Fugitives' Drift Lodge and Guest House

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Fugitives' Drift Lodge and Guest House

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Set on its own private game reserve, Fugitives' Drift Lodge offers five star accommodation and inter

The Zulu War of 1879 is famous throughout the English-speaking world for the great battles of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. The spectacular Fugitives’ Drift property, a 5000 acre Natural Heritage Site, overlooks both 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. If one tried to dream up geography and topography for the clash between two great nations, one could hardly come up with a more fantastic scene than this one. It was here that David and Nicky Rattray pioneered Heritage Tourism in South Africa and created an award winning lodge for visitors to savour this extraordinary saga. Led by the finest guides in South Africa, thought-provoking and often emotionally charged tours are conducted daily to Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. Walks and horserides through the reserve to view abundant game and birdlife are offered as well as fishing the 20km frontage on the Buffalo River. The reserve offers a choice of accommodation in either the Lodge or the Guest House, both owned by the Rattrays and both born out of their extensive experience in the hospitality industry. Evident in every corner of Fugitives’ Drift is the Rattrays’ love of South Africa, its people and its unique history. Both the Lodge and Guest House have spacious and luxurious en-suite cottages which all have private verandahs and broad views over the plains flanking the Buffalo River Gorge. The Lodge and Guest House both have swimming pools set in their colourful, well established gardens which are home to innumerable bird species.

20/10/2026

Douglas Rattray's whistle-stop tour of the UK continues, and we have another rather exciting date for your diaries!

On Thursday 12 November, Doug will be taking to the stage at the beautiful Ashridge House in Hertfordshire to tell the extraordinary story of The Battle of Rorke’s Drift. Through his unique storytelling, Doug brings to life the events of that extraordinary night in January 1879, exploring the courage and experiences of those who were there.

For those who haven't yet had the opportunity to hear Doug speak, this is a wonderful chance to experience the storytelling tradition that his father, David Rattray, made famous around the world.

The evening is kindly supported by Ashridge House, with proceeds in aid of Berkhamsted Castle Fields.

The details:
Thursday 12 November 2026
Ashridge House, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire (Brindley Room)
Doors open at 6pm, with the talk from 6.30pm to 8pm
£25 per person

To reserve your place, please email [email protected]

We know many of our friends in the UK have been hoping for an opportunity to hear Doug speak, so do spread the word!

19/10/2026

There are some things we can guarantee when you visit Fugitives’ Drift. You'll hear some extraordinary stories, and there's a very good chance you'll find yourself going back for a second helping of cake!

Another thing we can absolutely promise is that you'll be greeted with a smile. We often talk about the beautiful place we're lucky enough to call home, but it's the wonderful people who work here who make Fugitives’ Drift what it is.

For so many of our guests, it's the friendships formed with our lodge family that they remember most fondly. There's something rather special about seeing familiar faces return, sometimes after many years, and being welcomed back as old friends.

So, from two of our smiling faces to all of yours, a very big hello from Fugitives’ Drift!

To our former guests, is there someone from our lodge family you'd particularly like to say hello to? We'd love to pass on your messages.

16/10/2026

This World Food Day, we wanted to share something very close to our hearts.

Through the David Rattray Foundation, known as KHULA Education, we work with children and families in the communities surrounding Fugitives’ Drift.

At our supported preschools, we provide children with two nutritious meals every day. For many, these meals are an enormously important part of their daily nutrition.

We launched our Coffee Club, with a simple goal: to bring together 100 people by the end of 2026, each giving the equivalent of a coffee a month to help feed our preschool children.

We're delighted to say that 61 people have already joined us!

So many of these wonderful supporters are former guests of Fugitives’ Drift, and we cannot tell you how much that means to us. Thank you for continuing to care about this community long after your visit.

Now we're looking for just 39 more people to help us reach our goal.

For less than the cost of a coffee each month, you can help feed a preschool child for two weeks.

Join the Coffee Club: https://khula-education.org/get-involved/coffee-club/

15/10/2026

In just a fortnight, our very own Douglas Rattray will take to the stage at the Royal Geographical Society in London to tell the extraordinary story of the Battle of Isandlwana.

