Fugitives' Drift Lodge and Guest House, near Rorke's Drift.
David and Nicky Rattray, pioneers of Heritage Tourism in South Africa, have created award winning facilities for visitors to savour the extraordinary saga of the Anglo Zulu War.

If one tried to dream up geography and topography for the clash between two great empires, one could hardly come up with a more fantastic scene than the famous battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. This spectacular property is a Natural Heritage Site. Walks and horse rides through the reserve to view abundant game and birdlife as well as fishing the 20km frontage of the Buffalo River.

At a glance

• Lodge:
  • 8 Spacious, luxury en-suite cottages
  • Each with private verandah
• Guesthouse:
  • 6 Large en-suite bedrooms
  • outside eating area
  • Small swimming pool
• Umzinyathi House
  • Rustic self-catering 3 bedroom farm house
  • Commanding views of Isandlwana
  • Cheaper alternative to the Lodge and Guest House

Fugitives’ Drift is world famous for its battlefield tours, escorted by knowledgeable and highly-qualified lecturers, steeped in the history of the region and telling the tale as they were taught to tell it by the renowned historian David Rattray.

Accommodation is provided at the Lodge and at the Guest House.
The Lodge has 8 spacious luxury en-suite rooms.  Each has a private verandah affording views over the plains flanking the Buffalo River Gorge.  A feature of the Lodge is a beautiful, shady, well established garden, home to innumerable birds.  It has a spectacular swimming pool.

The original farmhouse is the hub of the Guest House and has been turned into a charming sitting room / dining room.  Here there are 6 large en-suite bedrooms, all with private verandas.  The rooms and swimming pool have sweeping views of the reserve and surrounding battlefields.

Superb food and personal service is a feature of these outstanding facilities. Indulge in sundowners around the fire and dine in the splendid atmosphere of a veritable museum of Zulu War memorabilia.

This spectacular property is a Natural Heritage Site. Walks and horse rides through the reserve to view abundant game and birdlife are offered as well as fishing the 20km frontage of the Buffalo River.

Accommodation:
Lodge
The Lodge is situated on the site of the original Rattray homestead where David's parents, Peter and Gillian, came for their holidays and here the seeds of this unique operation took root in those early years.

Spacious, luxury en-suite cottages each have a private verandah affording views over the plains flanking the Buffalo River Gorge.

A feature of the lodge is the beautiful, shady well established garden, home to innumerable birds, and the most spectacular large swimming pool situated on a secluded spur on the lip of the Buffalo River Gorge.

Enjoy sundowners around a fire under a canopy of Paperbarks, with magical Isandlwana looming on the skyline, and superb cuisine, a unique fusion of home and modern flavours, in the splendid atmosphere of a veritable museum of Zulu War memorabilia.

Guesthouse
In its original state, the Guest House was the home of Mr Johan Potgieter and his family. "Mr Pot" was immortalised in Gillian Rattray's award winning tome "The Springing of the Year". He was one of the great storytellers of this area.

Mr Pot's house has been turned into the most charming sitting and dining room filled with fascinating memorabilia. The original verandah has been retained. It also has an outside eating area which has a stunning view across a plain with Isandlwana in the distance.

Cottages have large en-suite bedrooms that are individually decorated and all have private verandahs with sweeping views of the reserve and surrounding battlefields. The Guest House has a small swimming pool.

Superb food and personal service are a feature of this outstanding facility.

Umzinyathi House, the original homestead of George Bunting, is our rustic self-catering 3 bedroom farm house at the top of the Reserve having commanding views of Isandlwana.  Kwa George is a garden cottage in the grounds of Umzinyathi House, tastefully decorated; it consists of an en suite bedroom with shower. Both these options offer a cheaper alternative to the Lodge and Guest House.

Indulge in sundowners around the fire and dine in the splendid atmosphere of a veritable museum of Zulu War memorabilia. Superb food and personal service are central to the fine hospitality we offer at Fugitives’ Drift.