about.

Sneezewood Bed and Breakfast

In the nearby town of Dundee there are a number of bed and breakfast style options for accommodation. I haven’t stayed at all of them, but of those I have stayed at, Sneezewood B&B I think is one f the best. It’s some ways out from Rorkes Drift (around 40km’s) but it’s situated on a working farm, the hosts are gracious and helpful, the food is local and organic and delicious (the honey bacon alone is worth the stay) and they are close enough to the town of Dundee to pop in for supplies.

Is it safe to visit?

It’s unfortunate that this question gets asked as often as it does, a sign of the times I guess. But the answer is a resounding YES !

The drive to Rorkes Drift or the other surrounding sites does take you along rural routes, some are tarmac (asphalt) and others are dirt roads. Apart from potholes the road and actually quite enjoyable to drive on.

Guests paying their respects the Rorkes Drift Cemetary

The people in rural areas in my opinion and experience are some of the friendliest you;ll ever have the pleasure to meet. One on occasion I had a fl’t tyre and within 2 minutes a group of locals stopped to take over the changing of the tyre while I stood by entertaining my guests. On top of that my guests got a number of invites to join the locals for a mid-afternoon beer that unfortunately we had to turn down on account of needing to get back to the airport!

There is adequate cell phone reception, there is plenty of police on the roads, and on the whole, it’s probably a safer destination to visit than many others.

One thing I do have to point out though, it that South African drivers are not very good at following speed restrictions or road rules. Often you’ll see drivers overtaking where they shouldn’t or perhaps stopping in a road to chat to mates or collect people – if you’re not used to it, it can be a bit hair-raising. The best way to deal with it, drive below the speed limit, obey the road rules, and expect every other road user to do something stupid.

Hopefully by now I’ve convinced you to visit Rorkes Drift when passing through South Africa, and more importantly, to book a tour with me to Rorkes Drift from Durban!

As I mentioned earlier on, I have three options for you to choose from;

  • A 1 day tour from Durban
  • A 2 day (one night) tour from Durban
  • A 3 day (two nights) tour from Durban
  • Not live on the website yet, but I also have an extended 7 day tour of the battlefields ( email me for more info)

To keep things interesting you can add a safari tour onto the beginning or the end of your battlefields tour or even include the Rorkes Drift tour portion to a longer 14 or 21 day tour of South Africa.

To book a tour or to get more information just reach out to me using any of the options below or fill in the form at the end.

  • WhatsApp or call me on +27 (0) 74 995 6669
  • Email me on [email protected]
  • Use the contact form below

Your message (optional)

  • Tags Battlefields , Durban , Isandlwana , Rorkes Drift , Safari

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

TTC family of brands

My Trafalgar

Destinations

Get Inspired

866 513 1995

WWI and WWII Battlefields

316 reviews

Last Minute Deal

Save up to $607

Available Dates

Your itinerary

Dates & prices

WWI and WWII Battlefields Guided Tour

11 Day Battlefield Tour of UK, Belgium and France

11 days, 3 countries and 11 cities

Accommodation

10 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners

View day-by-day trip itinerary

Travel to the front lines of Europe, where brave soldiers once fought for freedom. On this epic battlefield tour through the countryside of Britain, Belgium and France, you’ll explore the tragedy and triumph of two World Wars.

Looking to book in a group of 9 or more?

Deals, savings and exclusive private touring options available plus if you need a different date or itinerary change we can create a custom trip. Contact us for more details

Trip code: 

Low deposit from $200

Deposit protection

Free booking changes

Trip map & itinerary

Day by day itinerary

11 days itinerary trip from London to Paris visiting 3 countries and 11 cities

Download itinerary

Print itinerary

Expand all days

About this trip

Sightseeing highlights.

Explore London and Paris with a Local Specialist

Discover Normandy, Amiens, the Somme Region, Ypres, Brussels and Rouen

Visit the Imperial War Museum in London, the D-Day Landing Beaches, Saint-Sulpice church in Paris, Amiens Cathedral, military cemeteries throughout northern France and Belgium, the Australian National Memorial, the Caen Memorial, WWI & WWII Battlefields, the Dunkirk War Museum and evacuation beaches, and the Memorial Museum Passchendaele

View Buckingham Palace in London, the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and the Menin Gate

Travel highlights

Specific transfer information can be found here:

Airport Transfers

An expert Travel Director and professional Driver

Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted

All porterage and restaurant gratuities

All hotel tips, charges and local taxes

Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals

Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras

Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing

Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)

Optional Experiences and free time

Eurostar high-speed train from London to Brussels

On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.

Three local female weavers in colourful traditional local dress including festooned hats, weaving colourful alpaca wool on the ground

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences

Every one of our tours includes at least one conscious travel experience that supports one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS). Look out for yours within the day-by-day trip itinerary.

Find out more

Large People Preparing To Grow A Small Tree With Soil In The Garden 1198078044

Net-zero by 2050

Travel knowing our 4-point climate action plan will ensure net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Large BMG Australia Tasmania Mount Gnomon Farm With Guy Robertson

Support Local

Your tour directly supports local communities by visiting family-run businesses, UNESCO sites and places of cultural significance.

Large Aerial View Over Solar Panels And Windmills 1367402534

Sustainable Practices

Every part of our business, from trip design to how we run our offices, aligns to our 5-year sustainability strategy which ensures a positive impact on people, the planet and wildlife.

Scotland

Philanthropic Efforts

Our not-for-profit, the TreadRight Foundation, invests in nature-based solutions to address climate change.

You’ll make a positive impact to people, planet and wildlife on this tour

LIVE, UNEDITED & INDEPENDENT TRAVELER REVIEWS

WWI and WWII Battlefields trip reviews

#ttbattlefields.

Real moments from real travelers, creating the greatest travel stories they’ll ever tell

Or search for something else

rattray battlefields tours

Help & Info

WE MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Unedited Reviews

Our Destination Management Companies

Frequently Asked Questions

Travel Updates

Media & Press Room

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

Travel Planning

Get Your Free Brochure

Travel Insurance

Booking Conditions

Trip Deposit Level

Recommendations

Trafalgar is a proud member of  The Travel Corporation  family of companies.

#SimplyTrafalgar

Selected Region

United States

United Kingdom

New Zealand

South Africa

Copyright 2024 Trafalgar. All rights reserved.

Terms and Conditions

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser .

Russian Tours and Cruises from Express to Russia

  • Moscow Travel and City Excursions

Our 20 Best Moscow Day Tours of 2022

See all that Moscow has to offer by choosing one or more of our incredible Moscow day tours. Visit Red Square , St. Basil’s , the Kremlin or perhaps a vodka museum and the fantastic Moscow metro system , we have it all. Our expert, informative and fun guides will help you get to know Europe’s largest city. Please click on the day tour details to learn more or contact us for more information about our Moscow tours using the form at the side of the page.  You can also schedule a call with one of our Russian travel specialists to learn more.

City Tour of Moscow

Head to the heart of Moscow with a professional guide on a 4-hour private walk through the city center. See Tverskaya and Old Arbat streets, Theatre Square with the world-famous Bolshoi Theatre, and the former KGB headquarters...

  • Schedule Daily 09:00 - 20:00
  • Languages English-speaking guide is guaranteed. Other languages are on request.
  • Walking tours Transportation is not included
  • PRIVATE TOUR This is a private tour, there won't be other people in your group

City Tour with Visit to St. Basils & Red Sq. with transport

Panoramic City Tour. This Moscow tour is a great start to your trip and the best way to get acquainted with many of the city’s major highlights. Our professional guide will escort you on a route that includes Vorobyevi...

  • Schedule Daily 09:00 - 18:00
  • Tours by car Transportation by private car/minivan is included

Jewish Heritage of Moscow Tour

This tour offers a detailed look into the history and present-day life of the Jewish community of Moscow. On the tour, you will visit sites connected with the cultural and religious life of different Jewish families, as well...

  • Schedule Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday 11:00 - 20:00 Friday 10:00 - 14:00 Saturday not available

Soviet and Post-Soviet Moscow Tour

The tour begins with a drive or walk down Tverskaya Street – a Soviet masterpiece. In the years of Soviet power, Tverskaya began to undergo a transformation: it was widened to two and a half times its original size,...

KGB Tour with transport

This is a very interesting and insightful tour. You will visit places connected with Stalin’s terror - a time of great repression and fear. You will be shown monuments to the victims of the repression. You will then...

Old Arbat walking tour

You will be told of the street’s interesting history and view the street’s artisan culture. You will also have the opportunity to view and purchase souvenirs from the street’s many craftsmen....

Kremlin, Red Square and Cathedrals Tour

The Kremlin is truly a fascinating structure, at the same time it is an ancient tower, the city’s former military fortification, a palace, an armory, the sovereign treasury and the workplace of the Russian President....

  • Schedule Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10:00 - 17:00 Thursday not available

Kremlin, Red Sq., Cathedrals & Diamond Fund Tour

This world-famous gallery contains masterpieces of Russian art beginning in the 10th century up until today. You will view exquisite Russian icons and paintings from the 18th and 19th century including works by Rublyov, Karavak,...

  • Schedule Monday not available Tuesday, Wednesday, Sunday 10:00 - 17:00 Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10:00 - 20:00

Novodevichy Convent Tour with transport

Tour of the Novodevichy Monastery. Founded in 1524 by Grand Prince VasiliIoanovich, the original convent was enclosed by fortified walls and contained 12 towers. The structure served as a convent for women of noble birth...

  • Schedule Daily 09:00 - 17:00

Moscow Metro walking tour

The Moscow Metro is one of the largest and most grandly built metro systems in the world. It was meant to be a showcase of the Soviet Union’s achievements for both the Russians themselves and for visitors from abroad....

  • Schedule Daily 10:00 - 17:00

Kolomenskoye Tour with transport

The history of Kolomenskoye stretches back for centuries. In 1380, Dmitri Donskoi’s army passed through Kolomenskoye on their way to the Kulikovo battlefield, and it was here that Donskoi celebrated his victory over...

  • Schedule Monday not available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday 10:00 - 17:00 Saturday 11:00 - 18:00

Tour to Sergiev Posad with transport

Considered by some to be the Russian Vatican, Sergiev Posad is the temporary residence of the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Trinity St. Sergius Monastery (Lavra) was built in the first half of the 1340s by...

Tour to Tsaritsyno with transport

The Tsaritsyno Estate is located in the southern part of Moscow. The estate was constructed for Catherine the Great by the Russian architects Bazhenov and Kazakov in a romantic gothic style. The complex includes a landscape...

  • Schedule Monday not available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 11:00 - 17:00 Saturday 11:00 - 19:00 Sunday 11:00 - 18:00

Tour to Kuskovo with transport

The Kuskovo Estate often called the Moscow Versailles due to its perfectly preserved French park, is an example of an 18th century, luxurious Moscow summer residence. Its history dates back to 1715, when the village of Kuskovo...

  • Schedule Monday, Tuesday not available Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10:00 - 18:00

Moscow Metro and Old Arbat Tour

Vodka is an important component of Russian life, an element of national identity and everyday culture. We invite you to visit the Vodka Museum and feel the atmosphere of long-gone centuries. You will get to know the story...

  • Schedule Daily 10:00 - 19:00

Vodka Museum Tour with transport (excursion and vodka tasting)

Take this opportunity to learn more about the Russian writer Lev Tolstoy. During the visit to the museum you will see part of a vast collection of exhibits connected to Tolstoy and his family including books and personal...

  • Schedule Monday not available Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 10:00 - 17:00 Thursday 12:00 - 19:00

Mikhail Bulgakov Apartment Museum

This apartment museum located close to Patriarch Ponds became the prototype of the "bad apartment" described in the novel "The Master and Margarita." Currently the museum's collection includes more than three thousand...

  • Schedule Monday not available Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 12:00 - 19:00 Thursday 14:00 - 21:00

Express to Russia specializes in Moscow city excursions, an essential part of your Moscow travel itinerary. We offer a large variety of day excursions throughout Moscow and its suburbs. From  Red Square  and the  Kremlin  to a city tour of Moscow’s  Old Arbat Street  or the  Moscow metro , an excursion specializing in Stalin and the KGB and much more. No travel to Moscow is complete without taking a few of our day tours that most meet your interest in Russia.

