Fugitives' Drift
Rorke's Drift, KwaZulu Natal and the north coast, South Africa
At a Glance
Immerse yourself in the history of the Anglo-Zulu War
Listen to one of South Africa’s best story tellers
Enjoy the Fabulous views of Isandlwana Mountain
Experience the new graded bike trails
Curl up with a book in their extensive library dedicated to David Rattray
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Best time to Visit
Good time to visit
Average time to visit
The Lodge is open all year round, but the best game viewing is from March to the end September. Subtropical climate with hot, humid, wet summers (September to April) and warm to cool, dry winters (May to August).
Insider's View
Call us on 226-777-3081 to start planning your vacation to Fugitives' Drift or take a look at our itineraries to KwaZulu Natal and the north coast
Description
Fugitives' Drift Lodge and Guesthouse are simple and charming retreats with eight cottages and six rooms respectively, very close to the sites of two of the most famous battlefields in the history of the South African wars, Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift.
Family and owner-run Fugitives' Drift Private Reserve offers a unique experience combining wildlife with rich South African history. The accommodation is in comfortable en-suite cottages and the lodge has lovely views of Isandlwana Mountain. The Buffalo River is a short walk away.
Game viewing can be done on foot, in vehicles or on horseback, with opportunities to see several species of animals including giraffe, zebra and kudu. The bird life is prolific and there have been 275 species identified in the gorge below the lodge. Fishing is also a great pastime and the unspoilt surroundings are the perfect place to unwind.
However, the best reason to come here is for the incredible talks given by Andrew Rattray and his team of guides (or rather story-tellers) about two of the most famous battles of the Anglo-Zulu wars.
There is a colonial feel to both the lodge and the guesthouse and guests all dine together, hosted by guides and managers, with dinner very often involving a traditional British roast.
An excellent library has recently been built in memory of the late David Rattray, owner of Fugitives' Drift Lodge, entomologist and the originator of these incredible talks. There are stunning views from the balcony, where guests often take lunch, as well as plenty of space to curl up with a book and internet access for guests.
Accommodation
Fugitive's Drift Lodge offers eight spacious, luxury en-suite cottages which each have a private veranda, affording views over the plains flanking the Buffalo River Gorge. The Lodge is also home to a newly renovated Annex, or Cottage. The Cottage has been redesigned to have two en-suite bedrooms and a sitting room. One bathroom has a shower and bath, the other is a small shower-room. It is ideal for small families or couples travelling together. The smaller Guesthouse has six simpler rooms, around the homestead, where meals are served.
Double Room | There are 8 luxury en-suite cottages all with private verandah with far-reaching views. |
Lodge | This cottage has 2 double rooms with en-suite bathrooms and sitting area as well as a private verandah. |
Childcare
Children are welcome but there are no specific facilities except babysitting which can be provided on request. The lodge offers specialized children's battlefield tours that will engage and inspire children with stories of the bravery and courage of the British soldiers and Zulu warriors, but there is a minimum age of 12 on the regular battle field tours. Tours are followed by a game walk to see giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, nyala and other non-threatening game.
Facilities
Facilities at the lodge and guesthouse include a dining room adorned with a remarkable collection of Zulu War memorabilia, a swimming pool and horses. The Harford Library, which offers incredible views over the Buffalo River Gorge and the mountain of Isandlwana, can seat 34 guests and has a dedicated kitchen, wireless internet access and an integrated audio/visual system.
Activities
Activities in and around Fugitive's Drift include horse riding, swimming, game drives, walking and fishing. The lodge also offers battlefield tours to bring the epic Zulu war to life. The lodge has just introduced 3 bike trails with ski piste grading: 1 green, 1 blue and 1 red so guests can cycle past zebra, giraffe, wildebeest & other non threatening game on 5,000 acres. There are 2 adults bikes & 2 children’s mountain bikes for 10 year olds.
Reviews
Louisa Verney (Staff)
Having been lucky enough to be captivated by the late David Rattray speaking at the RGS about 6 years ago, a visit to Fugitives' Drift has been high on my list since, and I was not disappointed.
