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- Destinations
- Africa
- South Africa
- Battlefields
- Blood River/Ncome Heritage Site
Blood River/Ncome Heritage Site
Following the treacherous murder of Piet Retief and his men at
the hands of Dingaan, the Zulu chief, the Voortrekkers, led by
Andries Pretorius, prepared for battle against the Zulu kingdom on
the banks of the Ncome River on 16 December 1838. They formed an
impenetrable laager (a defensive camp encircled with their
ox-wagons) and fought the 15,000-strong impi attack until the Zulus
finally fled, leaving thousands dead and the river red with blood.
The violent encounter became known as the Battle of Blood River.
The Blood River/Ncome Heritage Site commemorates this significant
battle with monuments and museums to both the Voortrekkers and the
Zulus on either side of the river, so giving the visitor a more
complete perspective of events. On one side is the Ncome Monument
and Museum Complex, dedicated to the fallen Zulu warriors, while
the Blood River Monument and Museum is located on the west bank and
features a life-size replica of the Boer wagon laager.
Information & Facts
Address
The site is 30 miles (48km) east of Dundee, off the
R33
Admission
R30 (adults), R8 (children). Ncome Monument and Museum
free
Language
South Africa has 11 official languages, including
Afrikaans, English, Xhosa, Zulu and Sotho. English is widely
spoken.
Money
South Africa's currency is the Rand (ZAR), which is divided into
100 cents. Money can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and
the larger hotels. ATMs are widely available (there is a daily
limit for cash withdrawals) and major international credit cards
are widely accepted, except in petrol stations where cash is
required. Visitors should be vigilant when drawing cash from ATMs,
as con artists are known to operate there. Travellers cheques and
some foreign currencies are accepted at larger hotels and shops,
but commission is charged, otherwise all commercial banks will
exchange them.
Opening Times
Ncome Monument and Museum, daily from 8am to 4:30pm.
Voortrekker Monument daily from 8am to 5pm/6pm in
Summer
Time