Moscow City Tours

Our Moscow day excursions can be organized on foot or with transport. All of our excursions are led by an experienced guide, specializing in the subject matter of the tour. Excursions are privately run and can be booked for 1 traveler all the way up to large groups of travelers. We run our Moscow city tours in every season. This is because travel to Moscow is excellent in any season. In the summer take a stroll through  Gorky Park  or take a riverboat tour along the Moskva River. In the winter, see Moscow’s winter wonderland of ice and snow and then settle in for a cozy lunch or dinner with a hot bowl of borsht. In winter, spring and fall, you can beat the crowds at all of Moscow’s main attractions and museums. Regardless of when you come, Express to Russia will make sure that your trip is one of your best vacations ever.

Our travel brands include

russianrail.com

Express to Russia

Join us on Facebook

We invite you to become a fan of our company on Facebook and read Russian news and travel stories. To become a fan, click here .

Join our own Russian Travel, Culture and Literature Club on Facebook. The club was created to be a place for everyone with an interest in Russia to get to know each other and share experiences, stories, pictures and advice. To join our club, please follow this link .

We use cookies to improve your experience on our Website, and to facilitate providing you with services available through our Website. To opt out of non-essential cookies, please click here . By continuing to use our Website, you accept our use of cookies, the terms of our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service . I agree

Battlefield Tours

There are a select number of battlefield tours that every military history enthusiast should experience. Here we list five of the finest, most reasonably priced, worldwide tours available.

rattray battlefields tours

Entente Cordiale Battlefield Tours

Entente Cordiale Battlefield Tours grew out of the passion to preserve the memory of the World War I battlefields and of those who fought. The business has been performing well because of the highly personalised and bespoke nature of our battlefield tours. We have welcomed guests from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and the USA. So if you are planning a World War I battlefields tour of the Somme and Ypres, either in the near future or during the Centenary Commemorations beginning in August 2014, then contact us for details. Places are already being reserved for the Centenary Commemorations so please book early to avoid disappointment!

Tours can be planned, arranged and tailored around your party’s requirements. We will visit places of special interest and locations off the beaten track as well as the most popular sites on the Somme and Ypres. Your guide will help you to interpret the landscape and look for evidence of World War I battles. World War I battlefield tours last for 1-6 days. There is a friendly and informal atmosphere, and you will stay in quality accommodation enjoying good food and hospitality.

TEL: 01244 341920 / 07974 420730 WEB: www.ententecordialetours.co.uk

AVAILABLE TOURS: In The Footsteps of The Early BEF – The Retreat to Mons and the Battle of The Marne Harry Patch ‘the Last Tommy’ – Ypres, Passchendaele and Poperinge The AEF – Australian sites including Fromelles The Canadians – Vimy Ridge, The Somme and Ypres Kitchener’s Pals – The Somme The Americans in France Victory – The Last Months of World War I in France and Belgium

Historical Trips

rattray battlefields tours

Historical Trips was founded to fill a gap in the Battlefields Tour Market. Co-founders, Oxford History graduate Mike Ivey, and historian and journalist Nigel Jones saw that there were many firms, large and small, who took clients to visit the sites of battles, but almost none who explained why those battles were fought. We set out to do just that: Historical Trips uses top historians rather than battlefield guides in order to put the 20th century’s great military clashes within their political and cultural context.

Our first tour, ‘The Face of Evil’, set out to explain the rise and fall of the Third Reich within the compass of a week’s journey through modern Germany. We followed a chronological path, from the smoky beerhalls of 1919 Munich, where the Nazis were born, to the smoking ruins of Berlin where the nightmare ended, via the concentration camp of Dachau, Hitler’s mountain playground Berchtesgaden, and Nuremberg, city of the giant party rallies and the postwar trials.

In 2013, we are running eight tours ranging from the First World War Western Front to a ‘Great Escapes’ tour to Colditz and Stalag Luft III.

Another hallmark of Historical Trips is the small group size, typically 5-15 people. This ensures participants do not feel swamped by numbers whilst also enabling constant access to our experts. Our current team includes Roger Moorhouse, an authority on Nazi Germany; Patrick Bishop and James Holland, bestselling authors of numerous books on the Second World War; Colditz Legacy  and Real Great Escape writer Guy Walters; and Jason Webster and Marc Rattray, experts on Moorish Spain and the Spanish Civil War.

We stay at comfortable hotels throughout and aim to entertain as well as inform our clients, never forgetting that a Historical Trips tour is a holiday as well as hopefully an unforgettable learning experience.

TEL: 020 7993 6540 WEB: www.historicaltrips.com

AVAILABLE TOURS: ‘The Face of Evil’ – The rise and fall of the Third Reich Great Escapes – Colditz and Stalag Luft III The Great War – Introduction to the Western Front The Longest Day – The D-Day Landings Berlin At War – Life and Death in Hitler’s Capital Bomber Boys – Bomber Command in WWII The Road of Resistance – The Maquis, SOE, and SAS in Occupied France Andalucian Adventure – Culture and Conflict in Southern Spain

Holts Battlefields and History Tours

Although much has changed in the world of travel since the first Holts Tour, more than 30 years ago, visiting places of historic interest remains a most rewarding experience. Our 2013 programme is packed with the usual wide variety of tours. As always, popular regular tours such as It’s A Long Way To Tipperary, Dunkirk to D-Day and Waterloo are featured, as are anniversary tours Napoleon In Germany, Gettysburg, Dambusters, Kursk and Sicily. These days it is often not clear what you are getting for your money; we have always thought it important that there are no hidden costs, and so much is included in the price that each tour represents excellent value for money. We are fully bonded with ABTA and ATOL for your protection. If you would like to receive our 2013 Battlefields and History brochure, please telephone our office or request a brochure via our website.

TEL: 01293 865000 WEB: www.holts.co.uk

AVAILABLE TOURS: The Zulu War: 19th April – 2nd May 2013 The Making of London: 27th – 29th April 2013 Dambusters 70th Anniversary: 15th – 19th May 2013 Walking the Five Battles of Ypres: 7th – 10th June 2013 The American Civil War 1863 – Battle of Gettysburg 150th Anniversary: 1st – 9th July 2013 The Battle of Kursk – 1943: 10th – 15th August 2013 The Eastern Front 1914-1921: 24th – 30th August 2013 Napoleon in Germany 1813: 18th – 22nd October 2013

Spirit of Remembrance

Battlefields have always been a focus for pilgrimage. Stand on the ridge line, bridge, castle, or beach where young men have faced the ultimate test of courage and stamina and where sometimes in an afternoon the fate of nations has been changed and you cannot help but be moved.

Make this journey with a guide or historian who can take you to the very spot where the commander stood and took the decision that shaped the fighting, go with him or her to the cemeteries and look at the memorials and neat lines of headstones and the experience can be overwhelming.

Battlefield tours allow us to connect with our past and consequently who we are today and where we will be in the future. They will take us to the beaches of Normandy, the muddy fields of Flanders, the mountains of Italy, deserts of North Africa and the jungles of Malaysia.

Come with us and make this special journey.

Will Fowler Guide and Researcher Spirit of Remembrance

TEL: +44 (0) 1634 233758 WEB: www.spiritofremembrance.com

AVAILABLE TOURS: We arrange tours worldwide and can provide expert advice on veterans’ and war widows’ grants to assist with the costs. Whether they be group or individual tours, we tailor journeys for our customers against the backdrop of history.

The Battlefields Trust

The Battlefields Trust is the UK charity dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Britain’s historic battlefields. It is perhaps best known for its recent ground-breaking work in locating the true site of the Battle of Bosworth and readers may well have seen some of the information boards it has helped to erect at battlefields all across the country. But what is less well-known is the fact that the Trust also organises a wide range of battlefield walks, talks and tours, many of which are led by acknowledged authorities in their fields. Next year’s programme includes walks around the Anglo-Saxon battlefield of Maldon, the Wars of the Roses battlefields of Barnet and Towton, the Civil War battlefields of Newbury and Naseby, and a conference at Durham including a coach trip to Flodden to mark the 500th anniversary of this decisive battle. Overseas visits are also arranged from time to time. The Battlefields Trust normally charges £5 per person for its walks, which are open to everyone, but members go free and also receive discounts on other activities as well as a quarterly colour magazine. Please seriously consider becoming a member – as well as enjoying the above benefits, including a choice of over 30 events all around the country, you’ll also be making a real contribution to the protection and preservation of Britain’s battlefield heritage. Annual membership starts at only £18.00 per person. For a membership form, to join online and for more information on the work of this excellent organisation visit our website.

WEB: www.battlefieldstrust.com

AVAILABLE TOURS: Walks with The Battlefields Trust range from the Roman period, up to and including the WWII period. There are also many exciting upcoming events such as:

The Mercia Region AGM and Battle of Edgcote 1469: 10th of November A new look at Bosworth: 17th of November London During WWI 1914-1918: 17th of November

The Battlefields Trust Conference in April 2013 will be held in Durham and will include a coach trip to Flodden to mark the 500th anniversary of this battle.

To see the feature as it appeared in MHM 27, click here .

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Tank ride & bazooka Moscow

Only in Russia!

Ask us for availabilities

Starts at 9am

Duration: 1 day

Tour available in

Want to ride a tank? Of course you do.

Welcome to Russia, where everything and anything is possible—especially riding on a tank, shooting an AK-47 and a bazooka, all while drinking vodka.

At Put-in tours, we have put together the ultimate excursion for men (and their girlfriends). Join us in our Soviet van for an entire afternoon of all-inclusive Russian fun on the battlefield!

Start by visiting Park Patriot, the impressive Russian army exhibition center and museum. There, try your driving skills at the T-80 tank official simulator ,  before you ride on two iconic Soviet armored vehicles (BMP-1 and/or BTR-80) on an off-road training path. Along the way, hone your skills while a drill sergeant shouts commands at you. You may not understand, but impress him anyway with your grenade launching technique and AK-47 assembling speed. Or suffer the consequences.

After that, take another shot of vodka , enjoy the army field lunch provided, and move on to the next activity…

Tank & Shooting Excursion

Honey, I shot a bazooka!

Phase two brings a variety of iconic Russian war weapons to the tip of your trigger finger. Learn about and test the Makarov PM, PPSH-41, Kalashnikov AK-47, RPK, DP28 machine gun, several semi-auto or auto carbines and more… Firing off a bazooka is the grand finale, sure to leave you breathless—just before you send the photos to your mom.

To prevent you from inadvertently blowing up your best friend or transforming your girlfriend into a strainer, we only use non-lethal (but real!) ammo.

And because you’ll want to keep the good times rolling, we also offer a 10% discount on pub-crawl tickets.

Hotel pick-up (when possible –  please contact us)

Transport in our classic Soviet van

Army field lunch, drinks and vodka

Visit Park Patriot & try the T-80 tank simulator

Ride on a iconic Soviet armoured vehicle: BMP-2

Shoot 10 Soviet rifle rounds and 1 bazooka shell

Adults : 28 100 RUB / passenger

Good to know

Please contact us before the tour to make an appointment

No minimum age

Shooting and bazooka are blank for security reasons

Let us know if you have any food allergies or special dietary needs

Don’t wear your best shoes

Join the experience, book your seat now!

* we run this excursion for groups > 5 persons. If you are less then 5 people, please contact us by email to know about availabilities.

Generally, hotel pick-up is possible . Contact us beforehand to make an appointment.

Otherwise, we will pick you up at 9:00 in front of St Basil’s Cathedral , on the red square.

Contact us for more details

Follow us on Social Media...

Our partners

© Copyright 2021 - Put-in tours Designed by SD Marketing & Design

Put-in tours

At Put-in tours, we put you in our classic Soviet vans to go explore Moscow, Saint Petersburg and Russian culture off the beaten path. Discover our Moscow city guided tour, visit Moscow by night, join our banya & Sergiyev Posad excursion, visit and dine in one of Moscow's oldest monastery or even Luzhniki stadium, before you party on our famous pubcrawl! Original and atypical tours : Shoot AK47 and a bazooka after riding on a tank with our tank & bazooka excursion ! Extreme tours: Fly a fighter jet in Moscow onboard a L-29 or L-39 aircraft!

