Why did the Zulu's attach the british at Rorke's Drift ?

Question

Why did the Zulu's attach the british at Rorke's Drift ?

Answer 1

After their great victory at Bulawayo , they though that all the British troops were as stupid and arrogant as the commander there and a small force would be a pushover , exept they faced a capable commander wlth seasoned soldiers with modern weapons . No contest

Answer 2

They were at war. The British wanted Zululand.  

Answer 3

The British had invaded their territory

Answer 4

The British had invaded deeply into Zulu controlled territory.  Unfortunately, the British were overconfident, making a few fundamental errors.  The Zulus were therefore able to massacre the British, who were over run by the Zulus in a classic Bull manoeuvre (Heavy frontal attack, with two horns performing flanking manoeuvres).

In any event, a minor force was able to cross over the river that separated British controlled South Africa and the lands controlled by the Zulus.  This minor scouting force encountered the troupes stationed at Rorkes drift.  However, unlike the earlier encounter, the British troops were able to build a reasonable defended position from which to employ their weapons  

It was never a major objective for the Zulus.  However, this does not mean that the fighting was not fierce and a reflection of this was in the amount of VC awarded for the action (Although less generous historians will state that the media frenzy that followed this action and the medals were an attempt to draw attention away from the earlier military disaster).

The Zulu war lasted about 2 years, resulting in the eventual destruction of the Zulu nation.

Luck

Answer 5

Because of Michael Caines' awful "Acting"

Answer 6

Because they wanted the british out of africa.

Answer 7

An Impi of Zulu who missed out on the battle at Insandlwana decided (against the previous instuctions of King Cetshwayo) crossed the Blood River to attack the British detachment. At the time the British had fomented a war against the Zulu. Listed in sources will be some books you might like to read for a fuller understanding of what happened.

Answer 8

The attack was effectively done by a "second string team", they were older warriors and young boys who'd "missed out" on the chance of glory at Isandlwana.

That's not to say they were slouches when it came to fighting, they came within an ace of winning at Rourkes drift.