The Battle of Spioenkop was the second attempt of determined British commander-in-chief General Buller to relieve the siege of Ladysmith. After the unsuccessful first attempt at Colenso Buller desperately needed a victory, and concentrated on the far right flank of the Boer strongholds at Spioenkop.

On 10 January 1900 General Buller set out to the west with an army of 24,000 men and 58 guns to take the Sioenkop area , and to clear the road to Ladysmith. Buller positioned himself at Mount Alice, while the Boers dug in north of the Tugela river, determined to stop oncoming the British advance.

After an initial reconnaissance of the area Lieutenant general Charles Warren was given orders by General Buller to make his way to Trichard's drift with 15,000 soldiers and 36 guns. Lt Gen. Warren was ordered to cross the Tugela river at Trichard's Drift, and outflank the Boer forces. Warren's crossing of the river took the boers by surprise as they expected the British to cross further downstream at either Potgieter's Drift of Munger's Drift. At this point the only obstacle standing in Warren's path of success was the Ntabamnyama (Black Mountain), where five hundred members of the Boer forces had taken up the position. Lt Gen Warren missed his chance for success due to the fact that he wasted three days preparing for the attack. The Boers at Ntabamnyama made a fast call for reinforcements and dug extensive trenches, so when Warren launched his assault on 20 January, he was easily driven back. The following day he attacked again, and was once more beaten back. Finally on the 23rd of January Lt Gen Warren and General Buller decided that the only way of capturing Ntabmnyama, was by taking Spioenkop. By placing guns on Spioenkop, the British could rally an assault on the Boer trenches below, and clear the road to Ladysmith. At nine o'clock that night Major E.R.P. Woodgate set out to the summit with 1,700 men.

The British had intentions of a surprise attack on the Boers, using the cover of darkness. At that time there were only about 100 Boers stationed on Spioenkop. The attack was successful, and it was only at the very last moment that a Boer picket awoke from sleep when he heard the British troops approaching. His challenge of "Who goes there?", was met with no response, and when the Boer opened fire his shots went over the heads of the British. As they fled the other Boer pickets woke their sleeping compatriots on the summit and joined by them in the retreat down the north eastern slope. As the Boers reached the foot of the hill they immediately raised the alarm in the various Boer encampments.

While this was going on, Major general Woodgate carefully scouted the area, ordering his troops to fortify their positions, and the dig trenches. The British trenches were positioned on the highest part of the summit, and were mostly north facing. The hard stony soil made it extremely difficult for the British troops to dig proper trenches, and the result was shallow ditches not much deeper than about a foot. Due to these shallow "trenches", the British suffered a heavy death toll in the events that followed.

While the British were trying to dig trenches, the Boer commander General Louis Botha, who just had heard of the earlier events of that night, ordered his to immediately recapture Spioenkop. Botha ordered his men on Ntabamnyama with four artillery guns, and his men on Twin Peaks with two, as well as the gun at headquarters to target Spioenkop, and fire as soon as the morning mist had lifted. A Boer detachment of four hundred men were ordered to gather at the north eastern foot of Spioenkop, make an ascent, and attack the British. Smaller groups of fifty men each, were ordered to take up positions on Aloe Knoll, Conical Hill and Green Hill simultaneously. All of these Boer preparations for counterattack were executed under cover of darkness, and early morning mist. At seven o'clock the next morning, the mist had started to lift and then only did Major General Woodgate realise that his right flank was in a vulnerable position, and open to a Boer attack. Woodgate then ordered some of his men to take up new positions on the crest. A very short time after the British troops arrived at the crest, they met some of the Boers scrambling up the hill in the mist. The British having the advantage of high ground, gradually gained control and drove the Boer soldiers back. At about eight o'clock the mist had almost cleared completely, dramatically changing events. From the surrounding koppies, the British positions were made clear to the Boer gunners and riflemen. The British suffered many casualties in the heavy shell bombardment which followed. Major General Woodgate was mortally wounded, and by midday all the British troops on the crest had either been killed, wounded or had retreated to their trenches. The Boers were able to advance closer on the British position once they had taken control of the crest line. Boer shell fire was directed with devastating accuracy by signaller on the crest.

Facing the ruthless artillery bombardment of the Boers, the British position became hopeless, and sections of the British trenches were vacated twice. On the extreme right, The British surrendered, and in the centre they retreated. The British were only able to hold onto their positions, when a steady stream of reinforcements arrived that afternoon. Both sides suffered many causalities.

Later that afternoon the Boers attempted to outflank the British troops on the southern slope. The British troops immediately responded by opening fire on the Boers, when they realised that this movement would endanger their rear. The swift retaliation of the British troops was made possible by the arrival of reinforcements, and enabled them to force the Boers back to Aloe Knoll. The encounter continued for roughly two hours.

By early evening the new British commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Thorneycroft found the situation to be hopeless. Thorneycroft was convinced that staying on the summit would either result in a disorderly retreat, or an overwhelming defeat, and ordered his troops to retreat back to the camp. Ironically, totally unaware of the British commander's decision, the Boers also decided to withdraw. As soon as General Botha heard of this, he was enraged, and ordered the Boers to return to the hill that very night. Botha's orders were met with some resistance, however, some of the Boers returned up the slope. At daybreak on the 25th January, the Boer's once again reached the summit of Spioenkop, and found that the British had completely retreated and left their dead and wounded behind. The victorious Boer forces then occupied the hill. On the day after the battle a cease fire was called, allowing for the wounded to be attended to, and for the dead to be buried. A total of three hundred and forty British troops died, a thousand were wounded and almost two hundred were taken prisoner. The Boers suffered a total of seventy five dead and one hundred and fifty five wounded.

Today Spioenkop also offers an amazing panoramic view of the entire Northern and Central Drakensberg, and especially breathtaking views of this world heritage site at sunset. The battle site is open to visitors daily, and there is a self guided trail which lead visitors amongst the trenches, graves and monuments.