© Copyright 2021 – Put-in tours

Design web: SD Marketing & Design

Home About us Videos Moscow Saint-Petersburg Contact Online booking Blog Disclaimer Privacy Policy

WhatsApp us

Tour American Battlefield Trust-Preserved Battlefields in Three Days

This image depicts an interpretative sign at the Slaughter Pen Farmhouse on the Fredericksburg battlefield.

Visit some of the Civil War’s most famous battlefields, with an emphasis on seeing some of the hallowed ground preserved over the past 30 years by the American Battlefield Trust and its partners. These actions range from 1861 at Ball’s Bluff to the 1864 Battle of the Wilderness.

 Before you go:

  • Print or download the  Tour Map .
  • Watch the action with the  Fredericksburg Animated Map ,  Chancellorsville Animated Map ,  Overland Campaign Animated Map , and  Gettysburg Animated Map .
  • Explore the Virtual Tours:  Fredericksburg Virtual Tour ,  Chancellorsville Virtual Tour ,  Overland Campaign Virtual Tour  and  Gettysburg Virtual Tour .
  • Download the following free apps, for more detail and touring assistance:  Fredericksburg Battle App ,  Chancellorsville Battle App ,  Overland Campaign Battle App ,  Brandy Station Battle App , and  Gettysburg Battle App .
  • And for the whole story, read the Trust’s new book , Fighting the Second Civil War: A History of Battlefield Preservation and the Emergence of the American Battlefield Trust , by Bob Zeller. 

This image depicts an interpretative sign at the Slaughter Pen Farmhouse on the Fredericksburg battlefield.

Stop #1: Fredericksburg  

Time: 4 hours  Details:  www.nps.gov/frsp/index

The Battle of Fredericksburg was one of the Confederacy’s most lopsided victories. From December 11-15, 1862, Union troops tried to dislodge Southerners from fortified lines near Fredericksburg. Despite some temporary Federal success, the Confederate position held strong for the remainder of the battle. More than 18,000 soldiers fell during the battle—fewer than one-third from the South. The American Battlefield Trust thus far has saved 247 acres at the Fredericksburg battlefield.

Fredericksburg is also the recognized birthplace of the modern Civil War battlefield preservation movement.  On July 18, 1987, 27 Civil War historians and enthusiasts met at what was at the time Arbuckle's Restaurant and organized a grassroots preservation organization devoted to saving Civil War battlefields by buying the land. They named it the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites, which later merged with the American Battlefield Trust. The APCWS made its first save in 1988, and every year since then, the movement has saved new land.

What to do:

Start at the  National Park Service's Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center ,  1013 Lafayette Boulevard .

  • Watch the 22-minute orientation film.
  • Find out what Ranger Programs are scheduled.
  • See the exhibits and walk the historic Sunken Road.

Tour the Fredericksburg battlefield. You have several options: 

  • Use the American Battlefield Trust's free  Fredericksburg Battle App  on your smart phone.
  • Follow the NPS Auto Tour Route and get out and explore each stop.
  • Purchase a touring CD from the Visitor Center bookstore.

Don’t Miss:

  • Chatham  – This Georgian-style, 1771 plantation home at 120 Chatham Lane served as a Federal artillery platform, hospital, and headquarters. Famous visitors to the home include George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Clara Barton, and Dr. Mary Walker.  This is the second stop on the regular NPS battlefield tour.
  • Lee’s Hill  – Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee observed the battle from this stop on the NPS tour.  The sweeping view he had from these heights in 1862 is now obscured by the tree-covered hillside.
  • Union Breakthrough  – Union troops advancing from Slaughter Pen Farm in Spotsylvania County broke through Gen. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson’s lines in the area of this tour stop before furious Confederate counterattacks forced them back. This was the only spot in the Confederate line to be penetrated by Union troops during the 1862 battle.
  • Prospect Hill  – Confederate artillery positioned on this hill was a main objective of the Union assault on the southern end of the battlefield. Despite initially taking the position in a bloody assault, Union forces were driven off the hill, effectively ending the Battle of Fredericksburg. This is the final stop on the NPS tour.
  • The Slaughter Pen Farm  – The site of one of the greatest preservation victories by the American Battlefield Trust, this 208-acre site saved and owned by the American Battlefield Trust witnessed vicious fighting on the afternoon of December 13. No fewer than five Federal soldiers were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in and around this field. The farm lane leading to the battlefield walking trail and interpretive signs is at 11190 Tidewater Trail.

If you have time :

  • Upper Pontoon Crossing  – Near 3:30 p.m. on the afternoon of December 11, 1862, Federal soldiers from Michigan and Massachusetts ferried themselves across the Rappahannock River here (1399 Sophia Street) and wrestled control of the city from Mississippi and Florida troops.   
  • Pelham’s Corner is where Alabama artillerist John Pelham positioned his cannon to enfilade the Federal left flank, complicating the Union assault at Slaughter Pen Farm. Park in the rear of the Family Dollar store, 10744 Tidewater Trail, near the corner of Benchmark Road, to see markers at this site, which was saved by the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust .

Stop #2: Chancellorsville 

The Battle of Chancellorsville is regarded by many as Gen. Robert E. Lee's greatest victory. From April 29 to May 6, 1863, Lee's army battled Gen. Joseph Hooker's Union Army of the Potomac around the wilderness crossroads of Chancellorsville. Although outnumbered more than 2-to-1, Lee split his undersized force no fewer than three times in the face of a superior foe. In the end, Lee was victorious, but it came at a high cost, including nearly 22% of his army and the loss of 'Stonewall' Jackson, who was wounded by his own men while scouting the battlefield after dark. Jackson died of pneumonia on May 10, 1863.

In one of its most important battles, the American Battlefield Trust in 2004 successfully fought off efforts to develop the property, and then bought and preserved about 140 prime acres fronting Route 3 that comprise heart of the first day’s battlefield.

What to do: 

Start at Lick Run Community Center on State Route 3 (6159 Plank Road), which is in the heart of the first day’s battlefield at Chancellorsville.

  • Take the walking trail around this battlefield, which includes interpretive signs installed by the Trust.

Then proceed to National Park Service's Chancellorsville Visitor Center  (9001 Plank Road) .

  • Watch the 22-minute orientation film. 
  • See the exhibits and walk the  "Wounding of Stonewall Jackson,"  trail.

Tour the NPS battlefield. You have several options: 

  • Use the American Battlefield Trust's free  Chancellorsville Battle App  on your smart phone.
  • Follow the  NPS Auto Tour Route  and get out and explore each stop.
  • Purchase a touring CD from the bookstore.

Don't miss:

  • Lee-Jackson Bivouac (NPS tour stop 5) is where the two famous generals met for the last time. 
  • Jackson's Flank Attack Site  – On the afternoon of May 2, 1863, the right flank of the Union Army was located in this vicinity. Near 5:15 p.m., the first wave of Stonewall Jackson's flanking column struck and decimated the unsuspecting Federals. Within hours, the Union flank was no more and Stonewall Jackson lay wounded by his own men.  The American Battlefield Trust and its partners have preserved hundreds of acres at the site of Jackson’s massive flank attack, which is stop 8 on the NPS tour route.
  • Hazel Grove – This critical plateau at tour stop 9 served as an excellent spot for Confederate artillery to attack Union infantry on May 3, 1863.
  • Fairview , stop 10, was the backbone of the Federal defensive line at Chancellorsville. Captain Clermont Best placed some 30 cannons in this area, and repelled wave after wave of Confederate attacks.

Stop #3: The Wilderness  

Time: 1 hour  Details:  www.nps.gov/frsp/index

On May 5-6, 1864, the Union Army of the Potomac once again locked horns with the Army of Northern Virginia in the dense thickets known as the Wilderness of Spotsylvania. Over the course of two days, the two armies fought to a bloody stalemate, inaugurating a new era of violence in the war in the East.

In 2008, Walmart Corporation began planning to build a Supercenter in the Wilderness. After a three-year preservation battle waged by the American Battlefield Trust and the Friends of the Wilderness Battlefield Coalition, Walmart agreed to move further west on Route 3 and gave the property to the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Start at the National Park Service's Wilderness Battlefield Exhibit Shelter, 35347 Constitution Highway, Locust Grove, Va.

Woodland fires swept across this field — Saunders Field — during the battle, consuming the Confederate and Union soldiers who lay dying after bloody attacks and counterattacks across the field.

  • Read the exhibit panels. 
  • If time allows, you may wish to follow the  NPS Auto Tour Route.
  • Use the American Battlefield Trust's free  Overland Campaign Battle App  on your smart phone.

Insider tip:  If you want to learn about a key battlefield feature and see the area where the American Battlefield Trust and its partners fought to keep Wal-Mart out of the Wilderness, go to the pull-off at Wilderness Tavern , on the north side of Route 3, just beyond its intersection with Route 20.

Stop #4: Mine Run Battlefield 

Time: 15 – 90 minutes (depending on whether you walk the trail). Details: Mine Run Battlefield

In late November of 1863, Gen. George Gordon Meade attempted to steal a march through the Wilderness of Spotsylvania and Orange counties of Virginia, and strike the right flank of the Confederate army south of the Rapidan River. With winter fast approaching, and the recent Federal victory at Chattanooga, Tennessee, time was of the essence. Delays due to weather, coupled with heavy skirmishing, slowed the Federal advance. On November 27, 1863, the two sides clashed at Payne's Farm. After a short, but intense battle, the Confederates were able to withdraw to fortifications behind Mine Run. More delays plagued the Federal advance. On November 30th, with nearly half of his army arrayed for an assault on the strongly positioned Confederate lines, Meade had second thoughts. He and one of his most trusted subordinates called off the attack against Lee's strongly fortified position. The Federal army withdrew to winter quarters. Mine Run was the great battle that never was. 

Today, an interpretive trail includes a portion of the 690 acres that the American Battlefield Trust h as saved at Mine Run.

Start at Zoar Baptist Church, 31334 Zoar Road (Route 611), Locust Grove.

  • Walk the 1.5-mile battlefield interpretive trail , marked with historical wayside tablets, located across Route 611 from Zoar Baptist Church.

Stop #5: Cedar Mountain   

Time: 1 hour Details: Cedar Mountain Battlefield

On August 9, 1862, Confederate forces were on the move toward the town of Culpeper, Virginia. Confederate Maj. Gen. Thomas J. 'Stonewall' Jackson hoped to defeat a newly formed and spread-out Union army before it could unite. The two sides clashed just outside Culpeper, in the shadow of Cedar Mountain. A seesaw battle ensued. Confederate forces broke, but Jackson rallied them in one of the more dramatic scenes of the war. In the end,  Jackson gained a narrow victory over Federal forces commanded by Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Banks. This Confederate victory allowed Robert E. Lee to shift the war away from Richmond and back into Northern Virginia—opening the door for the Battle of Second Manassas.

The American Battlefield Trust has saved 498 crucial acres of the battlefield,  including the scene of the heaviest action.  The Trust has also worked tirelessly to restore the land to its 1862 appearance, allowing visitors the opportunity to see this battlefield as the soldiers saw it.

  • Walk the half-mile interpretive trail with signs on 150 acres of battlefield saved by the American Battlefield Trust. The trail begins at the parking area near Crittenden Lane and General Winder Road—to which signage will direct you.

Insider tip: Did you know that the cannons that sit on the Cedar Mountain battlefield once sat on the Gettysburg battlefield? These reproduction artillery pieces flanked Lee's Headquarters along the Chambersburg Pike, but once the American Battlefield Trust acquired that property, the Friends of Cedar Mountain Battlefield refurbished the Parrott guns and moved them to Cedar Mountain.

