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Steyn gets a few things wrong, based on an exhaustive book by Lt. Col. Mike Snook, “Wolves to the Fold.” (The movie did too).
1) Rather than attacking in the open in waves, especially after the first failed assault, the Zulus crept up to the few outer trees and even to the walls themselves to pop up and shoot ineffectively.
2) Chelmsford’s abandonment of the force at Isandlwana came because he never dreamed the Zulu could get behind him. Together, as I recall, the two forces of Col. Pulliene and Lord Chelmsford had about 8,000 men, or more than four times the force at the actual battle. Chelmsford had 6000 men with him miles ahead at what he thought would be the actual camp.
3) Snook shows that the Battle of Isandlwana did not involve the Brits collapsing, but rather their perimeter was three to four times larger than a force of 1,400 men of whom only 800 were British troops, could hold. Had Pulliene built a laager, consolidated his perimeter as would be the case at Roarke’s Drift, he very well could have held off the Zulu to the plodding Chelmsford got moving.
4) There were big problems with ammo delivery at Isandlwana, but none at Roarke’s Drift.
5) Two very important factors, not mentioned either by Steyn or the movie, led to the Zulu retreat at RD: First, the Zulu had not eaten in about two days. They simply were running out of gas. Second, newer research suggests that some, perhaps all the warriors, had ingested a type of organic “upper” and that they all started to crash after 24 hours.

At any rate, to show “Zulu Dawn,” followed by “Zulu” is good, but entirely incomplete. A few months later, Chelmsford returned to Zululand at the head of a united force of over 8,000 armed with Gatling guns and cannon. This time he did not divide his force, and headed straight for Cetswayo’s kraal. The Zulu chief would either have to see all his cattle taken and village burned, or fight Chelmsford’s men in the open. He chose the latter. As soon as the Zulu appeaed, Chelmsford formed a massive square, cavalry & supply/ambulance wagons in the middle. The riflemen were two deep, with lots of ammo, interspaced by cannon and Gatling guns.

The firepower was so awesomely outrageous you know why no one wants to make a movie of Ulundi. NO ZULU GOT WITHIN 30 YARDS of the British square. When the battle ended, and the Brits formed up to move on, a massive square of expended cartridges could be seen. The Brits lost a handful of men to thousands of Zulus and Cetswayo was done.