To think that 700 people will be gathering together to hear this story is something rather wonderful. We know just how much this evening means to Doug.

To everyone joining us on 29 October, we cannot wait to see you! The excitement is certainly building here at Fugitives’ Drift.

We also know that many of you were disappointed not to get tickets, particularly as they sold out so quickly. Given the extraordinary demand, we are sure that Douglas will be back, and we hope there will be plenty more opportunities to hear him speak.

For now, the countdown is well and truly on.

Who's joining us at the RGS? We'd love to hear from you!

14/10/2026

There’s something about this corner of KwaZulu-Natal that always makes you look up. Perhaps it’s the sheer vastness of the sky. The way it stretches from one horizon to the other, making everything beneath it seem rather small.

And then there’s the wonderful thought that people have been looking up at this same sky for thousands of years. Long before the events that made this part of the world famous, generations stood beneath these stars and marvelled at the colours of the setting sun.

The world beneath it has changed enormously, but there is something comforting in knowing that the sky above us has been putting on its extraordinary display for millennia.

It’s one of those things we never quite get used to at Fugitives’ Drift.

13/10/2026

Knock, knock!

Come on in! We thought we'd take you on a little whistle-stop tour of one of our rooms at Fugitives' Drift.

We spend a lot of time sharing the extraordinary history and beautiful landscapes that surround us, but we thought you might like a peek behind the doors too.

After a full day exploring the battlefields, there's something rather lovely about coming back to a comfortable room, putting your feet up and making yourself at home.

So, come and have a look around. We promise not to take up too much of your time!

And to our former guests, do you recognise this room? We'd love to know if you've stayed here!

10/10/2026

Not every desk comes with this particular set of distractions. You might sit down with every intention of catching up on a few emails or planning tomorrow’s adventures. Then a giraffe wanders past the window. A little later, a herd of zebra appears. And by late afternoon, the sun begins to drop across the valley and whatever was on the to-do list feels considerably less urgent.

We can’t promise it’s the most productive desk at Fugitives’ Drift.

But we’re fairly confident it has one of the best views.

If you’ve stayed with us, what has wandered past your window?

09/10/2026

Friday evenings look a little different out here. No rush-hour traffic. No battle for a table at the pub. Just the sun disappearing behind the Buffalo River Valley and a very good excuse to stay exactly where you are.

For those who know this view, where’s your favourite spot at Fugitives’ Drift to watch the sun go down?

07/10/2026

There’s something extraordinary about how a building so unassuming can hold one of the most remarkable stories in military history.

At Rorke’s Drift, it can be difficult at first to reconcile the peaceful place in front of you with the events of 22 January 1879. Here, a small British garrison defended the mission station against a vastly larger Zulu force in a battle remembered for extraordinary courage on both sides.

Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded following the defence, but the story of Rorke’s Drift is far richer than medals and famous names. Our guides bring together the British and Zulu perspectives, introducing the people behind the history and helping you understand how that extraordinary night unfolded in the very place where it happened.

We visit Rorke’s Drift every afternoon as part of our daily battlefield tours. Whether you arrive knowing the story by heart or knowing little beyond the film Zulu, there is no better place to discover it.

Come and stand where the story happened. https://www.fugitivesdrift.com/battlefield-tours/

05/10/2026

There’s something rather special about laying the table at Fugitives’ Drift. Soon these empty chairs will be filled with guests coming back together after a day of exploring. Dinner is where stories from the day are shared and conversations have a habit of carrying on well beyond the final course.

For us, mealtimes have always been a precious part of life at the Lodge. Good food matters, of course, but it’s the people sitting around the table who make an evening memorable.

And this table has certainly collected a few memories over the years.

If you’ve sat around it with us, we’d love to hear yours. What’s your favourite memory from the Fugitives’ Drift dinner table?

Address

Fugitives' Drift
Rorke's Drift
3016

Telephone

+27342718051

Website

http://www.fugitivesdrift.com/

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