Stop #6: Brandy Station   

Time: 2 hours Details: Brandy Station Battlefield

The Battle of Brandy Station on June 9, 1863, involving more than 20,000 men, was the largest cavalry battle ever fought on North American soil. The Union cavalry commander, Maj. Gen. Alfred Pleasonton, anticipated the move and struck Confederate Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart’s men in camp at Brandy Station . Although Stuart claimed a slim victory, the battle proved the fighting mettle of the previously maligned Union cavalry.

The American Battlefield Trust has saved 2,159 acres of the Brandy Station battlefield, including most of the scenes of major fighting.  Nearly all of this land retains its wartime character, with vistas similar to those the soldiers had during the battle. Most spectacularly, the Trust was instrumental in preserving Fleetwood Hill, where a number of non-historic homes have been removed and the battlefield has been returned to its 1863 appearance.

  • Download the Brandy Station Battle App , for more detail and touring assistance.
  • Start at Fleetwood Hill, located at 20368 Fleetwood Heights Road. There’s a small parking area near a historic United Daughters of the Confederacy bronze tablet. A short walking trail rings the hill where a telescope helps you see the surrounding features.
  • If time allows, two more walking trails await you at nearby St. James Church and at Buford’s Knoll. Brandy Station is one of the three largest sites preserved by the Trust.
  • On Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., visit the Graffiti House , 19484 Brandy Road, Brandy Station, a wartime structure loaded with Civil War soldier graffiti. The historic house is the headquarters of the Brandy Station Foundation, which has partnered with the American Battlefield Trust to help save the battlefield.

Stop #7: Bristoe Station  

Time: 1 hour Details: Bristoe Station Battlefield

At Bristoe Station on October 14, 1863, Confederate Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill’s corps stumbled upon two corps of the Union army at Bristoe Station and attacked without proper reconnaissance. Union soldiers posted behind an embankment of the Orange & Alexandria Railroad raked the advancing Confederate troops and captured a battery of artillery. Almost 2,000 men fell in the battle.

The Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park represents one of the most notable saves in the history of the American Battlefield Trust. In 2004, the Trust collaborated with Centex Homes and Prince William County to save 133 acres of core battlefield, at the same time allowing the developer to build homes on other land in the tract. Without having to buy the land, the Trust was able to save much of a key battlefield on valuable Northern Virginia property.

Start at Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park on Route 619, Bristow Road, Bristow, Va..

  • The 140-acre park, opened in 2007, features 2.7 miles of walking and equestrian trail and interpretive signs about the battle.

Stop #8: Ball’s Bluff 

Time: 1.5 hours Details: Ball’s Bluff Battlefield

On October 21, 1861, a Union scouting party crossed the Potomac River at Ball’s Bluff to determine the positions of Confederate troops near Leesburg. When the Union troops encountered Mississippi infantry, a skirmish began that progressed into a battle and a victory for the Southerners. Col. Edward Baker, a U.S. senator and friend of President Lincoln, was killed as the Confederates drove the Yankees over the bluff and into the Potomac, where many drowned and hundreds surrendered rather than risk escape into the river. Of the battle's 1,157 casualties, more than 1,000 wore uniforms of blue.

The American Battlefield Trust has saved three acres at Ball’s Bluff.

  • The Ball’s Bluff Battlefield Regional Park on Ball’s Bluff Road, Leesburg, features a number of walking trails and battlefield interpretive signs and a small national cemetery.

Stop #9: Monocacy Battlefield

Time: 1-2 hours Details: Monocacy Battlefield

To help take pressure off the Confederates in Virginia, a force commanded by Gen. Jubal A. Early crossed the Potomac River at Shepherdstown into Maryland on July 5-6th, 1864, to threaten the national capital. On July 9th, a makeshift Union force attempted to stop Early’s invading Confederate divisions along the Monocacy River, just east of Frederick. They were defeated, and Early continued his advance towards Washington. The battle at Monocacy, however, gave the Union army time to bolster defenses around Washington.

The American Battlefield Trust has saved 442 acres at Monocacy and was integral in saving the Thomas Farm at the heart of the battlefield.

  • The Monocacy National Battlefield is a National Park Service facility. After stopping at the Visitor Center, 5201 Urbana Pike, take the Monocacy National Battlefield self-guided auto tour .

If you have time:

Consider swinging by Antietam and Harpers Ferry, where the American Battlefield Trust has saved more than 650 acres of key land, including the “Epicenter at Antietam.”  See detailed itinerary of these sites.

Stop #10: Gettysburg

Time: 5 hours Details: Gettysburg Battlefield  

The Battle of Gettysburg, on July 1, 2, and 3, 1863, was the greatest battle of the war. It ended Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s second invasion of the North. For three summer days in south central Pennsylvania, more than 160,000 soldiers fought in the farm fields and amongst the boulders and hills around the small town of Gettysburg. More than 51,000 men were killed, wounded, captured or missing.

Over the years, the American Battlefield Trust has saved more than 1,000 acres at Gettysburg.  This includes land that saw fighting on all three days of the battle. On the first day’s battlefield, we saved land along Willoughby Run and adjacent to Barlow’s Knoll. Farther south, we saved a small but crucial parcel along the Emmittsburg Road over which Lt. Gen. James Longstreet’s men marched on their way to Devil’s Den and Little Round Top on July 2. We also saved key tracts on Power’s Hill, a key Union artillery platform during the fighting on Culp’s Hill.  But perhaps most visibly, the Trust has preserved and restored the Mary Thompson House, site of Robert E. Lee’s headquarters during the battle.

Start at the Visitor Center , Gettysburg National Military Park.

Then tour the battlefield. You have several options.

  • Watch the Gettysburg Animated Map (which you can also do on the big screen at the Gettysburg Heritage Cente r! It’s at 297 Steinwehr Avenue.)
  • For a personalized experience, hire a Licensed Gettysburg Battlefield Guide .
  • Download the Gettysburg Battle App for your own driving tour of the battlefield.
  • Take the NPS self-guided auto tour .
  • Gen. Lee’s Headquarters . The preservation and restoration of the Thompson House, which Gen. Robert E. Lee used as his headquarters during the Battle of Gettysburg, is one of the stellar preservation achievements of the American Battlefield Trust. The four-acre tract included a motel and restaurant for many years, with the Thompson home serving as a museum and gift store. The Trust bought the property in 2015, razed the modern structures and in 2016 opened the restored property, which includes a trail and interpretive markers. The historic site is at 385 Lincoln Highway.  
  • McPherson Ridge (NPS tour stop 1) is in the heart of the first day’s battlefield at Gettysburg. Union Gen. John Reynolds was killed near a memorial to him.
  • Barlow's Knoll. Located on Howard Avenue on the NPS tour after stop 3 (Oak Ridge), Barlow's Knoll is where Confederate attackers smashed the Union defensive line on the first day of the battle. The American Battlefield Trust has saved three large tracts near Barlow's Knoll, including 40 acres directly south of the knoll.
  • Virginia Memorial. Here, at stop 5 on the NPS tour, the spectacular Virginia Memorial depicts Gen. Lee on his horse, Traveller, peering across the vast, open plain where his army made its great assault, Pickett’s Charge, on the third day of the battle.
  • Little Round Top. Much of the battlefield is in view from this hilltop, NPS tour stop 8, which saw intense fighting on the second day of the battle as Union forces hastily occupied this commanding position and Confederates desperately and unsuccessfully tried to dislodge them.
  • Peach Orchard. An ill-advised Union advance by Gen. Daniel Sickles to the area of the Peach Orchard, well in front of the rest of the Union line, threatened Union efforts on the second day of the battle.
  • Power’s Hill. As the NPS tour proceeds from stop 12 to stop 13 at Spangler’s Spring, the route turns onto Baltimore Pike for a short distance before turning left onto Colgrove Avenue. While southbound on Baltimore Pike, one can see Power’s Hill in the near distance off to the right; from this hill, Union artillerists shelled Confederate forces attacking Culp’s Hill.  The American Battlefield Trust has saved key tracts at Power’s Hill, allowing the National Park Service to open up vistas of Gettysburg’s forgotten landmark. Before long, a trail will cross the property the Trust preserved and provide walking access to Power’s Hill. 
  • High Water Mark. Here, at stop 15, the Union line repulsed the Confederate assault – Pickett’s Charge – on the climatic third day of the battle. After a mile’s march across open fields from the area of the Virginia Memorial, the spectacular assault by 12,000 Confederates dissolved at the stone wall and the Copse of Trees in the fury of close-quarters combat.         

rattray battlefields tours

Make Some History This Weekend in Fredericksburg

rattray battlefields tours

Make Some History This Weekend in Culpeper

rattray battlefields tours

Make Some History This Weekend in Gettysburg

Related battles, the battlefields today.

This is a photograph of the woods at Mine Run battlefield.

Visit Mine Run

rattray battlefields tours

Visit Chancellorsville

Photograph of a misty day at Ball's Bluff Battlefield

Visit Ball's Bluff

rattray battlefields tours

Visit Fredericksburg

This photo depicts a silhouette of a canon amidst a vibrant, orange sunset.

Visit Gettysburg

Fields of wheat at Brandy Station

Visit Brandy Station

rattray battlefields tours

Visit Bristoe Station

rattray battlefields tours

Visit The Wilderness

rattray battlefields tours

Visit Cedar Mountain

rattray battlefields tours

Visit Monocacy

rattray battlefields tours

The Wilderness Virtual Tour

rattray battlefields tours

Brandy Station Virtual Tour

rattray battlefields tours

Lee's Headquarters: A Guided Tour

rattray battlefields tours

Chancellorsville Virtual Tour

rattray battlefields tours

Fredericksburg Virtual Tour

This photograph depicts a cannon resting on a battlefield.

Gettysburg Virtual Tour

Explore the trust's anniversary.

  • My Cart Items: 0 Subtotal: R 0.00 View Cart Check Out

rattray battlefields tours

  • Fugitives’ Drift
  • The Rattray Family
  • The David Rattray Foundation
  • The Guest House
  • Umzinyathi & Kwa-George
  • Recommended Itineraries
  • Conservation Levy
  • Book Online
  • Isandlwana & Rorke’s Drift
  • Melvill & Coghill
  • Other Battlefield Tours
  • Nature Walks and Birding
  • Trail Running
  • Mountain Biking
  • Battlefield Kids

Our Lecturers

  • Ride for a Reason
  • Conferences

Fugitives’ Drift is world-renowned for moving, passionate, detailed and remarkable battlefield tours to Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana. Our tours to the battlefields were first conducted by David Rattray in 1990.

David quickly gained international recognition for his unique story-telling abilities. David was often supported by other lecturers who benefited from his knowledge and experience. Our current lecturers are Douglas Rattray, Bryan Mncube, Ian Thomson and Mphiwa Ntanzi.

Read More About our tours

Doug Rattray Lecturer

DOUGLAS RATTRAY

From a very young age, Doug had an interest in all matters military; particularly the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. He certainly shared his late father’s enthusiasm for the rich history of our area. Doug is passionate about Fugitives’ Drift, having returned at the age of 24 after having completed his diploma in nature conservation.

Following in David’s footsteps, Doug embarked on his first UK tour in June 2019. During this tour, he gave several independent talks at various organisations, spoke at a large private event at Chelsea Old Town Hall, and was an invited guest to speak at the well-regarding Chalke Valley History Festival.

rattray battlefields tours

MPHIWA NTANZI

Having first met David in 2005, locally born Mphiwa has been part of the Fugitives’ Drift team for over 10 years. His passion for the Anglo-Zulu War begun at an early age, after having been told the stories of his Grandfather and Great Grandfather, both of whom bravely fought on the Zulu side at the Battle of Isandlwana. This has equipped Mphiwa with unique and vaste amounts of knowledge of this important part of South African history, and we are lucky to have him on our team at Fugitives’ Drift.

Mphiwa is also continuously impressing our guests with his extensive knowledge of plants and herbology, and for those more interested in the nature of the surrounding area, is an excellent guide both on and off the battlefield.

rattray battlefields tours

BRYAN MCUBE

Bryan was brought up in Rorke’s Drift. Since his childhood, he has done a lot of travelling and working in Europe and a number of other countries within Africa. He has always been passionate about South Africa’s remarkable history in particular the history surrounding the Zulu war – and so after living in London for a few years, he decided to return to the area to share these amazing stories of human courage and endeavour with the world. For Bryan, being back at home and telling his home stories – and being part of keeping the David Rattray legacy alive – is an honour.

