Essential Travel Info > Lodges > Southern Africa > South Africa > Kwazulu-natal > Ladysmith
Lodges in Ladysmith - Essential Travel Info
South Africa Kwazulu-natal Ladysmith | game lodges, lodges, back packer lodges in Ladysmith Kwazulu-natal South Africa
|
|
Back to Kwazulu-natal
Jump to The Drakensberg
Lodges in Ladysmith Kwazulu-natal South Africa (1 Results)
Inhlaba Lodge- Ladysmith Kwazulu-natal South Africa LodgeThe Lodge is family friendly and serviced daily. A modern kitchen is equipped with all your needs and more. A lapa overlooking the swimming pool, bar and snooker table provides endless entertainment. Not being fenced off results in animal life being able to roam on your doorstep.
|
Geography: About 25km from Van Reenen's Pass, Ladysmith is about two and a half hours from Durban and four hours from Johannesburg. The town is situated on the banks of the Klip River.
History: The town can trace its origins to the Voortrekker parties who, in the late 1830's, crossed the Drakensberg and settled in the valley of the Klip River. A new settlement was established in 1847 and named Windsor, but when the village was officially proclaimed in 1850, it was named Ladysmith after Juana Maria de los Dolores de Leon. The Lady and Smith parts come from the fact that she was Sir Harry Smith's wife! The village played a significant role in the South African (Anglo-Boer) War, and made headlines when near the end of the war it was besieged by the Boers. The siege lasted 118 days, and its aim was to stop the British in Natal continuing north into the Transvaal. Today, Ladysmith is a junction between KwaZulu-Natal, Free State and Gauteng and the main activities are horse breeding and agriculture.
Art and Culture: The town of Ladysmith is steeped in South African (Anglo-Boer) War history and there are many monuments and memorials relating to the war. In town visitors can have a look at the exhibits at The Siege Museum, while the museum at the town hall, which served as a hospital during the siege, has interesting displays. It is said that on average 28 British soldiers were buried each day during the siege. 30km south of Ladysmith is Spioenkop, which was the site of one of the most fearsome events of the South African (Anglo-Boer) War. Many other victims of the siege are buried on Cemetery Hill, quite close by. Travellers interested in the war can also take day trips to nearby battle sites including Rorke's Drift and the Blood River Monument.
Science and Nature: Spioenkop Mountain stands within the Spioenkop Nature Reserve and visitors can enjoy panorama views of the Drakensberg Mountains, as well as spotting the rich selection of wildlife including white rhinoceros, giraffe and a variety of antelope.
Entertainment: Visitors to Ladysmith can go on one of several walkabout tours that introduce the town's many historic attractions. The self-guided trails to the mountain are enjoyable and traditional beer may be sampled at the nearby township.
Sport: The dam in the Spioenkop Nature Reserve offers excellent water sport opportunities and is a great place just to relax.
Did You Know? Ladysmith is probably most famous as being the home of multiple-Grammy Award winning mbube supergroup "Ladysmith Black-Mambazo".
Back to Kwazulu-natal
Jump to The Drakensberg
South Africa Kwazulu-natal Ladysmith | game lodges, lodges, back packer lodges in Ladysmith Kwazulu-natal South Africa
