Hlobane consisted of two plateaux, the lower and smaller of which rose to a height of about at the eastern end of the -long col (nek) connecting it to Zunguin to the south-west. At the eastern end of this lower plateau the ground rose very steeply for another up a narrow, boulder-strewn way, forming a series of giant steps, known as Devil's Pass, to the higher plateau. On the top of this plateau were about and approximately Zulu. Wood's plan was for mounted troops led by Lieutenant-Colonel Redvers Buller to scale the eastern track to the higher plateau, supported by rocket artillery and friendly Zulu to lift the cattle. A similar force, under Major R. A. Russell, would occupy the lower plateau.