Fact sheet for Rorke's Drift Lodge

Size of property:

305 hectares (1000 acres) pristine bushveld and mountain.

Location:

co-ordinates 28° 23.055 South 30° 30.500 East
altitude 1205m msl
Farm Shepleigh, District Msinga, kwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Access to the property:

5km farm track access road off the P190 which is an untarred road best accessed from the R68. Visitors to the area are advised to hire rental cars with standard tyres and no low spoilers on the front of the cars.

Environmental facts:

The property is an unofficial conservancy on which the naturally occurring game in the area have free access. Found on the property are Kudu, Impala, Mountain Rhebuck, Common Rhebuck, Blesbuck, Warthogs, Bush Pigs, Grey Duiker, Steenbuck, Leopard, Lynx, Cervals, Spotted Gennet, African Wildcat and approximately 130 species of birds including 5 raptors and a breeding pair of Ground Hornbills.

Environmental facts:

All water on the property is sourced from Springs. All water is treated as grey water and is returned into the soil via the filtration systems of Septic Tanks and French Drains.
Rubbish is separated into "edible" and inedible. Inedible rubbish is first burnt and then buried. Edible rubbish is fed to pigs.
In order to reduce the carbon footprint the Lodge uses long-life bulbs as far as possible and even has solar lighting in certain areas. Gas is utilised for heating water and stoves in the kitchen. Electric Blankets are used on the beds instead of providing heaters. Invasive tree species are cut down and used for open fires in public areas.
Very little paper products are used, printing of correspondence is kept to a minimum and all excess paper is shredded and used as firestarters.
A small vegetable garden has been started to reduce our requirements of fresh vegetable deliveries. Guests are encouraged to drink the spring water instead of using bottled water.

Lodge facilities – public areas

Safe open carports are available as parking at no extra cost for guests.
5 hectares of lawns surround the Lodge for guests to relax in.
All rooms are accessed from the gardens and guests are able to relax outside in relative seclusion.
There is a deck on the front of the Lodge with a pool and seating from which the view can be enjoyed.
The Lodge view is for 60km's into the distance over Zululand and guests can see Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift from the property.
The Lounge has an open fire place and full bouquet DSTV. There is also a DVD player and small library housing books and material relating to the battles of Rorke's Drift and Isandlwana as well as other conflicts in the area.
The Dining Room is small and guests dine together around a communal dining room table.
There is a reception area and small curio shop.

Communications

There is limited cell phone reception but it is not always reliable. There is a signal booster in place to improve signal.
There is a single landline to the property.
There are no telephones in the rooms.

Rooms:

Kubili is housed in a converted round building. There is a wooden deck outside on the upper level and entry is from the deck. The bedroom and the bathroom are on separate levels. The room houses a double bed with percale linen and an extra throw, cupboard, luggage rack, dressing table, chairs, hair dryer and tea and coffee making facilities. Towels and amenities are supplied. Electric blanket for winter and a fan for summer and block out curtains. The bathroom on the lower level has a very large shower with a rain shower head.

Kutatu is a twin bed room on the Main Lodge building and is ideal for guests with limited mobility. The twin beds have electric blankets and percale sheeting with extra throws. Two chairs, luggage rack, cupboard, dressing table, hair dryer and tea and coffee making facilities. The large bathroom houses a very generous shower with rainshower head. Towels and amenities are supplied. Ceiling fan for hot days and block out curtains for light.

Kune is a family suite. One double bedroom with chairs, double bed with percale sheeting, extra throws, electric blanket, ceiling fan, tea and coffee making facilities, dressing table, hair dryer, cupboard and luggage rack. The second bedroom has twin beds also with electric blankets and ceiling fan, cupboard and is open onto the small lounge that has an open fireplace and seating for 4. The bathroom has a very generous shower with rainshower head and the toilet is separate. The suite is located in the Main Lodge building with access to the garden.

Kuhlanu is the prime room with a view over the whole valley. The bathroom is very generous in proportions, has a large shower and the view can be enjoyed from the shower cubicle as well as the basin area. The lounge has a sleeper couch that opens into a double bed. There is also an occasional table with two chairs. The bedroom is a twin bed room with percale sheeting and extra throws, electric blankets, cupboard, luggage rack, dressing table, hair dryer and tea and coffee making facilities. There is a small verandah area with two comfortable chairs. The room is set in the gardens of the Lodge.

Food:

The Lodge employs a full time Chef. Lunch is available on request. Dinner is a set menu and is different every evening. Three and Four Course Meals are served depending on occasions. We endeavour to keep our menus with a South African flavour.The Lodge maintains a high level of quality of food and all meals are created and cooked in our kitchens.
Dietary preferences are catered to.

Staff:

Our Management Couple reside on the property and are available at all times to attend to guests needs. Our general staff is recruited from the local village of Rorke's Drift. All staff members have been employed as unskilled labour and we have necessarily had to train all them ourselves.
We also have our own inhouse guide for our battlefield tours.

Community involvement:

Rorke's Drift Lodge has been mentoring a small group of youths in Rorke's Drift. The Rorke's Drift Cafe and Guided Tours was established four years ago and an agreement was reached with Amafa (the heritage body responsible for the running of the Rorke's Drift Museum and Battlefield). The two beneficiaries of this mentorship run the Museum Cafe and two of them are now fully accredited specialist battlefield tour guides

Activities

Horse Riding
We have a fully fledged stableyard with a good complement of well trained riding horses. We cater for both the experienced rider and a beginner (subject to certain conditions). Our horsemaster is well versed in all aspects of riding and is easily able to assess riding capability.
Battlefields on horseback is the prime activity but we also offer 3 other options for riding on the property. These activities include extras such as a bush breakfast and sundowners in the veld.

Battlefield Tours – 2 options
1. Take a hop-on guide in your vehicle and visit both Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift with an accredited guide.
2. An accredited story-teller guide will collect guests at the Lodge and take them to a selection of different Battlefields. There are 8 battlefields to choose from.

Hiking – in the footsteps of.......
Walk from Isandlwana to Fugitives Drift in the footsteps of Melville & Coghill.
Walk from Helpmekaar down to Rorke's Drift via Rorke's Drift Lodge.,
Walk from Rorke's Drift to Isandlwana along the original trail used in 1879.,

Walking
Guests can safely walk on the property. There are 2 options one which presents a one hour walk and another that offers a 3 – 5 hour walk.

Birding
Rorke's Drift Lodge offers serious birders many opportunities. Guided birding options are also available.

Other

All major credit cards accepted
Online availability and booking system

Summary

305 ha property
5km farm track for access
Deck area with small pool
5ha gardens
Views over Zululand
Communal lounge with DSTV
Open fire places for heating
Dinner at communal dining table
Professional chef in kitchen
Set menus only
Lunch available on request
Full breakfasts
Beverages available
Tea and coffee facilities in rooms
Showers only in bathrooms
Hairdryers
Electric Blankets
Ceiling Fans
Limited Cell phone reception
Laundry on request
Free parking under carports
All major credit cards accepted
Online booking and availability
No smoking establishment
Walking
Organised excursions
Birding
Horseriding
Guided Battlefield Tours