South Africa, 1823. The Zulu Empire, headed by King Shaka, a brilliant but ruthless military strategist, begin to encroach on the British colony of Cape Town. A volunteer cadre of explorers, mercenaries and professional soldiers are sent to Zululand to try to make contact with Shaka and assess the real threat of his army.

Henry Cele, Dudu Mkhize, Edward Fox, Robert Powell, Trevor Howard, Fiona Fullerton, Christopher Lee, Roy Dotrice, Gordon Jackson, Kenneth Griffith, Conrad Magwaza, Patrick Ndlovu, Roland Mqwebu, Gugu Nxumalo, Tu Nokwe, Khumbulani Cele, Glen Gabela, Daphne Hlomuka