Umzinyathi Farmhouse is the spectacular Fugitives’ Drift Lodge’s sole-use villa. Fugitive’s Drift is a 5000-acre Natural Heritage Site that overlooks both Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift.
This farmhouse is a charming stone and corrugated iron roof building built in the 1920s. It was the home of George Buntting, who was an expert on the Anglo Zulu War. The farmhouse is at the top of the reserve and has a wonderful view of Isandlwana. It has 3 en-suite bedrooms, a sitting room with a fireplace, a dining room, a large veranda and a kitchen. Although the accommodation is self-catering, you may choose to have some or all meals at the old dining room at the Main Lodge at an additional cost. The old dining room at the Main Lodge, which is now the museum, has always proved to be a huge asset to the often-complimented atmosphere and houses a remarkable collection of Zulu War memorabilia. Guests can enjoy superb cuisine with a unique fusion of home and modern flavours whilst in the splendid atmosphere of the museum.
Other facilities at the Main Lodge include the Harford Library and a sparkling swimming pool. With incredible views over the Buffalo River Gorge and the mountain of Isandlwana, the Harford Library offers a fantastic venue for executive groups to meet.
Fugitives’ Drift is renowned for delivering awe-inspiring battlefield tours that bring the battles of Rorke’s Drift & Isandlwana to life. This experience gives a deep and tangible insight into some of the most moving of South Africa’s battlefields. While these world-renowned tours set off with the parents, shorter, more interactive tours on the property are led by a guide just for the kids which will engage and inspire children with stories of the bravery and courage of the British soldiers and Zulu warriors. These tours will be followed by a game walk.
Five-star accommodation, world-class battlefield tours, abundant game and birdlife, superb food and wine, and breath-taking views out over Zululand and the battlefields make for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
About Rorke’s Drift
Rorke’s Drift provides an easy route from the northern plateau of Natal into Zululand, past the Isandlwana and Siphezi mountains. It was named after James Rorke who farmed near the crossing. After his death, the farm was taken over by a Swedish Mission that was to play a strategic role in one of the fiercest battles of the Anglo-Zulu War.
The countryside around Rorke’s Drift still manages to give true meaning to the description ‘unspoilt beauty’, and it is hard to imagine that this peaceful, undulating landscape was the scene of such violence. A visit to the Rorke’s Drift Battle Museum, which has received worldwide attention for its displays of the Anglo-Zulu War, gives an incredible audio-visual depiction of the Rorke’s Drift battle and others and is well worth a visit.
A walk down to Fugitives’ Drift on the Buffalo River will afford an opportunity not only to swim in pools and rapids but also to try one’s hand at a spot of fishing. The 22km River frontage offers superb fishing.
