Fugitives’ Drift Lodge

•  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 memorablia and artefacts adorn the lodge
•  Set in its own 5000 acre estate

Fugitives' Drift Lodge is the original Natal Battlefields lodge and is located within its own 5,000 acre Natural Heritage site, close to Rorke's Drift. Guests come to the Natal Battlefields to learn about the Anglo Zulu wars and the fascinating battles of Islandlwana and Rorke's Drift. Survivors of the battle of Isandlwana fled and crossed the Buffalo River at a place known ever 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 Nicky Rattray, Douglas Rattray,  Alastair Lamont and Mphiwa Ntanzi.

Battlefield tours and other activities

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!

However, if you have time, we strongly recommend a three night stay at Fugitives' Drift Lodge as the tours are emotionally charged and thought-provoking. On a 3 night stay, you would do the Isandlwana battlefields tour in the morning of your first full day and then the drama of Rorke's Drift in the afternoon of the next day, allowing plenty of time to relax around the swimming pool or enjoy other activities. As well as morning and afternoon Battlefield tours, you can enjoy a nature walk, horse riding or mountain biking on the estate and a guided walk (on the Fugitives Trail) to the historic site of Fugitives' Drift. Here Lieutenants Melvill and Coghill were killed trying to save the Queen's Colour of the 24th Regiment and both men are buried a short walk from the lodge.

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.

Aside from the battlefield tours, Fugitives' Drift Lodge 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 luxurious colonial style very much in keeping with the ambience of the lodge. Each has a terrace or deck overlooking the plains flanking the Buffalo river gorge. The bathrooms are large with bath and shower. There is also an Annexe cottage with two en suite bedrooms which is ideal for families or couples travelling together.

Children at Fugitives' Drift

Fugitives' Drift now makes the remarkable story of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift more accessible to kids with their own separate tours for kids under 12 years old. The battlefield tours are followed by a game walk and a more cultural encounter. They get to hold a Martini-Henry rifle, a variety of Zulu assegais, they discover the medicinal uses of flora and fauna in the bush and they can visit a Zulu village. Early dinners and babysitting are also on offer so that both parents and children can enjoy the Fugitives' Drift experience.