Usuario invitado
2 de junio de 2024
Fugitives’ Drift Lodge and Guest House, KwaZulu-Natal 5-9th May 2024, Peter and Jennifer Lockyer, Chalet 4 Earlier this month, we had the privilege to stay at the Fugitives Drift Lodge and Guest House, which stands in some 5,000 acres of KwaZulu-Natal, we stayed for four nights. We had a five hour taxi ride from Durban, the driver, a Zulu kept us engaged in interesting conversation. He was well versed in politics and South Africa. It is winter in the Southern Hemisphere. So, in South Africa it was autumn, even so it was a warm 28 degrees, with blue sky and no rain. Our reason for travelling to the Lodge was to visit the battlefields of the Anglo/Zulu wars of 1879: Particularly Rorke’s Drift, made famous by the film Zulu, and Isandlwana an American film known as Zulu Dawn. To travel and stay at the Lodge you don’t have to be an historian, you will enjoy the views, tranquility, and the ‘airs of mystery’. The road surface changed as we approached the Lodge and became a dirt track. We arrived at the security barrier, and we were expected. It wasn’t long before we started seeing zebras, and giraffes, one with a baby, the mother was very inquisitve peering at us down her long nose! We arrived at the Lodge and were given a warm welcome (well, they have entertained British Royalty, in the past!) Our suitcases were whisked away, and we were taken for lunch at the splendid Harford library named after Henry ‘Charlie’ Harford. (The library can be seen on an on-line video at their website). For lunch we were hosted by ‘Amazing Grace’, the lovely, front of house lady, who looked after ‘service’ and us so very well. One day she sang for us, so very beautifully. We had a most enjoyable lunch, with probably the best views in South Africa. From the Lodge, the ground drops away steeply, down to the Buffalo river which cuts its way through the bush. The river features in so very much of the history of the area. In fact two army officers are buried there fugitives from the Zulus. They were the first two men to be awarded posthumous Victoria Crosses. They are buried in the grounds of the Lodge, not so very far from the river. The mountain of Isandlwana could also be seen on the horizon, with a heat haze giving it an eerie appearance. After lunch we went to our accommodation, chalet no 4, it was very big, and well stocked The shower was massive, as was the outside one. We had drinks with the other guests around a burning brazier at 1900, and at 1930 dinner was served and we sat down with the other guests in the main dining room, surrounded by African artefacts of war and peace. The food and service was to a very high standard. I sat opposite Douglas Rattray, the son of the owner Nicky Rattray. His conversation was interesting and lively. In fact for most of the meals, we were lucky to have a senior member of the staff or Nicky or Douglas sit with us. The next day we were shaken at 0600 with a cup of tea and biscuits. Breakfast was at 0650, a full South Af
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