Battlefield Tour Lecturers

  • Advance Pricing Agreements Oecd
  • Wann arbeitssuchend melden befristeter Vertrag
  • Vodafone Vertrag angebote ohne handy
  • Vitra stoffmuster bestellen
  • Vertragslaufzeit telekom internet
  • Vertraglich entgegenkommen englisch
  • Versailler Vertrag ebert
  • Terrassensteine Muster
  • Telekom Vertrag günstiger machen
  • Telekom e mail adresse ohne Vertrag
  • Tarifvertrag systemgastronomie hessen
  • Tarifvertrag mfa azubi
  • Tarifvertrag ihk nrw groß und außenhandel
  • Tarifvertrag gebäudereiniger west
  • Tarifvertrag einzelhandel münchen
  • Tarifvertrag brauerei berlin
  • Tarifvertrag apotheker mecklenburg vorpommern
  • Tapetenmuster für wohnzimmer
  • Suchtverlauf Muster alkohol
  • Stoff indisches Muster

Battlefields Region Guides

Battlefields Region Guides cover a variety of sites and areas of interest and persons seeking a Guide are advised to check the whole list in order to select the most suitable Guides for their trip.

Specialities

  • Battlefields
  • Zulu Culture
  • Wildlife/Birding/Nature
  • National Guide – Registered to guide throughout South Africa
  • Provincial Guide – Registered to guide in KwaZulu-Natal
  • Site Guide – Registered to guide on specific sites only
  • Special Focus – Special field if interest and speciality. Not all guides offer tours to all battlefields.

Armstrong, Des

rattray battlefields tours

Desmond Armstrong

  • Voortrekker, Second Anglo Boer War

Based in Howick, Desmond has a strong affiliation for his Irish roots and the Irish connection with the battlefields of KZN. A tour with him brings out of the Irish blarney, poetry and tales of the men and their links with the “home country”. Over thirty years of reading about and travelling around the area has given him an extensive knowledge of the battlefields from a very different perspective.

Tel: 033 330 8390 / 083 449 7709

Arendse, Brandyne

rattray battlefields tours

Brandyne Arendse

  • Voortrekker, Zulu history, Anglo Zulu War, First and Second Anglo Boer War

Brandyne Arendse is a qualified battlefields guide for KZN. His passion for the history of this province has taken him to the remotest corners and investigated sites way of the beaten track. His wide knowledge of remote areas and seldom visited sites is remarkable and he is constantly out and about visiting sites and listening to the stories from people in these areas.

Tel: 082 775 2400

Baker, Warwick

rattray battlefields tours

Warwick Baker

  • Voortrekker, Zulu History, Anglo Zulu War, First and Second Anglo Boer War

Warwick Baker is a specialist battlefields guide based in Durban. His interest in battlefields of KZN stems from childhood. An avid collector of Africana, he has done considerable research over the years and presents a view that is totally unbiased. Warwick tailors tours to suit client’s needs. He is also a provincial guide for KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, wild life and rock art.

Tel: +27(0)31 267 1163 / +27(0)82 417 5248

Blackburn, Simon

rattray battlefields tours

Simon Blackburn

  • Spioenkop, Ladysmith and Relief of Ladysmith Battles

Simon Blackburn, with his wife Cheryl co-owner of Three Tree Hill Lodge at Spioenkop. He studied Zoology and started guiding in 1994, with experience at Singita ( 10 years), Kwando Safaris (3 years), Botswana, and many years at Three Trees at Spioenkop. He is a FGASA Level III DG Nature Guide, SATOUR KZN Tourist Guide #112, Botswana qualified guide and specialises in Walking Trails in Big 5 areas, and the historical sites of the Anglo Boer War in the Ladysmith area, with particular emphasis on Spioenkop and Colenso.

Tel: +27(0)36 448 1171 / +27(0)82 379 1864

Website: www.threetreehill.co.za

Botterill, Don

rattray battlefields tours

Don Botterill

  • Anglo Zulu War, Second Anglo Boer War Battles

Don Botterill is a KZN registered tour guide specialising in one and two day tours to the Battlefields. His interest in Battlefields history stems from the involvement of his great grandfather who was sent to South Africa as part of Lord Chelmsford’s forces in 1878 resulting in four generations of his family becoming born and bred KZ Natalians. Don’s tours are personalised single party groups in a reliable and comfortable vehicle with all permits and licences in place. Visitors gain a true understanding of Zulu and Boer history and culture of the times as well as British Colonial attitudes.Don brings the battles back to life by explaining the strategies and retracting the footprints of the combatants and discussing the bravery and suffering of the men involved and examining the weapons of the time.

Tel: +27(0)031 764 3063 / +27(0)82 456 1805

Website: www.daytourskzn.co.za

Caskie, Rob

rattray battlefields tours

Rob Caskie works on a freelance basis involved mainly in lectures on the Anglo-Zulu War. Rob Caskie is a charismatic and engaging storyteller whose imaginative talks are lifelike as he takes you through the battles of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. He is a guest lecturer on tours to the Antarctic and Alaska. Based in the Western Cape and is available to guests who wish to engage his services.

Tel: +27(0)82 4000 470

Coleman, Anthony

rattray battlefields tours

Anthony Coleman

Anthony Coleman was awarded the KwaZulu-Natal Service Excellence Award – Best Tourist Guide of the Year, 2008-2009. He has led many general and specialist tours within KwaZulu-Natal and South Africa and has established a reputation as a professional and accomplished Guide/lecturer with an easy going but informative manner. Anthony is also an accredited Trainer and assessor for Tourist Guides and is a qualified National Guide. He has consistently been complemented as being passionate knowledgeable and fair in his narration of the incredible events that have made our history the most remarkable in the world.

Tel: +27(0)34 212 3401 / +27(0)72 204 2986

Website: www.battlescenes.co.za

Durham, Elisabeth

rattray battlefields tours

Elisabeth Durham

  • Isandlwana, Rorkes Drift, Prince Imperial, Blood River

Elisabeth Durham was born in France and regularly conducts tours in both English and French. She is also available as a translator for French speaking groups. She conducts tours to Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift, Talana, the site where Louis Napoleon, Prince Imperial of France was killed.

Tel: +27(0)34 212 1014 / +27(0)72 779 5949

Duval, Pierre

rattray battlefields tours

Pierre Duval

  • Anglo Zulu War Battles, Second Anglo Boer War

Pierre Duval has an unbelievable love for South Africa. Since a child he has grabbed every opportunity to explore the countryside. While specializing in nature, Pierre has an excellent knowledge of the country’s historical and cultural side. He is one of the few tour guides that are accredited on a national level, allowing him to tour the whole country. He has been guiding full time since 1998, and is the owner of BushBaby Safaris.

Tel: +27(0)82 466 8350

Website: www.bushbaby.co.za

Friend, Sean

rattray battlefields tours

Sean Friend

  • First and Second Anglo Boer Wars, Anglo Zulu Wars

Sean Friend is a Specialist History Guide based in Newcastle. He takes tours to the 1879 Zulu War and 1899 Boer War sites, but Majuba Mountain and the battles of the Transvaal War of Independence are his current favourites. He also conducts tours to Hlobane, Kambula, Ntombe Drift and other sites in the Vryheid area, as he spent many years living in Vryheid.

He also does lectures on the South African defence Force (SADF) in the Angolan / SWA Border War.

Tel: +27 82 367 9100

Garner, Paul

rattray battlefields tours

Paul Garner

  • Anglo Zulu War Battles

Paul Garner is a guide with over 30 years’ experience leading tours in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana, including expeditions in search of the Lost City of the Kalahari. He has an abiding passion for Africa, its history, fauna and flora, with a special interest in Birding, Battlefields and Rock Art. He is an active member of The Wildlife and Environmental Society, The Endangered Wildlife Trust, Birdlife South Africa and the South African Archaeological Society.

Tel: +27(0)34 212 1931 / +27(0)82 472 3912

Gordon, Allan

rattray battlefields tours

Allan Gordon

  • Anglo Boer War Battles

Allan Gordon is a registered tour guide who has a passionate interest in the battles of the South Africa African War, the Anglo-Zulu War and the First Boer War. He is a keen amateur historian and an accomplished and avid collector of military medals. Through his passion for medals, their history and their owners, Allan offers a unique, fascinating and interactive battlefield touring “experience-with-a-difference”.

Tel: +27 82 455 9279

Website: www.battletoursza.com

Hamman, Johann

rattray battlefields tours

Johann Hamman

Johann Hamman is a KZN Provincial Guide who studied Military History, as well as Law and Political Science. He has conducted many people to the Anglo Zulu War and Boer War battlefields in Kwazulu-Natal and the Free State. He passionately believes that a people who denies its history, does not deserve its future. He has four ancestors who fought in the battle of Blood River and one who fought on Spioenkop. He is a former Namibian police officer, born in Windhoek, Namibia, and he travelled extensively in Europe.

Tel: +27(0)82 267 2527

rattray battlefields tours

Simon Haw has been taking tours since 1974. Most of these have been school tours and have covered sites as far away as Kimberley and Mafikeng. His career included twenty years of teaching mostly History. He was subsequently promoted first as an educational researcher and then for the last twelve years as a History subject advisor. He retired at the end of 2007 and is now an accredited KZN tour guide with a particular but not exclusive interest in battlefield tours. He is the author of For “Hearth and Home”: The story of Maritzburg College and “Bearing Witness” a history of the Witness newspaper, as well as contributing to a number of current History and Social Science textbooks.

Tel: +27(0)33 343 3847 / +27(0)82 824 8326

Heron, Alistair

rattray battlefields tours

Alastair Heron

  • Spioenkop and Ladysmith Area

Alastair Heron is a qualified Battlefield and Cultural guide who has studied history and psychology. He is the manager of family owned Spion Kop Lodge, who offer Tours of the KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields.

They also offer tours that include Birding, Sunset Boat Cruises, and Hiking Trips to the San Rock Art Paintings.

Tel: +27(0)36 4881404 / +27(0)82 5730224/5

Website: www.spionkop.co.za

Heron, Raymond

rattray battlefields tours

Raymond Heron

Raymond is the owner of Spion Kop Lodge. He is an Anglo Boer War raconteur and registered guide. His tours focus mainly on the events around the battle of Spioenkop and in the Ladysmith area of the KwaZulu Natal Battlefields. With his passion and unique ability, Raymond transports you back in time, using the theatre of the mind as he paints vivid pictures of the personal trauma and military mindset of the time, which, enables you, to envisage the past that changed the future of our country.

Tel: +27(0)36 488 1404 / +27(0)82 573 0224/5

Horn, Vincent

rattray battlefields tours

Vincent Horn

  • Ladysmith and Relief of Ladysmith Battles

Vincent is a Provincial Nature and Culture guide, (Reg no:1204) he grew up in the Ladysmith / Colenso area. Vincent conducts tours to all the Battlefields in KZN. (Spioenkop, Colenso, Ladysmith, Isandlwana, Rorke’s drift etc)

Special interest is the digital capturing of all monuments, war graves and battlefield sites.

Tel: 036 631 0740 / 083 781 0740

Jonker, Pierre

rattray battlefields tours

Pierre Jonker

  • Ladysmith Area

Qualified Battlefield Guide, Pierre also holds an honours degree in Geology.

From an early age he read military history, specifically the Anglo Boer War and the Second World War. Whilst Geology has taken him to many parts of the world, he has now found that the years of interest has an outlet at Three Tree Hill Lodge, where Pierre is the resident Battlefield Guide. He has also benefited greatly from mentors Ron Gold, Simon Blackburn and author Dr Robert Davidson.

Tel: 082 379 1864

King, Colin

rattray battlefields tours

Colin Sellen King

  • Voortrekker, Anglo Zulu War, First and Second Anglo Boer War

Colin is a Provincial Guide, Culture and Nature for Gauteng and Mpumalanga Provinces as well as being registered as a Swaziland Tourist Guide.

