The Battlefields - Legends of the Zulu Kingdom
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Climate
The Battlefields area enjoys a temperate climate with warm
to hot
summers and mild winters,which are cooler at night.
Ladysmith, for
example, has an average maximum temperature of 25.5 degrees
Centigrade. Its average minimum temperature is 10.8
degrees. The
average rainfall is 690mm.
The average minimum and
maximum
temperatures and rainfall figures for
this area are as follows:
Month Min. Temp Max. Temp Rainfall (mm) January 17 29.3 154.2 February 17 28 100.8 March 15 27 75 April 12 26 24.3 May 6 24 18 June 3 21 3.6 July 3 21 9.6 August 7 23 22.2 September 10 25 36.9 October 12 26 53.5 November 15 27 90 December 16 28 86.6
Vryheid, a core town on the Battlefields Route, has an average maximum temperature of 25.5 degrees Celsius and an average minimum of 11.9 degrees Celcius in winter. Its annual average precipitation (rainfall) is approximately 780mm.
zoom The KZN Battlefeilds are mainly found in the north-central area of KwaZulu-Natal |
Distances
From Johannesburg:
Town Distance
Ladysmith 367 Estcourt 423 Newcastle 300 Dundee 360
From Durban:
Town Distance
Ladysmith 251 Estcourt 157 Newcastle 350 Dundee 320
From Pretoria:
Town Distance
Ladysmith 425 Estcourt 481 Newcastle 358 Dundee 388
From Bloemfontein:
Town Distance
Ladysmith 436 Estcourt 421 Newcastle 440 Dundee 469
From Port Elizabeth:
Town Distance
Ladysmith 999 Estcourt 943 Newcastle 1108 Dundee 1012
From Cape Town:
Town Distance
Ladysmith 1429 Estcourt 1413 Newcastle 1438 Dundee 1476
zoom Source: ARTWORKS |
Population
Official Languages
There are eleven official languages in South Africa. In the area of the Battlefields Afrikaans,English and Zulu are widely spoken.
Banking
Banking hours are from Monday to Friday 09h00-15h30 and Saturday 08h30-11h00. Automated teller machines (ATMs) operate 24 hours and can be found in most shopping centres in the Battlefields area. The specific banks that are found in this area are Standard Bank, ABSA, Nedbank and First National
Credit Cards
Most departmental stores, shops, hotels and restaurants accept international credit cards i.e. American Express,VISA, Diners Club, Mastercard.
Currency
The currency in South Africa is the Rand. Bank notes currently available are R200, R100, R50, R10 and coins of R5, R2, R1, 50c, 20c, 10c, 5c, 2c, and 1c. There are 100c in R1.
VAT
14% tax is charged on most purchased goods and services. However, foreign tourists are able to reclaim this money on their departure from the country provided that the goods purchased exceeds R250. Ask for more information at the airport on arrival.
Hospitals/Medical Care
There are several well-equipped and professionally staffed public hospitals and clinics in the Battlefields area, as well as private medical facilities. Ambulance services are just a phone call away.
