Fugitives’ Drift Game Reserve and Battlefields Experience

The tour to Isandlwana leaves from Fugitives’ Drift Lodge at 7:30am, and is typically back by 1:00pm. Guests embark on the morning excursion in a closed vehicle, listening to a narrative recorded by the late David Rattray from The Day of the Dead Moon. This narrative gives the background to the conflict and weaves together some of the early history of South Africa in a fantastic story, full of human courage, endeavor and folly. Once out of the Fugitives’ Drift reserve, the track meanders to the Buffalo river, crossing at Rorke’s Drift. The route then follows the British line of advance.

There are a couple of stops made before reaching the Isandlwana battlefield; these are at the most poignant parts of the journey, allowing the guide to begin to weave the stories together and give our guests an appreciation of how the invasion got started. The first view of the battlefield is from the Nqutu Escarpment, the high ground from which the Zulus attacked the British camp. The next stop is at the Isandlwana museum. Guests are then taken onto the battlefield itself, and told the story at the foot of the Isandlwana Mountain.

On this natural stage, our guides put into vivid detail the desperate struggle of the morning of 22nd January 1879. After the tour, our guests are encouraged to roam the battlefield and explore this most unspoiled of places. The eerie silence between the mass graves and the lion like crag of the mountain brooding; it is a truly is a magnificent place.

The Battle of Rorke’s Drift, fought immediately after the Battle of Isandlwana, is famous thought the English-speaking world. Here, at a small mission station, 139 British soldiers were attacked by 4000 Zulu warriors. The result was a British victory which saw the award of more Victoria Crosses than in any other battle in history. The story of Rorke’s Drift is an incredibly tragic story; one of human courage and sacrifice. The unspeakable suffering endured by the warriors and soldiers on such a tiny area is confounding.

The tour to Rorke’s Drift Leaves at 3pm and is typically back by 6pm. Our guests embark on the short, fifteen minute, excursion in a closed vehicle, listening to another narrative recorded by the late David Rattray from The Day of the Dead Moon. After a quick look through the museum at Rorke’s Drift, our guests are seated, and the story begins. The tiny area of the battlefield is astounding, and the concentrated suffering is made apparent by the stories of the individual men who fought so bravely and died so hard. Under the most harrowing of circumstances, these men did not lose their humanity. As the sun sets on the battlefield our guests are given the time to wonder to the graves and memorials to contemplate the stories that have just heard.

Note: Although it is possible to do both tours in one day, we don’t advise it due to the intense nature of the tours and historical details. It is much better to spread the tours across two days and take advantage of the wildlife reserve to view wildlife, hike and bike in, browse in the lodge’s museum and cosy library and generally relax.

Fugitives’ Drift is renowned for delivering awe-inspiring battlefield tours that bring the battles of Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana to life. This experience gives a deep and tangible insight into some of the most moving of South Africa’s battlefields.

Fugitives’ Drift has now expanded on these experiences with the addition of dedicated tours for children under 12 years of age.

While the world-renowned tours set off with the parents, shorter more interactive tours on the property, led by a guide, will engage and inspire children with stories of the bravery and courage of the British soldiers and Zulu warriors. These tours, which can be tailored to the age and interest level of the child, and delivered in an ‘un-stuffy’ up-to-date way, will be followed by a game drive.

• See giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, nyala and other non threatening game in our 5000-acre private reserve.

• Discover the traditional medicinal uses of the flora and fauna of the region – how do the Zulus brush their teeth?

With the Battlefield Kids option, specially prepared dinners, and a baby-sitter on call means the Fugitives’ Drift experience can now be enjoyed by parents and children alike.