In 1879 the Zulu Nation, under the king Cetshwayo kaMpande, accepted the challenge into the war to fight for the land of Zulus. The mighty Zulu armies under the general commander Ntshingwayo kaMahole Khoza, and other war strategists like Prince Dabulalamanzi kaMpane, Mnyamane kaNgqengelele, and Mntwana Zibhebhu kaMaphitha. The Zulu’s made history by overwhelming the Great British Red Army carrying machine guns and defeated them with with spears and cow skin shields. The war took place eSandlwane in Nquthu Area. After this humiliation Britain then invaded ONdini Palace unannounced 6 months later, and arrested the king which marked the fall of the mighty Zulu kingdom. This was followed by infightings and factions in the Zulu kingdom resulting in a number of wars involving uSuthu, uMandlakazi, uNgenetsheni royal houses and the Boers.
When you visit Nongoma, you can take a tour see the battlefield sites and learn a lot about the reasons behind these wars, who led the wars, and who are some of the key people who fought and died in those wars.
This war was led by senior prince, uMntwanomkhulu uNdabuko kaMpande, who was in charge as the king was arrested. This war took place on the 3rd March 1883, where the leader of the Mandlakazi withdrew his armies deep into Mandlakazi territory leaving Ekuvukeni and Ophanyekweni royal palaces exposed and they were indeed burnt down by uSuthu as it was charging for Banganoma royal palace. The battle started from Msebe River all the way to Ngxongwana hill at the same time the king Cetshwayo was landing in the shores of Zululand coming back from exile.
This site is on the main road between Nongoma to Mkuze, and is around 25 Km from Nongoma town.
Ondini war was one of the devastating wars where many senior leaders of the Zulu Kingdom were killed by Mandlakazi armies which worsened the relations between the two houses. This battle is outside uNongoma but is key in shaping the powers and landscape of Nongoma district, and also the wars that fought after. ONdini palace has been reconstructed is a designated tourist attraction site and can be visited with the museum that covers more information. Ulundi is around 60 Kilometre and an hours drive away from Nongoma.
This war was a response by the teenager king, at the time, King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo avenging the loss of many Zulu elders and the eventual death of king Cetshwayo his father after the attack of oNdini place by Mandlakazi. In this war uSuthu was accompanied by its white allies, the Boers, giving uSuthu the edge to win the battle and Prince Zibhebhu fleeing into the British refuge. Many of AmaMboza regiments were fighting on this battle which Dinuzulu was part of as well. Making King Dinzulu the first king to partake in a war since the Great Shaka.
This site is more that 90 KM’s from Nongoma next to uMkuze.
is one of the war where Britain used the Zulu houses against each other to protect its power in Nongoma against the Zulu kingdom. The trigger which was a big build up to this war was the killing of leader of the Mdletshe’s Msushwana who was a iNduna of king Dinuzulu and the leader of his Mdletshe tribe. King Dinuzulu’s anger resulted in him disregarding the peace treaty imposed by Britain, thereafter took his armies and camped in Ceza fortress. USuthu came in their numbers accompanied by Boer regement from kwaCeza castle, passing the Nongoma Magistrate premises in town to uNdunu hill where Mandlakazi was camping not far from where Ngenetsheni group was also camping. This site is walking distance from Magistrate office in Nongoma town on the main R618 road towards Hlabisa side. USuthu killed a lot of Mandlakazi and Ngenetsheni army men that were called by Britain to camp by their magistrate office.