Important Telephone Numbers
Tourism Information Offices
Babanango Tourism
Contact Person: Nancy Kellaway
16 Justice Street,Babanango
PO Box 9
Babanango
3850
Telephone (035) 835 0029
Fax (035) 835 0322
bab.hotel@mweb.co.za
Battlefields Route
Contact Person: Karin van Tonder
P o Box 214
Vryheid
3100
Telephone 0828021643
Fax (034) 981 0176
route@battlefields.org.za
Bushmans River Tourism
Association
Contact Person: Angela Andre
Old Civic Buildings, Upper Harding Street,Estcourt
PO Box 185
Estcourt
3310
Telephone(036) 352 6253
Fax(036) 352 6253
brta@futurest.co.za
Colenso Information Office
Contact Person: Janet Waller
36 Sir George Street, Colenso
PO Box 22
Colenso
3360
Telephone(036) 422 2111
Fax(036) 422 2227
Eshowe Tourism &
Publicity Association
Civic Offices, Osborne Steet, Eshowe
PO Box 37
Eshowe
3815
Telephone(035) 474 1141
Fax(035) 474 4733
ronel@umlalazi.org.za
Glencoe Information Bureau
Contact Person: Margaret Pretorius
Library,Biggar Street,Glencoe
Private Bag x09
Glencoe
2930
Telephone(034) 393 1121
Fax(034) 393 1802
Greytown Community
Tourism Organisation
Contact Person: Pauline Crowe
Greytown Museum,cnr. Scott and Durban St,Greytown
PO Box 71
Greytown
3250
Telephone(033) 413 9124
Fax(033) 417 1393
records@umvoti.org.za
Ladysmith Tourism
Contact Person: Fifi Meyer
Town Hall, Murchison Street,Ladysmith
Po Box 29
Ladysmith
3370
Telephone(036) 637 2992
Fax(036) 637 2992
info@ladysmith.co.za
Melmoth Information Centre
Contact Person: L. Von Essen
PO Box 751
Melmoth
3835
Telephone(035) 4502672
Fax(035) 450 2234
Newcastle Publicity
Town Hall,Scott Street,Newcastle
Contact Person: Lawrence Short
PO Box 2220
Newcastle
2940
Telephone(034) 315 3318
Fax(034) 312 9815
info@newcastle.co.za
Paulpietersburg Publicity
Association
High Street,Paulpietersburg
Contact Person: Elna Schutte
PO Box 378
Paulpietersburg
3180
Telephone(034) 9951650
Fax(034) 9951255/9951192
edumbekz261@mweb.co.za
Tourism Dundee
Civic Gardens,Victoria Street,Dundee
Contact Person: Decima Jones
Private Bag x2024
Dundee
3000
Telephone(034) 212 2121 x262
Fax(034) 218 2837
info@tourdundee.co.za
Ulundi Tourism
Contact Person: Joseph Masango
Cnr. Priness Mangogo/King Zwelithini Streets,Ulundi
Private Bag x261
Ulundi
3838
Telephone(035) 874 1500
Fax(035) 870 0598
amafahq@mweb.co.za
Uthungulu Regional Council
Contact Person: Anita Tait
Private Bag x 1025
Richards Bay
3900
Telephone(035) 7891404
Fax(035) 789 8176
tourism@uthungulu.co.za
Utrecht Publicity
Civic Centre,Kerk Street,Utrecht
PO Box 11
Utrecht
2980
Telephone(034) 331 3613 /3313041/0828735575
Fax(031) 331 3004
upuba@worldonline.co.za
Vryheid Information Bureau
Carnegie Library,Cnr. Mark/Landrost Streets
Contact Person: Yolande Lombard
PO Box 57
Vryheid
3100
Telephone(034)982 2133 x 2271
Fax(034) 982 3497
information@abaqulusi.co.za
Winterton Information Bureau:
4 King Street,Winterton
Tel:(036)488 1180
Fax: (036)4881116
Immunisation
On the whole Battlefields is a Malaria Free Zone. Malaria is only endemic in the low-lying areas of coastal Zululand and Maputuland, especially as you get close to the Mozambique and Swaziland borders. It is advisable to take precautions when visiting these areas, especially in the hot summer months. Consult a doctor or pharmacist.
Airports
Durban International Airport Durban Airport is situated approximately two hour's drive away from the Battlefields. It handles international flights as well as domestic flights to and from all major centres throughout South Africa.
Post and Tele-Communications
There are excellent tele-communications services provided by Telkom throughout the Battlefields area, and there are post offices in all towns and most villages. There are two cellular telephone service providers. Reception is almost 100% all the way along the coastal areas. Inland, the reception is limited to the main road routes and major towns.
Accommodation, Restaurants and other tourism services
A searchable database of all tourism attractions and services in this area is currently being developed. For your accommodation needs please consult the static accommodation lists linked under each of the towns on this site. For information on other tourism services in this area, please search the database found under 'Plan and Book' on the main KwaZulu-Natal website .
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