Fugitives' Drift Lodge

About Fugitives' Drift Lodge

The Lodge

The Lodge is the original establishment, built by David and Nicky Rattray in 1989, and rebuilt and refurbished in 2017. It is the most luxurious of all our accommodation options; each spacious room has an en-suite bathroom with both inside and outside showers, air-conditioning, a mini-fridge, and a veranda with views of the plains flanking the Buffalo River Gorge.

Meals are taken communally in the large dining room or -weather permitting- out on the deck. The Lodge has a swimming pool with a view of both Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana. It also houses the Harford Library and the Fugitives’ Drift Museum.

Umzinyathi Farmhouse

This farmhouse is a charming stone and corrugated iron roof building constructed in the 1920’s. It was the house of George Buntting, who was an expert on the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879. The farmhouse is at the top of the reserve and has a wonderful view of Isandlwana. It has three en-suite bedrooms, a sitting room with a fireplace, a dining room and a kitchen.

Although the accommodation is self-catering, you may choose to have some or all meals at the Lodge or the Guest House at an additional cost. Should you decide to take this accommodation, you will need to travel to and from the Lodge or the Guest House for tours and or meals (a 5-10 minute drive).

Kwa-George

This small cottage is the grounds of Umzinyathi Farmhouse; aptly name “Kwa-George” which means, “Place of George” in the Zulu language. Kwa-George consists of a simple twin bedroom, en-suite bathroom with a shower, and a veranda. Should you decide to take this accommodation you will need to travel to and from the Lodge or the Guest House for meals and or tours (a 5-10 minute drive).

The Harford Library

Named after Charlie Harford, the well-known beetle collector at Isandlwana, the Harford Library has panoramic views over the Buffalo River Gorge. Lunch is sometimes served out on the veranda of the library; it also makes for an excellent reading spot.

The Fugitives’ Drift Museum

Located at the main lodge opposite reception, the Fugitives’ Drift Museum contains a selection of pictures, newspaper cuttings, woodcuts, and original artefacts collected by and donated to the Rattray family over the years. Items range from Stone Age tools and locally forged iron implements found on the property, to relics of the battlefields found over the years. The museum is a fantastic spot to spend an afternoon soaking up some more of the rich history of this area and the Anglo-Zulu War.

Conference Venues: The Harford Library is a superb venue for a conference, board meeting or think tank. Wireless internet, projector, screen etc

Family friendly: Fugitives’ Drift is expanding on these experiences with the addition of dedicated tours for children under 12 years of age. Two sets of family friendly inter leading rooms .