South Africa

1st April 2022

Day 3

Pretoria

After an early breakfast, you will be driven to Pretoria, where you will visit the Department of Education Building and Library. This library is significant to Sir Nicholas Soames, as his grandfather, Winston Churchill, was held captive here until his escape about a month later. The building had become a prison following the outbreak of the Boer War. Historian Nicholas Schofield will meet you here and give a short talk.

Following this visit, you will be driven to Capital Park Station to board your train and begin your journey to Dundee. The gong will sound for the first time as a sumptuous three-course lunch is served in the dining carriage as you leave Pretoria. As the afternoon continues, enjoy the stunning views of the undulating hills from the comfort of your cabin or the elegant lounge car. Enjoy a real sense of ceremony with dinner this evening, complete with crystal glasses, fine white linen and silverware.

Where you will be staying for four nights

Rovos Rail

Step back in time onboard Rovos Rail’s glamorous carriages, exclusively chartered for guests of cazenove+loyd. Enjoy elegant décor and exquisite on-board dining whilst journeying on this luxurious train. Our longstanding relationship with Rovos Rail and the nature of this extraordinary trip mean that we are able to access this routing exclusively, allowing passengers to discover the history of the Boer War in total luxury. Without exception, the cabins on board are beautifully appointed. The Deluxe Suite offers either twin or double beds, and the opulent Royal Suites span half a carriage each. All have a private lounge area and a full bathroom. A highly-skilled team of chefs is responsible for overseeing the very important task of ensuring guests’ every taste is catered for. In the evenings, come together for cocktails, dinner and discussions about the day’s events.

2nd April 2022

Day 4

Dundee + the First Battle of the Anglo-Boer War

After breakfast, you will disembark the train for a morning with historian Nicholas Schofield, a peerless storyteller, who will lead you to the site of the murder of the Prince Imperial, the last Napoleon (and only son of Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie), during the Anglo-Zulu wars. Although the emphasis of this trip is on the Anglo-Boer War and Sir Winston Churchill, the Anglo-Zulu wars are equally pertinent. The prince’s murder is a fascinating snapshot of the time: with him died the final hope of his supporters for the eventual return of the empire to France.

Lunch will be back on the train, after which you can rejoin Nicholas Schofield for an afternoon visit to the site of the Battle of Talana – the first major clash of the Anglo-Boer War. During this conflict, the British suffered heavy casualties but occupied the coal-mining town of Dundee, which proved crucial to the British war effort.  We have also arranged for you to have private after-hours access to the Talana Museum. Here, the curator, Pam MacFadden, who is the resident expert on the battle, will regale our group with how the battle unfolded, culminating in the tragic death of the commanding officer and Commander-in-Chief of the army.

After this gripping afternoon, you will re-board the train at Dundee. In the early evening, Sir Nicholas Soames will deliver a lecture entitled ‘The Importance of Being Winston’, all about his grandfather’s early life. You will then be served a delicious dinner on the train.

3rd April 2022

Day 5

The Rattray family, Rorke’s Drift + Khula School

Although much of the emphasis of the trip will be the Anglo-Boer War, the Zulu Wars are equally fascinating and we have planned a full day to explore the beautiful area around Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana hosted and guided by the inimitable Rattray family. David Rattray, who sadly died in 2007, was the renowned historian of the Zulu people and his family carry on his storytelling and passion for the area he called home. Following breakfast, guests will disembark the train for a morning at the site of the Battle of Isandlwana.

Next, you will proceed through the villages of Zululand to Rorke’s Drift, where you will have the opportunity to spend some time at the preschool set up by The David Rattray Foundation (also known as Khula Education), which is directly adjacent to the site. David was passionate about helping local school children through education. As he said, “Without education there is no hope, without hope there is no future.” Our founder, Henrietta Loyd, is a trustee of the charity, which has recently successfully raised money to build WiFi towers in the area and deliver 200 Ipads so that the Year 12 students can continue with their final year studies during the lockdown. Afterwards, you will meet the Rattray family and enjoy a picnic under the shade of the trees in the gardens of the mission station, before immersing yourself in the story of Rorke’s Drift.

At about 6.30pm, you will return to the train, which will then depart towards Frere. Dinner will be served onboard. The Battle of Isandlwana in 1879 was the first major battle in the Anglo-Zulu war between the British and the Zulus. A Zulu force of about 20,000 warriors, mainly equipped with traditional assegai attacked about 1800 British, colonial, native troops and some civilians. The battle was a decisive victory for the Zulus and caused the defeat of the first British invasion of Zululand. The Battle of Rorke’s Drift followed on immediately after Isandlwana. Rorke’s Drift was a mission station and a former trading post. It was located on the Buffalo River, which at the time formed the border between the British colony of Natal and the Zulu Kingdom. About 150 British and colonial troops successfully defended the garrison against 3–4,000 Zulus. Eleven Victoria crosses were awarded among many other honours.

4th April 2022

Day 6

Exploring Ladysmith + Spionkop

This morning, after breakfast, you will be driven to the capture site (or Armoured Train Incident) and on to the Ladysmith Siege Museum. Known as one of the best Anglo-Boer War museums in South Africa, it was built in 1884 as a market house and served as a ration post for civilians during the siege. Now, it houses an extremely comprehensive collection of artefacts from the Boer War. Nicholas Schofield really comes into his own, describing this dramatic time of the Anglo-Boer War. You will then travel to Mount Alice, where on arrival, renowned Boer War raconteur, Raymond Heron, will give an account of the Spionkop Battle. Lunch will then be taken at Spionkop Lodge.

This afternoon, you will visit the actual site of the Spionkop Battle and drive to the top of the hill where the fighting took place. Nicholas Schofield will give a fascinating tour and describe in detail Sir Winston Churchill’s role in the battle – he acted as a courier between Spionkop and General Buller’s headquarters – before you are taken back to the train at Ladysmith Station. In the early evening, Sir Nicholas Soames will deliver a lecture on Churchill’s experiences in South Africa from December 1899 to June 1900, including his time as a journalist, his capture and miraculous escape from the Boers, and his rejoining of the army. He will draw on Sir Winston’s private diaries and papers to add great colour to the lecture. Dinner will be served afterwards before the train leaves Ladysmith for Pietermaritzburg, with an overnight stop at Estcourt Distance.

5th April 2022

Day 7

Arrival in Pietermaritzburg

After breakfast, you will be driven along the coast road to Durban’s King Shaka International Airport, from where you will take your onward flight. Whether you would prefer to go on safari, collapse on a beach or explore other parts of Africa, we would be very happy to arrange an incredible extension to your trip.