Colin has been a registered guide since 1999. He has worked as both was a fulltime Guide and admin assistant with a Durban based Tour Company, and as a freelance guide in his own tour business. Viewfinder Guided Tours and Safaris. He guides guests of Thompsons Touring, Shaka Tours, Discover Durban Tours, Ricksha Tours, and Safaris for Africa on the Battlefields of KZN.

His personal interaction and association many other battlefield guides helped to develop his enthusiasm for the KZN Battlefields. Colin is a dedicated, knowledgeable and passionate Tour Guide who thoroughly enjoys his Tourism involvement, particularly in the areas of Culture, Historical Battlefields and Wildlife.

Tel: 031 4640060

Cell: 083 3037099

Leveridge, Norman

rattray battlefields tours

Norman Leveridge

  • Talana Battle

Norman Leveridge works at Talana museum as a part time research assistant and archivist. He has always been interested in the history of the area as he lives on a historic farm and has a passion about military uniforms and the blockhouses of the Anglo Boer War.

Working with documents in the archives has given him unique access to local and detailed information about the battlefield sites.

He is also a registered nature guide.

Tel: 081 809 7243

Masuku, Bornwell

rattray battlefields tours

Bornwell Masuku

Bornwell Masuku is the collections manager and education officer at Talana Museum. He has shown considerable interest in the museum collections and in explaining them, particularly to school groups.

He has a deep interest in Zulu cultural history, the battlefields and coal mining.

Tel: 073 385 7382

McFadden, Pam

rattray battlefields tours

Pam McFadden

Pam McFadden, a graduate of the University of Natal and University of South Africa, has done considerable field research into the military conflicts fought in KwaZulu-Natal and has regularly conducted tours around these sites for over 40 years. She has had 4 books published on the battles of the area. As Curator of the Talana Museum from 1983 – 2022 she was responsible for the development of the museum and battlefield, which is acknowledged as being one of the finest in South Africa. She is an Honorary Life Member of the Battlefields Guides Association in recognition of all the years of guiding, training and promotion she has done for the area and professional tour guiding and is also the Chairperson of Battlefields Guides Professional Association.

Tel: +27 79 490 5933

Mitchell-Innes, George

rattray battlefields tours

George Mitchell-Innes

  • Elandslaagte Battle

George Mitchell-Innes lives on his farm at Elandslaagte and from this base conducts guests on tours of the Elandslaagte battlefield and other sites in the Ladysmith area. He has an excellent collection of material relating to the battle of Elandslaagte.

Tel: +27(0)36 421 1860 / +27(0)82 734 3118

Mncube, Bryan

rattray battlefields tours

Bryan Mncube

  • Isandlwana, Rorkes Drift, Fugitives Drift

Bryan Mncube was brought up in Rorke’s Drift. Since his childhood, he has done a lot of travelling and working in Europe and in a number of other countries within Africa. He comes from a Marketing and Logistics background, but has always been passionate about South Africa’s remarkable history – in particular the history surrounding the Zulu War, and about sharing these amazing stories of human courage and endeavour with the world.

There are many powerful lessons that are to be extracted from these subjects. Bryan has learnt that the stories that he tells on the Battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift are not just stories about conflict; but are about human beings, and about compassion. For Bryan, being back home and telling his home stories, sharing this platform with the best lecturers in the field, and being part of keeping the legacy of David Rattray alive through the magic of the story, is an absolute honour.

Tel: 034 271 8051 / 087 285 1172

Ntanzi, Mphiwa

rattray battlefields tours

Mphiwa Ntanzi

His passion for the Anglo-Zulu war began at an early age after having been told the stories of both his Grandfather and Great Grandfather’s bravery fighting for the Zulu’s during the battles of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift.

This has equipped him with unique accounts and knowledge of this part of South African history. He is part of the Fugitive’s Drift team.

Parkinson, Chris

rattray battlefields tours

Christian Parkinson

Christian Parkinson has a passion for military history and exploring the battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal. As well as guiding, he also runs the popular Redcoat History Podcast and YouTube channel which examines the campaigns of the British army during the Georgian and Victorian eras. His tours currently focus on the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. For more information, please visit his website www.redcoathistory.com

Cell: +27 60 991 8671

Website: www.redcoathistory.com

Rattray, Douglas

rattray battlefields tours

Douglas Rattray

From a very young age, Doug had an interest in all matters military; particularly the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. He shared his late father’s enthusiasm for the rich history of our area. Doug is passionate about Fugitives’ Drift, having returned at the age of 24 after having completed his diploma in nature conservation.

Following in David’s footsteps, Doug has done numerous international lectures of the Anglo Zulu war and the battlefields in KwaZulu-Natal.

Ross, Colin

rattray battlefields tours

Colin Ross is a registered guide and member of the International Guild of Battlefield Guides. With his military background he puts a soldier’s perspective on his battlefield walks and talks, which are known for their client interaction, humour and enjoyment as characterised in his popular Battlewalks social media posts.

Website: www.battlewalks.co.za

Rundgren,Pat

rattray battlefields tours

Pat Rundgren

  • Voortrekker, Zulu History and Culture, Anglo Zulu War, First and Second Anglo Boer War

Pat Rundgren has operated for many years as a registered military specialist guide in the Dundee area. Formerly in the Rhodesian Security Services, Pat is a collector of militaria and has just completed his second book. He regularly contributes articles to overseas military history and collectors magazines. He organises adventure tours, hikes, white water rafting, Zulu cultural and battlefields tours.

Tel: +27(0)34 212 4560 / +27(072) 803 2885

Spiret, Liz

rattray battlefields tours

Elizabeth Spiret

Elizabeth (Liz) Spiret was born and educated in the UK. She served as museum assistant in the Siege Museum for 8 years, is a trustee of the Siege Museum and a committee member of Ladysmith Historical Society. Her particular interest is the Siege of Ladysmith and surrounding battles of the Anglo Boer War 1899-1902. She has conducted tours around these sites for many years.

Tel: +27(0)36 637 7702 / +27(0)72 262 9669

Smith, Kevin

rattray battlefields tours

Kevin Smith

Kevin Smith was a schoolmaster at Kearsney College for 30 years where he organised and conducted many safaris/tours throughout South Africa and overseas. He is a qualified and registered National Tour Guide, KZN 1894, and is able to guide you through all nine South African Provinces. His love for, and interest in, the environment, both past and present, has led him into taking safaris through Battlefield Sites and Game Reserves throughout Southern Africa. Kevin provides a Personal Brochure for each client with photographs taken at the various monuments and then cut + pasted into notes, maps and diagrams of each of the battles visited. Together with detailed information on all Battle Sites in the country and from the constellations of our night sky in terms of astronomy and astrology to biogeography, ecology, animal, bird identification to trees in term of names, traditional uses and superstitions, Kevin is able to bring your surroundings both past and present to life.

Tel: 084 555 9600

Van Schaik, Bryan

rattray battlefields tours

Bryan van Schaik

  • First and Second Anglo Boer War, Anglo Zulu War

Bryan has had a strong interest in the South Africa battlefields since high school days. He has studied anthropology and psychology through UNISA specialising in the Battlefields region. He is a registered guide for KZN and particularly the battlefields region. He has conducted many tours in the region over the past 15 years.

Cell: +27(0)78 519 4451

Tel/Fax: +27(0)31 207 2728

Wells, Sheldon

rattray battlefields tours

Shelldon Wells

Shelldon Wells is a tour guides based in the city of Durban, South Africa. He regularly takes visitors on guided tours to Rorkes Drift, Isandlwana and many other battlefields of the Anglo Zulu war. He offers options of day tours, overnight and multi-day tours and has a collection service from your accommodation in the Durban or surrounding areas.

See website for further information.

Tel: +27 (0) 74 995 6669 / +27 (0) 31 762 3374

Website: www.cctouring.co.za

Privacy Overview

  • Advice on Visiting the Battlefields
  • Early Zulu Battles and Historical Sites
  • Voortrekker – Zulu Conflict
  • The Rebellion of Langalibalele 1873
  • The Anglo Zulu War 1879
  • Transvaal War of Independence 1880-1881
  • The Zulu Civil War 1883-1888
  • The South African / Anglo Boer War 1899 – 1902
  • Bhambatha Rebellion
  • By Alphabetic Listing
  • Dundee / Rorke’s Drift / Isandlwana
  • Durban / Coastal
  • Eshowe / Ulundi / Vryheid / Newcastle
  • Ladysmith / Colenso / Estcourt
  • Pietermartizburg
  • Johannesburg
  • National Guides
  • Provincial Guides
  • Site Guides
  • Wildlife / Birding / Nature
  • Tour Operators
  • Tourist Guide Code of Conduct and Ethics
  • Special Tours
  • Memorial benches at Rorkes Drift
  • Wildlife & Game Parks
  • Zulu Heritage
  • Accommodation
  • Battlefield Videos
  • The Heritage Portal Articles
  • Articles on the Battlefields Area

17 Best Moscow Tours

rattray battlefields tours

Are you planning a visit to the capital of Russia and looking for the best Moscow tours? From Red Square to the Kremlin and from world-class art to fairytale buildings, Moscow is an enchanting city that offers plenty of excitement and elegance. Its history dates back more than 800 years, and there is culture in abundance for visitors to immerse themselves in.

Make the most of your visit with 17 of the best Moscow tours that let you see everything the city and its surroundings have to offer.

1 – Guided Tour of the Moscow Metro

Guided Tour of the Moscow Metro

Moscow’s metro is world-famous, thanks to the architectural delights on offer underground stations around the capital. This guided tour of the Moscow stations, otherwise known as “the palace of the people” lasts for 1.5 hours and includes an English-speaking guide who will tell you how the Russian metro became one of the most beautiful in the world. Highlights include Mayakovskaya station with its aviation-themed mosaics.

  • Moscow metro tours

2 – Cosmonautics Museum Space Tour

Cosmonautics Museum Space Tour

Discover Cosmonautics Museum with this space tour. Dive into one of the greatest battles between the Soviet Union and the United States – the space race. Hear about the space programs of the USSR and learn about how the USSR shaped space travel and technology.

  • Cosmonautics Museum tours

3 – Guided Tour of the Kremlin

Guided Tour of the Kremlin

A Kremlin is actually a citadel in Russian towns, and Moscow’s version is, without doubt, the most famous. The Kremlin is the heartbeat of the city, and this guided tour takes you to the most important points of interest. See Cathedral Square with its orthodox temples; Tzar Cannon with its 890mm calibre, which is the largest in the world; and the exterior of the all-important government buildings that are located within the Kremlin’s walls.

Click here to learn how to book Kremlin tickets .

  • Kremlin tours

4 – Moscow City Walking Tour

Moscow City Walking Tour

One of the best Moscow tours for seeing everything the city has to offer, this small-group walking tour lasts for 2 hours and includes an expert guide. Make the most of the capital and see the cobbled spaces of Red Square, take pictures of St Basil’s Cathedral, visit the elegant Bolshoi Theatre, and enjoy the ornamental Alexandrovsky Garden.

  • Moscow walking tours

5 – Night Tour of Moscow

Night Tour of Moscow

When the sun sets, the fun begins – and it all starts with a night tour of Russia’s most famous city. The beauty of Moscow comes into full effect after hours, as iconic buildings like St Basil’s Cathedral illuminate against the night sky. Other locations on this tour include the Moscow River and the Ukraine Hotel, which is a landmark skyscraper that was constructed during the era of Stalin.

6 – Sergiev Posad Day Trip

Sergiev Posad Day Trip

One of the best Moscow tours that take you outside of the city, the Sergiev Posad day trip provides the opportunity to see The Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the spiritual centre of the Russian Orthodox Church. It’s made up of a number of different buildings that include the blue domes of the Cathedral of the Assumption, Church of St. Sergius and the Bell Tower.

  • Sergiev Posad day trips from Moscow

7 – City Sightseeing Moscow Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Optional Cruise

City Sightseeing Moscow Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Optional Cruise

If your time in Moscow is limited, this hop-on, hop-off bus tour is ideal – and it even features an optional cruise on the river. Choose between a 2 and 3-day ticket and see famous landmarks like Red Square, the Kremlin and the Bolshoi Theatre from an open-top panoramic bus with informative audio commentary. Take your experience to the next level by upgrading to a boat tour.

