With today's Anglo-Zulu War anniversaries here's a wee look at the movie's location which inspired my interest. The movie was shot in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa but not at Rorke's Drift itself, (which now houses a museum and working church on the original buildings footprint), but at the
Royal Natal National Park, some 130 miles away - about 3 hours drive.
It was this location that I started my last SA trip 5 years ago, staying in the park's accommodation, enjoying a traditional braai and having fun exploring some of the parkland, scouting for movie shots.
The natural amphitheatre dominates the landscape and easily matches up with the movie as do several of the surrounding landmarks such as the distinctive knoll which represents Ulundi, the Royal homestead of the Zulu King, Cetshwayo during the opening marriage ceremony scene.
The landscape hadn't changed much so matching up shots was possible in certain places.
Much fun and debate was had walking the ground where the movie that had affected us all was filmed all those years ago.
Didn't quite get perfect matches for some of the famous movie stills, maybe I need to return?
A very memorable trip on a historic occasion, remembered to this day.
