The Rorke's Drift defenders held out against enormous odds

Zulu Joseph Ndima is the special guest of the Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh at Brecon barracks.

It holds relics from Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift, where the 24th Regiment - later the South Wales Borderers - and Zulu warriors fought in 1879.

Rorke's Drift was re-enacted in the film Zulu, starring Michael Caine.

The defence of the border post in South Africa took place on 22 January 1879, when just 140 men, many from the 24th Regiment of Foot, held off an army of about 3,000 Zulu warriors.

The losses of the British garrison were reported as 17 dead and 10 wounded, with the Zulus losing 450 men.

These Welshmen, we always refer to them as short, brave Welshmen. Guide Joseph Ndima

The defenders of Rorke's Drift were awarded 11 Victoria Crosses in all - seven to a single regiment.

Earlier on 22 January, 1,500 British soldiers were killed in the battle of Isandhlwana.

In his first trip outside South Africa, Mr Ndima, 32, will also visit the Regimental Chapel at Brecon Cathedral, and he will be officially welcomed at a civic reception and met by mayor Rose Evans.

Speaking on BBC Radio Wales, he said: "We have many, many visitors (to Rorke's Drift) coming from all over the world, not only from the UK.

"The battle itself was advertised first by the famous film Zulu, but it's not just about the film and not only about war but a story about people's lives."

Asked about what people thought about the Welsh soldiers who fought in the battle, Mr Ndima added: "These Welshmen, we always refer to them as short, brave Welshmen."

He said it was great to be in Wales where many of the British soldiers who fought at Rorke's Drift lived.