The Rorke's Drift talk was so interesting, and it did not matter that I had very little prior knowledge of the Anglo Zulu war. Andrew Rattray, managed to step into his fathers huge shoes magnificently and brought a very human element to the afternoons intense battle. Standing by what was the old grain store, it was incredible to imagine the Zulu's in full warrior regalia charging over the hill and across the vast plains. What a terrifying sight it must have been for the British soldiers.
Later that evening we all sat around the fire and chatted about the battles and how the film Zulu had got some elements of history wrong.
As well as the battlefields tours Fugitives Drift is on a private reserve, so it is a lovely place to go for a walk or mountain bike ride.
Louisa Verney (Staff)
There are a variety of reasons to visit KwaZulu-Natal (or KZN to those in the know). Some come for the beaches, some for the wildlife, some for the Drakensburg Mountains, and some for the battlefields. If you can't imagine coming here for the latter then please bear with me. Having worked in the Africa travel industry for many years, I had of course heard much about David Rattray and his phenomenal talks about the Anglo-Zulu wars. Sadly, I never made it to see him speak before he died a couple of years ago but fortunately his family and associates have decided to continue his legacy at Fugitives Drift Lodge. The area of the battlefields is dry and dusty, characterized by hills and expanses of emptiness with the odd outback-style town thrown in. You really would need a good reason to come here on vacation. And you have one.
The accommodation at Fugitives Drift Lodge is pleasant enough, it has been recently refurbished and there's a pool and some nice views (of Isandlwana Mountain) but that is really not important. The reason you come here is to hear Rob Caskie and the other guides talk. Our first trip took us to Isandlwana, where (renegade) British troops received a good hiding from the local Zulu and ended the day fleeing in disarray, many drowning in the torrent near Fugitives Drift. But what really got me was the story of the battle of Rorkes Drift and, in particular, I think, the way Rob tells it. This was not a set-piece battle, there were no generals or cavalry, just a handful of men defending their lives (and those of their sick comrades) against hundreds of Zulus, high on battle and bent on revenge after the unprompted attack on them at Isandlwana. With adrenalin pumping and hairs standing on end, we followed Rob around the tiny area of the hospital and stores as he gave us a blow-by-blow account of the bloody fight, with every doorway giving rise to another brave vignette. I won't tell you the best bits, you'll have to go there yourself.
Offers
Fugitives' Drift, South Africa - Complimentary Nights
Book a four night stay at Fugutives' Drift, South Africa and receive your fourth night on a complimentary basis.Book from | 14 June 2019 to 31 July 2020 |
Travel from |
01 May 2020 to 31 July 2020 |
Fugitives' Drift, South Africa - Complimentary Child Stay
Benefit from a complimentary stay for one child at Fugitives' Drift, South Africa when you stay between 1st May and 20th July 2020.Book from | 14 June 2019 to 31 July 2020 |
Travel from |
01 May 2020 to 31 July 2020 |
Fugitives' Drift, South Africa - December Savings
Save up to R2000 per person when you book your December 2020 stay at Fugitives' Drift, South Africa.Book from | 14 June 2019 to 20 December 2020 |
Travel from |
01 December 2020 to 20 December 2020 |
Fugitives' Drift, South Africa - Complimentary upgrade
Receive a complimentary upgrade from Guest House to Lodge when you book your 2020 vacation to Fugitives' Drift, South Africa.Book from | 14 June 2019 to 31 December 2020 |
Travel from |
01 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 |
Experiences
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Horrid Histories
Fugitive's Drift has introduced Horrid Histories, Zulu Style, for their under 12 guests.
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Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift
The battlefield tours operated by Fugitives' Drift are one of the most memorable guided experiences in Africa. Let one of the expert, passionate guides at Fugitives' bring the battlefields of Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana to life.
Location & directions
Rorke's Drift, KwaZulu Natal and the north coast, South Africa
Fugitives' Drift Lodge is set on a hillside above the Buffalo River Gorge in the Natal Battlefields, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The 2500ha reserve is 8km from Rorke's Drift and 56km south east of Dundee.