  • Moscow hop on hop off bus tours

8 – Guided Tour of the Tretyakov Gallery

Guided Tour of the Tretyakov Gallery

As one of the world’s most important galleries, the Tretyakov Gallery is a must-see for any art lovers and is one of the best Moscow tours for culture vultures. Learn about the masterworks of Pablo Tretyakov with a guided tour and discover the secrets behind the paintings. Other noticeable artists on view include Fedotov, Vasnetsov, Rokotov and Kiprenski, who is the author of the famous “Portrait of Alexander Pushkin”.

  • Tretyakov Gallery tours

9 – Alternative Moscow: 2-Hour Walking Tour

Alternative Moscow: 2-Hour Walking Tour

See a different side of Moscow with this 2-hour alternative tour. An expert guide will take you around quirky streets, suburbs and squares while as your veer away from the traditional tourist hotspots. Highlights include a ride on the famous “Annushka” tram and a visit to the neighbourhood of Khitrovka, which was once known as the criminal district of the city.

10 – St.Basil’s Cathedral and Red Square: Private Tour and Ticket

St.Basil's Cathedral and Red Square: Private Tour and Ticket

Combine two of Moscow’s biggest attractions with a visit to Red Square and St.Basil’s Cathedral. Admire the beautiful architecture of St.Basil’s Cathedral from inside and out, before wandering Red Square and learn about the soldiers, farmers and revolutionaries that all called this famous square their home. Round things off with the changing of the guard at Alexander Garden.

  • Red Square tours

11 – Bunker-42 Cold War Museum Guided Tour

Bunker-42 Cold War Museum Guided Tour

Moscow is notorious for the Cold War, which lasted for about 45 years between 1945 and 1990. Head to the world-famous Bunker-42, located 65 meters below ground level, and learn about the storied past. Visit rooms and passages that were set up to shelter 3,000 people in case of nuclear attack and discover other sections, such as the equipment room and the war-proof telecommunications system.

  • Bunker-42 Cold War Museum tours

12 – Architecture Tour of Moscow’s Metro and Kolomenskoye Estate

Architecture Tour of Moscow's Metro and Kolomenskoye Estate

Combine the beauty of the metro stations with the Kolomenskoye Estate and see some of Moscow’s grandest sights. After visiting the elegant metro stations, it’s time to go to the Kolomenskoye Estate, which is filled with UNESCO-listed sites that are dedicated to Tsar Peter the Great.

  • Kolomenskoye tours

13 – Tour of Soviet Moscow

Tour of Soviet Moscow

Unpick the history of the USSR with one of the best Moscow tours for discovering Soviet Moscow. Starting at Monument to the Conquerors of Space, a tribute to the success of the Soviet space programme, the tour includes historical landmarks and interesting tidbits about Soviet Russia. There is also a visit to the All-Russia Exhibition Centre (VDNKh), a site that was constructed under the aegis of the USSR in tribute to state achievements.

14 – Moscow: 2.5-Hour Luxury River Cruise with Dining Option

Moscow: 2.5-Hour Luxury River Cruise with Dining Option

Sail down the Moscow River on this 2.5 hour tour that provides a different perspective of the city and includes landmark sights. The boat features two decks and has panoramic views as well as free Wi-Fi access. Attractions along the route include Ukraine hotel, Sparrow Hills, Christ the Saviour Cathedral, Crimean Bridge, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Zaryadye Park and more.

  • Moscow boat tours

15 – Izmailovo Market and Vodka Museum Tour

Izmailovo Market and Vodka Museum Tour

Visit the museum of Vodka and gain insight into one of Russia’s most famous exports and head to the Izmailovo antique and handicraft market to find a gem or two. The tour starts with Izmailovo market, which features the iconic matryoshka dolls, fur hats and amber jewellery. Next up is a trip to the Museum of Vodka, where you will discover a distillery that dates back to the 15th century.

  • Izmailovo market tours

16 – Súzdal and Vladímir Day Tour

Súzdal and Vladímir Day Tour

Discover Russia’s famous “Golden Ring” on this tour of two medieval cities outside of Moscow. The historic city of Vladimir is first up with its Golden Gate, which is an ancient city-fortress that dates back to the 13th century. Next up is the neighbouring town of Suzdal, which features historic architecture and the Kremlin, where you can see its striking white walls topped with blue domes.

  • Suzdal & Vladimir tours from Moscow

17- Moscow Food Tasting & Walking Tour

Moscow Food Tasting & Walking Tour

Sample the unique flavours of Moscow with this food tour that lasts for 3 hours and features more than 15 different food and drink tastings. Weave in and out of small alleys in the city centre while enjoying the best food spots in town. See Moscow like a local while trying classic dishes from local breakfast haunts, bustling markets, the oldest monastery in Moscow, and dumpling cafes where you can taste authentic dumplings and enjoy local coffee.

  • Moscow food tours

Moscow Voyager

Moscow’s best free city tour

rattray battlefields tours

I love Moscow – this charming metropolis, its people, its history and its unique cityscape. I would like to share my passion for this city with you. It is my job to show you the most exciting corners of this fascinating metropolis. That’s why, as a travel specialist and your private tour guide Moscow in Russia, I organize a guided free city tour Moscow – so that everyone, regardless of their budget, would be able to enjoy the insider’s view of Moscow.

You get to see what only Moscow residents know and what other tourist guides keep from you. I am a licensed travel specialist in Russia and would like you to enjoy all facets of the capital of the largest country in the world, without demanding any money from you. I’ll show you the city on my free Moscow walking tour for 1.5-hours on foot.

Everything you need to know:

  • My tours take place daily by arrangement, I am the only English-speaking licensed tourist guide Moscow, who offers a free city tour.
  • My 1.5-hour free tours Moscow do not cost you a cent, I also offer other great paid tours as well.
  • I am an experienced local, I make the tours informative, but at the same time relaxed and not off the plane.

rattray battlefields tours

Free Tours Moscow – Daily

My free tours Moscow city starts on Slavonic Square (Kitay-Gorod Metro Station), passes the world-famous St. Basil’s Cathedral, which was built by Ivan the Terrible on the south side of Red Square in the 16th century and where the tsars were once crowned. Then it goes across the Red Square at the Lenin Mausoleum, the luxury department store GUM and with a view of the Kremlin towards the historical museum. Of course, you will also learn more about the stories that once happened behind the thick walls of the Kremlin – from the Tsars and Napoleon to Stalin. Then we continue through the idyllic Alexander Garden.

rattray battlefields tours

An advance booking is required!

Practical information:

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 1.5 hours Price: Free Language: English

«First acquaintance with Moscow» – a 2.5-hour city tour in the center of Moscow

This Moscow city tour starts on the Theater Square, past Lubyanka Square and the KGB-building, then through Kitay Gorod district and Varvarka Street, past the world-famous St. Basil’s Cathedral. Then it goes across Zarjadje Park, over Red Square at the Lenin Mausoleum, the GUM-department store and towards the Historical Museum. We walk through the Alexander Garden.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2.5 hours Price: 17 $ Students and children: 6 $ Language: English

A 3.5-hour car/bus tour of Moscow.

This is the best tour of Moscow city as all the important sights are visited. I am your Moscow city guide who will walk you through the city explaining the charming history of the city. This tour begins with picking you up from the hotel. 3 breaks are offered for photographing.

First, we will visit the most famous riverside streets and bridges in the center of the city with the most beautiful views of the Kremlin and the Moskva River (e.g. the Kremlin embankment and the Great Stone Bridge).

The first photo break is made at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. We then pass by the district with numerous museums, Prechistinka Street and the district with numerous medical areas.

We again stop at the Novodevichy Convent, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the other bank of the Moskva River to click pictures.

Then we visit “Sparrow Hills” where you can enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city of Moscow from the observation deck. Then there are the skyscrapers of Moscow-City, the Kutuzov avenue, the New Arbat, Tverskaya Street, the world-famous Bolshoi Theater, the KGB building and Varvarka Street. Here there are ample spots to click pictures.

We then drive past the Kremlin again and finally reach Red Square. We take a short tour of Red Square and say goodbye in the Alexander Garden.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 3.5 hours Price for a group: 170-200 $ (depending on the number of travelers) Language: English

Metro tour – daily

Palaces for ordinary people – that was what Stalin promised to the people when the construction of the Moscow Metro began between the World Wars. The communist dictator hadn’t promised too much. No other underground system in the world can boast such spectacular architecture – chandeliers, decorations, stucco, paintings on the walls – each station is individually designed. No wonder that Moscow residents love their metro. I will guide you through the bustle of one of the busiest subways in the world and show you the most beautiful stations Moscow city has.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2 hours Price: 21 $ Students and children: 17 $ Language: English Included in the price: Metro tickets / the guided tour

Tour of Communist Moscow – every day

After the Communist October Revolution in 1918, Moscow became the capital of the Soviet Empire and was the center of socialist orbit for more than 70 years. This left its mark on Moscow, even if the USSR disintegrated more than a quarter of a century ago. The city streets are full of remnants of the communist regime and the Cold War. This is a walking tour where I will show you the most exciting places in Soviet Moscow: from the notorious KGB headquarters, also known as Lubyanka to the Karl Marx Monument to small hidden remains from the time of hammer and sickle. You will also learn about Stalin’s Great Terror political campaign and the system of the GULAG and how the USSR, the communist Russian republic, became modern Russia.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2 hours Price: 21 $ Students and children: 17 $ Language: English Included in the price: the guided tour

Alternative Moscow Tour – daily

Explore the unseen Moscow with your Moscow private guide and discover a range of sights during this alternative walking tour.  Away from the main tourist spots (in the central district of Kitay-Gorod), just a short walk from Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral, you suddenly find yourself in one of the trendiest districts of Moscow. This place not only has trendy cafes and green squares, but here you can see the most beautiful spray works (according to Albrecht Dürer), hangout-places of the youth and hipsters, as well as learn what Moscow looked like in the 19th century. Here you will also learn exciting and even bloody stories about famous gangsters, eccentric business people and legends like the wandering preacher Rasputin, who is known in Russia either as the “holy devil” or the mad monk. To learn a little more about Moscow’s culture, this is the tour for you. On my alternative tour, you will get to know Moscow away from the tourist hotspots. This tour is of 2 hours duration and you will experience the following on the tour:

  • St. John’s Hill, a quiet oasis right in the center, where time has stopped as it did in pre-Communist times
  • Khokhlovka Art Center, where Russian hipsters and street artists hang out
  • Samoskvorechye District where you can see beautiful streets and hear stories from old Moscow
Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2 hours Price: 21 $ Students and children: 17 $ Language: English Included in the price: the guided tour / tram ticket

Kremlin tour – daily (closed on Thursday)

With its 20 towers and high walls, the Kremlin rises imposingly over Red Square. This world-famous fortress with its area of ​​28 hectares is home to over 800 years of Russian history. Described as the eighth wonder of the world, this historic fortress complex is the principal symbol of Russia that sits on the banks of the Moscow River. Today the Kremlin still harbors numerous secrets and has palaces and cathedrals, surrounded by Kremlin Wall. The current wall was constructed between the 15 th  and 16 th  centuries, but the original wall was made of wood around the year 1147. The Kremlin Wall became an important symbol of Moscow’s importance in the Russian Empire. This top tourist destination attracts millions of people every year and there are various sights to see. With my Kremlin tour, you will see the oldest square in the city in the heart of the Kremlin, the once largest cannon in the world and the scene of numerous dramas – from Ivan the Terrible and Napoleon to Stalin. You cannot miss this unique experience.

An advance booking and prepayment for tickets are required.

