Rob Caskie
Story Teller: Adventures in Human Triumphs
Rob was born in the Natal Midlands in 1966.
He was educated at Howick High, where he was head boy and then graduated with a BSc Honours Degree in Agricultural Economics in 1990 from the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg. After University, Rob worked in Botswana as a photographic safari guide and assisted with wildlife film-making in the Okavango Delta for three years. Rob joined the Afrika Odyssey Expedition led by Kingsley Holgate, traversing Africa from Cape Town to Cairo as the official photographer. After this remarkable trip along the waterways of Africa, Rob set off to travel abroad. From 1994 to 1998 he travelled in the United Kingdom, Europe, Israel, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. The last 16 months of this four year sojourn were spent travelling and working in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Alaska.
Rob grew up speaking English and Zulu and served with Zulu troops during his National Service in 1984/5. Always interested in the Zulu people and the drama of the Zulu War, he joined David and Nicky Rattray at Fugitives' Drift Lodge in April 2001, where he was engaged with hosting and guiding often distinguished guests to the battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift. A central theme in these lectures on the Anglo-Zulu War is one of reconciliation and how reconciliation can develop from conflict. Having understudied David Rattray, his mentor and great friend, for six years, Rob became the principal lecturer for the next 4½ years after David's untimely death in 2007.
Rob then began his own business in 2011 as a professional speaker and specialist tour guide. Rob continues to present balanced accounts to guests with great passion and enthusiasm and focuses on delivering corporate business strategy lectures in South Africa. A number of corporations and senior management teams have called upon his professional-speaking skills to deliver strategy and corporate best-practice seminars using his knowledge of South African history to offer insightful comparison, intriguing content and real-life examples.
Since 2004 Rob has lectured extensively in the United Kingdom and South Africa. The highlight of his speaking career was being invited to speak at the Royal Geographical Society, where he presented to a full house in September 2010. He continues to conduct these lecture tours to the United Kingdom annually, and in 2012 the Royal Geographic Society will showcase Rob's talk on Scott and Shackleton's expeditions to the Antarctic. These stories deserve high profile with the centenaries upon us. How can one imagine the disappointment of Scott being beaten by Amundsen, or the triumph of Shackleton escaping the ice without losing a life? Epics of human struggle and triumphs of the human spirit.
He will also be conducting a historical tour to Sudan for Abercrombie & Kent.
Rob is a passionate photographer, with a special interest in wildlife, landscapes and birds. He regularly presents slide shows on his travels, expeditions and the Anglo Zulu War. He was intimately involved in the field research and photography required in producing David Rattray's book "A Soldier Artist in Zululand".
Always confident with people, Rob loves the challenge and the reward of this wonderful vocation – entertaining audiences in the theatres of their imagination and transporting them via the power of a story well told.
Lecture Topics:
THE ANGLO ZULU WAR
The Anglo Zulu of 1879 is a justly famous chapter in British history. A campaign created by British officials in Natal, without the sanction of Britain, largely on account of the supposed military threat posed by the Zulu army to Carnarvon's Confederation plan for South Africa. Leaders in Natal believed the war would be over in 3 weeks – how wrong they would be!
ISANDLWANA
The Battle of Isandlwana, 22nd January 1879. British defeat or Zulu victory?
Scarcely 10 days after the invasion of Zululand began, disaster struck at Isandlwana. Whilst Lord Chelmsford was away with 60% of the force in search of the main Zulu Army, the remaining force of 1 800 British soldiers was overwhelmed by 25 000 Zulu Warriors. In less than 2 hours more than 1 300 British soldiers lay dead in what some view as the greatest military defeat the British suffered at the hand of a native army in their entire colonial history. Strange too, that the Sphinx-shaped Isandlwana mountain looks just like the Sphinx on the regimental insignia of the 24th Regiment of Foot.
RORKE'S DRIFT
The battle of Rorke's Drift, 22nd January 1879. An account of this epic defence against impossible odds
Who would ever have conceived that a force of roughly 4 000 Zulu warriors would immediately run on from Isandlwana to attack Rorke's Drift some 10 miles away? At Rorke's Drift, comprising of little more than a makeshift hospital and a store, the desperate British soldiers prepared a barricade 4 feet high, built of mielie bags and awaited the Zulu onslaught. A fierce battle then waged for almost 10 hours; 139 British soldiers held out against the 4 000 Zulus. This remarkable battle saw the award of 11 Victoria Crosses and 5 Distinguished Conduct Medals, immortalised by the classic movie "Zulu". It is the largest number of VC's awarded for a single action in history.
GOING SOUTH WITH AMUNDSEN, SCOTT & SHACKLETON
AMUNDSEN
Great Nordic explorer who took the prize
Roald Amundsen is the understated Norwegian, who, with impeccable preparation and previous experience, aided by well-trained dog teams, raced to the South Pole reaching it first on 14th December 1911.
SCOTT
The South Pole remained the last mystical geographical prize on Earth
Robert Falcon Scott led a major expedition, funded largely by the Royal Geographical Society, hoping to be the first to reach the South Pole. In an epic of human struggle and achievement, Scott's party of 5 reached the South Pole on 17th January 1912, only to perish to a man on the 700 mile slog home. Did they all die psychologically when they found Amundsen had beaten them to the Pole by 34 days?
SHACKLETON
Scott's great rival and destined for very different greatness
Ernest Shackleton accompanied Scott to the Antarctic aboard Discovery in 1901. This resulted in great rivalry. Shackleton returned to the region in 1907, and with 3 companions got to within 97 miles of the South Pole. In 1915, their ship, the Endurance, was crushed by the ice. For months his crew drifted on the ice pack, then took 3 life boats to Elephant Island. Shackleton then sailed a life boat (the James Caird)
750 miles across the Southern Ocean to get help. One of the greatest survival stories of all time.
LESSONS EMERGING FROM ANTARCTICA TALKS
Amundsen
A modern Viking who took the prize.
Extraordinary preparations and experiences in both Arctic and Antarctic regions leading up to South Pole attempt. Believed good preparation creates good luck. Casual leadership style, but fastidious organiser; built fantastic team of Olympic quality skiers. All these factors, along with some good fortune, led to success at Pole. Extremely focused on his goal.
Scott
Epic of human endeavour and endurance.
Naval, dictatorial leadership style. Questionable preparation and choice of resources. Incredible writer and diary keeper. Very impressive physically. Distracted perhaps by scientific research. Led by example, and defeated by superior foe and dreadful weather. Started 100km further away from Pole. Imagine man-hauling a sledge across Antarctica?
Shackleton
Greatest survival leader of them all.
Broad cultural interests led to thoughtful leadership. Hired an outstanding crew. Created a spirit of camaraderie and got the best out of every individual. Great leader in crisis. Led by example and kept possible trouble-makers close to him. Unusually strong and fearless. Fearless and took huge risks. Team worshipped him. Left remarkable legacy. Imagine sailing 1200 km across the Southern Ocean in a lifeboat?!