rorkesdriftvc.com :: View topic

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 4:42 pm

I would like to save up for a future trip to the Zulu battlefields especially Rorke's Drift, is there a specialist firm who organise these trips. Also I read with interest the actual film Zulu was filmed in the Royal Natal National Park, has anyone been there?

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2006 8:51 pm

Ayr41

I don't want to risk breaching the Forum's protocol so I've sent you a private message.

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 3:34 am

I used Parker Tours in SA for my visit and stayed at Fugitives Drift lodge which is right next to Rorke's Drift.
The lodge runs tours to Isandlwana and Rorke's Drift, trips down the Fugitives Trail and offers much more.
I had the most memorable trip of my life.

http://www.parkertours.co.za/

http://www.fugitives-drift-lodge.com/home/

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 8:06 am

Just buy and air ticket, hire a car from JHB, and have a good map. You can hire a guide locally - go into the Tourist Info Centre at Dundee. Why spend an extra �1,000 on a tour company? Oh, yes, buy a copy of Rattray's battlefield guide.

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 8:07 pm

Ayr41
I visited the film set location in the Royal Natal Park a few years ago. I think a search on the old forum would show some info. See also the link "Your stories"
Please feel free to e mail me if you would like further details.
[email protected]

Cheers

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2006 11:58 pm

Aryi41,
How's your pioneer spirit today? Good! Spend way less money and get way more for your buck by doing it on your own! My wife and I were all set to spend a lot of money on a very expensive and "once in a lifetime" tour guided by a very, very well known "authority", but he bailed at the last moment because he didn't have enough "interest" (read "dollars"). But that wasn't as painful as the fact that he never apologized to us or even had the courtesy to respond to my queries. So we winged it instead and saved thousands!
Get yourself to JoBerg, rent a car, and drive to Isandalwana and RD. Stay one night (if you can afford it) in the vicinity of Fugitive's Drift and one night at Isandalwana! But don't tell the owners of either where you've been or where you're going unless you want some cheap entertainment! As an aside, it's worth it just for the entertainment value to talk about a well known author in the presence of the guy who owns the land that M and C are buried on-- his language can get quite colorful! Take all the tours you've time for and don't be concerned about taking the same tour twice with different guides, because they dovetail beautifully. And don't pass by the Inkosana Lodge in the Drakensburg on the way there or back. It's comfortable and inexpensive and an excellent staging point to visit Royal Natal National Park where Zulu was filmed. The landscape was all so familiar to us from the movie! My advice if you're a BIG fan of the movies? Bring a portable DVD player with you and a copy of Zulu and Zulu Dawn! I didn't and I regret it.
Then get over to Eshowe and stay at the George! Hang out with G. Chennille and Victor and take as many of their "cultural" tours you can. See the votech college and the orphanage! OK, The George Hotel could use a bit of renovation, but the people their are beyond compare for hospitaliy and sincerity! Go for it! If you want more input beyond this, drop me a line!
Learn some Zulu and use it as often as possilbe! The laughter you'll get from your pathetic phrasing and ridiculous accent is a small price to pay for the smiles and congenialty you'll get in recognition of the respect you've given by trying. And say "Sawubona" to everyone! The worst you'll get in response is "Yebo" and that's still as good as the best you can get in my culture! And the best you'll get is a "zulu-handshake". My happiest (and proudest) moment in KZN was when someone we all know asked me "Where did you learn to shake hands like that?" My answer? "Zululand"!

Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2006 1:51 pm

AYE41
Try this cone they do tours to Rorke's drift and they pick up around the country too to know more try [email protected]
Clive

Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2006 7:07 pm

My wife and I organized our own trip to South Africa last October and had a great time visiting the battlefields area, including Ulundi. We did our own research on the internet beforehand and it really paid dividends. We can pass along some personal recommendations if you wish to send a private note to me.

You'll have a truly memorable trip!

Tim

Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2006 9:57 pm

Gents, Many thanks for your invaluable information, contactacted one firm but as you say can be a bit expensive, wish I had the GUTS to coin a phrase to just catch a flight Jberg and travel on down to Dundee but don't know my left drive from my right, for a guy who can even get lost in Glasgow going there once a month, was a litle concerned about the security in SA or have I been watching to much TV Anyway great forum and thanks once again for all your advice which has given me plenty to think about while the piggy bank hopefully grows. Regards Stephen.

Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 11:43 am

AYR41
I am pleased to know that I am not the only one who can get lost up my own garden path.
Clive

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 9:07 am

I would recommend Rorke's Drift lodge affordable and flexible they will tailor to your needs.

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:46 am

Stephen

My newly published LWOTF has what I hope is a useful appendix on visiting the battlefields, including a self drive route card and contact details for various establishments. Might help.

Regards

Mike

Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:31 pm

Andrew,
More about Rorke's Drift Lodge, please! Isandlwana Lodge is unforgettable (drinking good coffee and looking out at Isandalwana in the morning) and D. R. is probably at the top of the must-see-and-hear list (although "budget" isn't strong in his vocab) So who and where is this lodging of which you speak? How congenial is it? Do they make amends for the excesses of the rabid denizens who frequent sites like this?

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 8:29 am

Sawubona,

The website is www.rorkesdriftlodge.com

The owner, Paul Lamberth, contributes to this forum.

Robert

Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 8:50 am

We spent about a week there Paul & Christine have a unique place about 3 k from RD by track. We told them what we wanted and asked for a price i.e.,

RD
IS
FD
Prince Imperial
Hlobane
etc,etc

They picked us up from Durban and took us back to Jo burg, by the way my father is 79 and he ended up on Blacks Kopje.

The establishment is their home and about 3 lodges and he is a good guide very factual no stories

Most of the time it was my father and me.

Very good value