Time: by arrangement, daily (closed on Thursday) Duration: 2 hours Price on request Students and children: on request Language: English Included in the price: Kremlin tickets / the guided tour

Moscow pub crawl – Friday / Saturday

Experience the real nightlife of Moscow with my Moscow Pub Crawl and enjoy 4 pubs/bars plus 4 welcome shot drinks. Move from one bar to another and get to know travelers from around the world as well as the locals. Play fun adventure games and contests in addition to getting perks in the bars. Between the bars, move from one place to another on foot. The routes are organized as such that you will walk no more than 10 minutes between the bars. Visit the most exciting events, parties, concerts, and dance in the bars. Moscow Pub Crawl is a tour that you will never forget.

This tour runs every Friday and Saturday evening at 8 PM and you need to bring along your passport or an ID card, comfortable shoes, and wear smart casual clothes.

An advance booking and a small prepayment are required!

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 4 hours Price on request Language: English Included in the price: the guided tour, 4 shot drinks

1.5-hour boat trip on the Moskva River.

Taking a boat tour in Moscow on the Moskva River is a very pleasant experience. It allows you to know the city from a totally different perspective and admire the beautiful bridges. In this 1.5-hour river trip, you will sail past many beautiful sites in Moscow, so you can take the best photos to commemorate this day. The ship makes several stops on the way. The trip starts from the Ustinskiy Bridge near Sarjadje Park and ends at the Kiev train station.

On this Boat Trip, you can see sights such as: the former Imperial Education House, Sarjadje Park, the “flowing”, “floating” bridge, the most beautiful view of the Kremlin, the Great Stone Bridge, the legendary House on the Quay, the Christ the Savior Cathedral , the monument to Peter the Great on the ship, the central sports arena Luzhniki, the Sparrow Hills, 240 meters high Lomonosov University, the numerous architecturally spectacular skyscrapers of Moscow-City, the Novodevichy Convent, the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs etc.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 1.5 hours Price on request Language: English

A military tour – riding on tanks in Stupino (Moscow region)

Russian Military is one of the largest military forces in the world formed in 1992. With my Military Tour experience what it likes to be in the Russian military, shooting guns, ride the Tank T-34 and various models of German tanks from the Second World War, as well as armored personnel carriers and vehicles. You will also shoot from the AK-47 and another combat weapon.

The tour will begin with your private tour guide Moscow in a Soviet army van accompanied with some tasty snacks and tea for a tasty start. Upon arriving, you will have to put on the army safety clothing and climb the Russian armored vehicles. The tour will take you on the noisy, smoky tank, driving through mud roads. All participants will get the chance to drive the tank which is coordinated by the Russian military.

Time: by arrangement, daily Price on request Language: English

' src=

Alexander Popov

Welcome to Russia! My name is Alexander, I was born in Moscow and I'm a passionate tour guide. I want to share my passion for Russia and my hometown with you. On my website you will find useful information to make your individual trip to Russia as interesting as possible.

Gorky Park and Sparrow Hills: Green Lungs, place to relax and meet

The travel voucher for the russia visa, you will also like, everything you need to know about russia: included..., traveling‌ ‌in‌ ‌russia‌ ‌–‌ ‌how‌ ‌safe‌ ‌it‌ ‌is‌..., choosing the best guide for a free and..., how do i exchange money in moscow, eating out in moscow, the best time to travel to russia, how do i get from moscow airports to..., the best taxi services in moscow, moscow’s top 13 – the main attractions of..., with sim card purchase in russia: use whatsapp,..., leave a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

@2019-2020 - Moscow Voyager. Alexander Popov

We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to use our site you accept our cookie policy. Accept Read More

COMMENTS

  1. Fugitives' Drift Lodge

    Fugitives' Drift is world-renowned for moving, passionate, detailed and remarkable battlefield tours to Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana. Our tours to the battlefields were first conducted by David Rattray in 1990.He quickly gained international recognition for his unique story-telling abilities.David was often supported by other lecturers who ...

  2. Fugitives Drift Lodge KwaZulu Natal Battlefield Tours

    The tour to Isandlwana leaves from Fugitives' Drift Lodge at 7:30am, and is typically back by 1:00pm. Our guests embark on the morning excursion in a closed vehicle, listening to a narrative recorded by the late David Rattray from The Day of the Dead Moon. This narrative gives the background to the conflict and weaves together some of the ...

  3. Fugitives Drift Lodge Fugitives' Drift Battle Field Tours

    A great wing of the Zulu army went on to attack the British garrison at Rorke's Drift, and these warriors were beaten off in a battle that lasted all night; an action that saw the awarding of 11 VCs and 5 DCMs. Fugitives' Drift Lodge and Guest House is renowned for its flagship battlefield tours to Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift, which are ...

  4. Murdered in Rorke's Drift, the man they called the 'white Zulu'

    Guides to the battlefields, trained by Rattray, have been turning up all day to offer to help keep the tours going.

  5. The Battlefields of KwaZulu Natal Tour

    An Introduction to Douglas Rattray. Joining us on our exclusive escorted tour, The History and Culture of South Africa will be one of the sons of the late and legendary David Rattray. Douglas or Andrew will be taking guests on a guided tour of some of the important battlefields of the Anglo-Zulu War, bringing the history of these extraordinary ...

  6. All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

    Isandlwana, Rorkes Drift and Fugitives Drift Battlefields Day Tour from Durban. 14. Recommended. 92% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher. 4WD Tours. from . $218.89. ... I sought out the Rattray's battlefield tours as I was so taken by the lecture. We booked on the two tours and they were quite simply breathtaking.

  7. Dundee / Rorke's Drift / Isandlwana

    Doug is passionate about Fugitives' Drift, having returned at the age of 24 after having completed his diploma in nature conservation. Following in David's footsteps, Doug has done numerous international lectures of the Anglo Zulu war and the battlefields in KwaZulu-Natal. Contact. Tel: 034 271 8051 / 087 285 1172.

  8. Battlefields Tour

    You will be mesmerized by just being at the battlefield and by the fantastic story of the Zulu victory. This tour involves a bit of walking and is not a private tour. All of our holidays are tailor-made to your requirements by an expert Travel Specialist. 0203 131 5311. Enquire Now.

  9. Zululand & the Battlefields Holidays

    The Battlefield Tours have evolved out of the unique historical re-telling developed by the late David Rattray at Fugitives Drift, his protégé Rob Gerrard, guide at Isandlwana Lodge, Rob Caskie and a small group of other inspired guides who lead tours out of these lodges. Nothing can prepare you for the impact of standing at Rorke's Drift ...

  10. David Rattray's Guide Book to the Anglo-Zulu War Battlefields

    Together with the guidebook a battlefield tour in David's company is guaranteed to make the visit come alive, his passion for the land and the Zulu people is obvious, the talks making it feel as if you were there on the day, especially on this 125th anniversary of the battles of Isandlwana and Rorkes Drift.

  11. Guides

    Douglas Rattray. Anglo Zulu War Battles; ... Zulu cultural and battlefields tours. Contact. Tel: +27(0)34 212 4560 / +27(072) 803 2885. Email: [email protected]. Spiret, Liz. Elizabeth Spiret. Ladysmith and Relief of Ladysmith Battles; Elizabeth (Liz) Spiret was born and educated in the UK. She served as museum assistant in the Siege ...

  12. About Fugitives' Drift

    It was here that David and Nicky Rattray pioneered heritage tourism in South Africa and created an award-winning destination for visitors to savour this extraordinary saga. Led by some of the finest guides in South Africa, thought-provoking and often emotionally charged tours are conducted daily to the battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke's ...

  13. Booking a Rorkes Drift Tour from Durban

    The third option is Fugitives Drift which I think may the most well known since the owner, David Rattray, wrote books about the battles at iSandlwana and Rorkes Drift. ... To keep things interesting you can add a safari tour onto the beginning or the end of your battlefields tour or even include the Rorkes Drift tour portion to a longer 14 or ...

  14. Battlefields tour of Isandlwana

    Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. Discover more about one of the most famous battles in the Anglo-Zulu War. As you step onto the battlefield of Isandlwana, you'll witness the historic site where the British forces were defeated by the Zulus. Walk in the footsteps of these warriors and see the monuments which stand as a poignant reminder to the ...

  15. The 20 Best Moscow Tours for 2022

    This tour is a perfect choice for those who wish to get to know Moscow in depth. One of the highlights of this package is the KGB history tour which gives an interesting perspective on the Cold War. You will also have time for exploring the city on your own or doing extra sightseeing. $ 941 From/Per person. Details.

  16. Battlefield Tours & Historical Vacations

    Our historical travel tours take you to the battlefields of the United States, where you'll discover the dark history of the American Civil War. Explore the museums and memorials of Washington, D.C, then experience the real thing with the "Siege of Yorktown" and the bloody battlefields of Gettysburg. Discover the devastation of the civil ...

  17. WWI & WWII Battlefields Tour

    Book your battlefields tour with confidence. Free booking hold and flexible changes. Visit the world war front lines from Normandy to Dunkirk with Trafalgar. TTC family of brands. FAQs Get a Quote Agents Login. My Trafalgar. Destinations. Ways To Go. Deals. About Us. Get Inspired. 866 513 1995. or call your travel agent. Customers.

  18. The 20 Best Moscow Day Tours of 2022

    Our 20 Best Moscow Day Tours of 2022. See all that Moscow has to offer by choosing one or more of our incredible Moscow day tours. Visit Red Square, St. Basil's, the Kremlin or perhaps a vodka museum and the fantastic Moscow metro system, we have it all. Our expert, informative and fun guides will help you get to know Europe's largest city.

  19. Battlefield Tours

    AVAILABLE TOURS: The Zulu War: 19th April - 2nd May 2013 The Making of London: 27th - 29th April 2013 Dambusters 70th Anniversary: 15th - 19th May 2013 Walking the Five Battles of Ypres: 7th - 10th June 2013 The American Civil War 1863 - Battle of Gettysburg 150th Anniversary: 1st - 9th July 2013 The Battle of Kursk - 1943: 10th ...

  20. David Rattray

    David Rattray was born in Johannesburg, Fugitives Drift Lodge is nestled on a wooded hillside above the Buffalo River overlooking the Battlefield of Isandlwana and the Oskarberg at Rorke's Drift. Set deep inside the boundaries of the Fugitives' Drift Game Reserve, the lodge offers visitors an experience that is totally unique.

  21. Tank ride & bazooka shooting Moscow

    Welcome to Russia, where everything and anything is possible—especially riding on a tank, shooting an AK-47 and a bazooka, all while drinking vodka. At Put-in tours, we have put together the ultimate excursion for men (and their girlfriends). Join us in our Soviet van for an entire afternoon of all-inclusive Russian fun on the battlefield!

  22. Tour American Battlefield Trust-Preserved Battlefields in Three Days

    The American Battlefield Trust and its partners have preserved hundreds of acres at the site of Jackson's massive flank attack, which is stop 8 on the NPS tour route. Hazel Grove - This critical plateau at tour stop 9 served as an excellent spot for Confederate artillery to attack Union infantry on May 3, 1863.

  23. Rorkes Drift & Isandlwana Tours

    Our tours to the battlefields were first conducted by David Rattray in 1990. David quickly gained international recognition for his unique story-telling abilities. David was often supported by other lecturers who benefited from his knowledge and experience. Our current lecturers are Douglas Rattray, Bryan Mncube, Ian Thomson and Mphiwa Ntanzi.

  24. Guides

    He has studied anthropology and psychology through UNISA specialising in the Battlefields region. He is a registered guide for KZN and particularly the battlefields region. He has conducted many tours in the region over the past 15 years. Contact. Cell: +27 (0)78 519 4451. Tel/Fax: +27 (0)31 207 2728.

  25. 17 Best Moscow Tours 2024

    8 - Guided Tour of the Tretyakov Gallery. As one of the world's most important galleries, the Tretyakov Gallery is a must-see for any art lovers and is one of the best Moscow tours for culture vultures. Learn about the masterworks of Pablo Tretyakov with a guided tour and discover the secrets behind the paintings.

  26. Moscow's best free city tour

    Free Tours Moscow - Daily. Practical information: «First acquaintance with Moscow» - a 2.5-hour city tour in the center of Moscow. Practical information: A 3.5-hour car/bus tour of Moscow. Practical information: Metro tour - daily. Practical information: Tour of Communist Moscow - every day.