Fugitives Drift Lodge

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Highlights

• Superb tours of the Battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift
• The original battlefields lodge begun by the late David  Rattray, an immensely powerful storyteller and historian
• Loads of memorabilia and artifacts adorn the lodge
• Set in its own 4000 acre estate

Fugitives Drift Lodge is the original Battlefields lodge and is located within its own 4000-acre Natural Heritage site, close to Rorke's Drift. Guests come to the Battlefields to learn about the Anglo Zulu wars and the battle of Islandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. Survivors of the battle of Isandlwana fled and crossed the Buffalo River at a place known afterwards as Fugitives Drift. Fugitives Drift Lodge first became known as the home of the late David Rattray, an immensely powerful storyteller and historian who was passionate about the Zulu history of this special part of KwaZulu Natal. His remarkable legacy is continued by Rob Caskie and his associates who have continued in this fine tradition of storytelling. The lodge offers superb historical tours of the Battlefield sites, usually with a visit to Isandlwana in the morning and Rorke’s Drift in the afternoon. These tours are the highlight of your stay at Fugitives Drift and not to be missed. Indeed it would not be unusual to find that they were one of the highlights of your whole holiday!

Aside from the tours, which are the centrepoint for any stay here, Fugitives Drift offers immensely comfortable accommodation. The large lounge and dining room houses numerous works of art pertaining to the Zulu War and is full of artefacts, antiques and memorabilia. The nine spacious rooms are decorated in a gentle colonial style very much in keeping with the ambience of the lodge. Each has a terrace or deck overlooking the plains. The bathrooms are large with bath and shower. Within the well-established and shady garden, there’s a spectacularly situated swimming pool overlooking the Buffalo River Gorge. Evenings are spent enjoying drinks around the camp fire before a candlelit dinner is served in the dining room.

If you have time, we recommend a three night stay at Fugitives Drift Lodge as the tours are emotionally charged and quite long and so there’s a benefit to enjoying one half day tour each day. As well as morning and afternoon Battlefield tours, you can enjoy a nature drive or horse riding on the estate or a guided walk to the historic site of Fugitives Drift. Here Lieutenants Melvill and Coghill were killed saving the Queen’s Colour of the 24th Regiment and both men are buried a short walk from the lodge. Other battlefield tours are offered for people staying longer.

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