Danskraal

Danskraal Daimana
Danskraal Danskraal Danskraal  Danskraal shown within KwaZulu-Natal
Coordinates: 28°32′13″S 29°47′42″E / 28.537°S 29.795°ECoordinates: 28°32′13″S 29°47′42″E / 28.537°S 29.795°E
Country	South Africa
Province	KwaZulu-Natal
District	Uthukela
Municipality	Alfred Duma

Danskraal is a historic site some 5 km north-east of Ladysmith in the former Kliprivier district, said to be the place where the Voortrekkers camped a week before the famous Battle of Blood River on 16 December 1838 and where the first vow was taken which led to the Day of the Covenant. The name means 'village of dancing'; it was here that the Voortrekker commando was entertained with ceremonial dances by the Zulus of Matowan or Nodotta.^[1]

The South African Railways has locomotive workshops at Danskraal, which was still known as Daimana in c. 1935.^[2]

References

1. Raper, Peter E. (1987). Dictionary of Southern African Place Names. Internet Archive. p. 128. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
2. Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1946). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, April 1946. p. 296.