Ladysmith

Ladysmith is a city in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa at the foot of the Drakensberg mountains. For other places with the same name, see Ladysmith (disambiguation). Understand History Famous people show up in the most unexpected places Sir Winston Churchill was reporter for the London Morning Post in Ladysmith at the time of the siege and Mohandas Ghandi was a stretcher bearer for the British Forces after the siege. The Anglo Boer War dominates recorded history in this area. On October 30, 1899 (Mournful Monday), Boer forces started a siege on the town after British troops retreated there following their defeat at the Battle of Modderstroom. The siege lasted 118 days before British reinforcements arrived and were able to put an end to it. Sir Winston Churchill gives a good account of the siege (as well as the Anglo Boer War in general) in his book London to Ladysmith via Pretoria. Get in By car Follow the N11 from the N3 for about 20km. By air Get around See Soofie Mosque Platrand Monument Castor and Pollux, (In front of the Town Hall). Twin British Howitzers used to defend the town during the Anglo Boer war.  edit MOTH Museum, ☎ +27 (0)36 637-3762. 10AM to 2PM.  edit Siege Museum, (Next to the Town Hall), ☎ +27 (0)36 637-2992 (info@ladysmith.co.za), [1]. Open 9AM to 4PM weekdays and 9AM to 1PM on Saturdays.  edit Soofie Mosque. Open for visitors from 1pm to 2pm and 5pm to 9pm. A beautiful mosque that has been declared a National Monument. Free.  edit Statue of Ghandi, Lord Vishnu Temple, ☎ +27 (0)36 637-7777. Mohandas Ghandi was a stretcher bearer after the Siege of Ladysmith and during the Battle of Spioenkop.  edit Wagon Hill/Platrand Monument and Museum, Wagon Hill/Platrand Battlefield, ☎ +27 (0)36 637-2992 (info@ladysmith.co.za, fax: +27 (0)36 637-2992). A monument and museum in memory of those who died during the Anglo Boer War R6 per person.  edit Do Spioenkop, 30km outside Ladysmith (Follow the '''N11'' towards the '''N3''', then follow the '''R616''' towards Bergville, road signage will indicate Spioenkop from here). Site of one of the bloodiest battles of the Anglo Boer War, mainly comprising British troops from the Lancashire Brigade. Winston Churchill, working as a war correspondent wrote, Many of the wounds were of a horrible nature.... There are hiking trails through the complete battlefield (a map is available from the attendant), but be prepared for quite a walk; turn of the century battles covered quite a large area.  edit Buy Ladysmith Black-Mambazo. Get their CD. CNA, Game or any of the music stores in town will stock one.  edit Eat Drink Sleep Idwala Lodge, (Located just outside town on the N11 towards Dundee), ☎ +27 (0)78 803-5545 (info@idwalalodge.co.za), [2].  edit Platrand Lodge, Fourie's Kraal Farm, next to the Ladysmith airfield (Follow the N11 to Ladysmith airfield and follow the signs), ☎ +27 (0)36 631-0204 (info@platrandlodge.co.za, fax: +27 (0)36 637-9612), [3]. From R600 for a double.  edit Royal Hotel, 140 Murchison Street, ☎ +27 (0)36 637-2176, [4]. From 620 for a double Bed and Breakfast.  edit Get out The Royal Natal National Park is an hour's drive away. Spioenkop Nature Reserve and dam Cathedral Peak and Champagne Castle in the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!