Kwa Zulu Natal
Fugitives Drift Lodge & Guest House
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Fugitives’ Drift is set on a spectacular 5000 acre Natural Heritage Site near to the famous battle venues of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, and includes the site where Lieutenants Melvill and Coghill lost their lives attempting to save the Queen’s Colour of their regiment after crossing the Buffalo River.
Around the Lodge guests can also take walks and cycle amongst the game such as giraffe and wildebeest. Both the Lodge and Guest House feature spacious and luxurious en-suite rooms and cottages, all with private verandas to help you make the most of the broad views over the hills and plains flanking the infamous Gorge.
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Facilities & Activities
Facilities at the Main Lodge and Guesthouse (a short walk or few minutes’ drive away) include a dining room adorned with a remarkable collection of Zulu War memorabilia and refreshing swimming pool. The Harford Library at the Main Lodge, which offers incredible views over the Buffalo River Gorge and the mountain of Isandlwana, has a dedicated kitchen and an integrated audio/visual system.
Activities in and around Fugitive’s Drift include horse riding, game drives, walking and fishing. However, the highlight of your stay will likely be the incredible talks given by the team of guides (or rather story-tellers) about two of the most famous battles of the Anglo-Zulu wars (additional charge applies and tours must be pre-booked).
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Dining
Enjoy superb cuisine, a unique fusion of home and modern flavours, in the splendid atmosphere of a veritable museum of Zulu War memorabilia. Dining is generally communal, or a private table can be arranged on request.
Rooms
Fugitives’ Drift boasts two ‘camps’: The Main Lodge and The Guesthouse.
Both offer a high standard of fully catered, en-suite accommodation and are 600m apart. A feature of the Lodge is the beautiful shady, well-established garden – home to innumerable birds and a spectacular, large swimming pool situated on a secluded spur on the lip of the Buffalo River Gorge.
The Main Lodge features eight spacious, luxury twin en-suite rooms which each have a private veranda, affording views over the plains. The newly renovated Annex, or 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, making it ideal for small groups travelling together.
The smaller Guesthouse has six simpler rooms, around the homestead, where meals are served and is set in charming gardens looking out over the reserve, a lovely light and airy location.
They also have a self catering house called Umzinyathi.
Umzinyathi has 3 bedrooms and whilst sold on a self catering basis all meals can be enjoyed in the main lodge at an additional charge.
Please note the house is approx 7 minute drive to the main lodge.
Take a Video Tour
Family
Families adore Fugitives’ as it is renowned for delivering awe-inspiring battlefield tours that bring the battles of Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana to life. However, the main off-site tours have a minimum age of 12.
For the keen junior historians under this age, the Battlefield Kids program is an excellent option which remains on the reserve. Activities include atmospheric story telling, walking with the giraffe and swimming in the Buffalo River. Children Tours give younger guests the opportunity to:
•See giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, nyala and other non-threatening game in the 5000-acre private reserve.
•Hold a Martini-Henry rifle, as used by the British at Rorke’s Drift and a variety of contemporary Zulu assegais.
•Discover the traditional medicinal uses of the flora and fauna of the region – how do the Zulus brush their teeth?
•Visit the nearby Zulu cultural village for a tangible experience of the Zulu’s way of life, could be an optional extra.
Young children generally dine earlier than adults and babysitting can be provided at a nominal fee. However, if you wish to eat as a family and are travelling with under 12s, arrangements for a private table can be made.
At the Main Lodge, The Annex cottage sleeps 4 (1 x double & 1 x twin room) both with en suite bathrooms and incorporating a communal living area. There is also a family room (room 3 with twin beds) which features a living area able to accommodate 2 extra single beds. Additional beds and adjacent rooms can be arranged at the Guesthouse. For large families you can make use of the Umzinyathi Self Catering House and have your meals in the lodge.
Sustainability
David Rattray Foundation which is an initiative to educate the youth of today for a better tomorrow. 60% of the local communities live in poverty – and therefore rely on social grants. Apart from offering employment in the area, the Rattray family wanted to do more. In South Africa, social responsibility is an important part of any business – and even more so within rural communities. As a responsible employee, the family want the best for their employees and by extension their families.
Location
Fugitives’ Drift Lodge is set on a hillside above the Buffalo River Gorge in the Natal Battlefields, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The reserve is 8km from Rorke’s Drift and 56km south east of Dundee.
The lodge is approximately 5 hours’ drive from Johannesburg and 4 hours from Durban International Airport and works well as park of a circular itinerary around Kwa Zulu Natal taking in the Bush, Berg and Beach of the region.
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