The first Anglo-Boer was in 1880. The Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek declared war when they failed to negotiate independance from the British. After a series of fierce engagements, including Laing’s Nek and Schuinshoogte and the British defeat on Amajuba, a peace treaty was signed in October 1881.

The second Anglo-Boer war took place between 1899 and 1902. The first battle being the Battle of Talana. There were 52,000 Afrikaners fighting 450,000 British troops. The Afrikaners did initially achieve some spectacular successes, but very soon the tables turned. The Boers then started a guerrilla war that was gruelling for everyone involved.

The British, under General Lord Kitchener responded with unequalled severity and brutality. Their scorched earth policy meant that the fields were devastated and the harvests destroyed. The women and children, who were left destitute and homeless, were kept under horrific conditions in huge concentration camps. In total, more than 27,000 women and children died from famine, exhaustion and disease.

Eventually the Boers realized that any further resistance would demand more senseless sacrifices, and peace negotiations began. On the 31st of May 1902, a peace contract was signed. Both Boer Republics became British Crown Colonies.

Today historians and experts lead informative tours around the Battlefields, helping to recreate the Battles of the past that led to the formation of South Africa as it is today.