Experiences

Fort Mistake

In 1899, Bacon’s Map of the Seat of War used the same names, marking a small circle to the west of the road and a large rectangle to the east of the road.

On his trip through, Fripp had just time to make some sketches of the camp of the 80th Regt., and of the building, a neat, dry stone-walled “Fort overlooking the Newcastle Road”. The mountain in the background is recognisably Mkupe, and the rest of the skyline is an accurate reproduction of the Inkunzi valley. The fort is unmistakable.

A week or two later on his return trip, Fripp briefly recorded details of a day-long battle at Mkupe and did a drawing from eye-witness accounts of the “Fight at Fort Eagle’s Nest in the Biggarsberg”. It appears that the Free State Boers, who had swarmed down the neighbouring passes after Majuba, had established their laager at Leeuwkop, directly opposite Mkupe. The British, sensing a threat, had hastily mounted heavy guns on the buttress of Mkupe facing Leeuwkop and in a day had put up a stone redoubt commanding the transport road and a large wooden stockade above it on the flat heights of Mkupe. Again, the drawing was exact and the position recognisable.

The “Mistake” indeed may be the responsibility of an unknown cartographer. Up to 1910, “One Tree Hill” is always shown to the east of the road, and Mkupe Mt. is written large to the west. The road has not changed position. But after 1910, the name Mkupe slipped off the map and “One Tree Hill” took its place.
In 1924 when an expedition from Witwatersrand University came to marvel at the remarkable and unique fort and to ask for its declaration as a National Monument, (a request at last acceded to after 55 years), its name was firmly fixed in local minds as Fort Mistake and as such Fort One Tree Hill remains.

It is a quaint coincidence of history that the Mkupe position in 1881 was commanded by Colonel Redvers Buller V.C. He sat shivering in his tent, describing the snow-shrouded valley of May 1881 as the “coldest in a lifetime” of soldiering.

The British army continued after the conclusion of peace in 1881 to hold this important position.
The position was reoccupied after the relief of Ladysmith in 1900 when the retreating Boers fortified the Biggarsberg.

Where is Fort Mistake?

Fort Mistake is on the N11 between Ladysmith and Newcastle.
Fort Mistake Country Lodge is on the opposite side of the road.

Should you wish to climb up to the signalling post, check with the receptionist at the lodge before proceeding onto private property.

Fort Mistake Shooting Competitions

Throughout the year, Fort Mistake hosts a number of Gong Shoot and Fun Shoot competitions.

Fishing and Canoeing

Conference Hall

A conference hall with both indoor and outdoor seating areas is available for special events, like weddings and conferences.