Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Ancient piece in the rock garden - by Dan Hathaway
I discovered four different types of interesting rock during my visit to Fugitive's Drift. All four of them tell very different stories.
These are my observations about the rock I am holding in the photograph.
It isn't often I get to hold a piece of import breccia in my hand. In fact, I have never done it before.
This is so because impact breccia is formed by the collision of meteorite with the surface of the earth. This is a very rare occurrence.
There are really only a few places in the world where this has happened.
So to be holding a piece of evidence of cosmic collision is all the more exciting.
If you look closely at impact breccia you can see the shattered fragments of the earth's crust that the meteorite slammed into. I was thinking that it looked like someone seriously tore into a rock pile with a sledgehammer. The whole thing is glued together in a matrix of something called melt rock. Melt rock is caused by the tremendous amount of heat liberated by the impact. The breccia then cools and solidifies.
Did anything get hurt by the meteorite? Probably not, because the age of a nearby crater is about 2 billion years old. The only things living back then were single cell bacteria. It was a really different world.
Who would have thought that a walk in your beautiful rock garden would extend back that far.
These are my observations about the rock I am holding in the photograph.
It isn't often I get to hold a piece of import breccia in my hand. In fact, I have never done it before.
This is so because impact breccia is formed by the collision of meteorite with the surface of the earth. This is a very rare occurrence.
There are really only a few places in the world where this has happened.
So to be holding a piece of evidence of cosmic collision is all the more exciting.
If you look closely at impact breccia you can see the shattered fragments of the earth's crust that the meteorite slammed into. I was thinking that it looked like someone seriously tore into a rock pile with a sledgehammer. The whole thing is glued together in a matrix of something called melt rock. Melt rock is caused by the tremendous amount of heat liberated by the impact. The breccia then cools and solidifies.
Did anything get hurt by the meteorite? Probably not, because the age of a nearby crater is about 2 billion years old. The only things living back then were single cell bacteria. It was a really different world.
Who would have thought that a walk in your beautiful rock garden would extend back that far.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Guest feedback - the best advertising!
Dear Nicky,
It was a pleasure to meet you after waiting all these years.
Below is from Dan, for you to use on the blog. Rest assured he will have much more to say!
God bless you,
Alison
Dear Nicky,
I want to tell you how much Alison and I enjoyed our stay at Fugitive's Drift. Your extraordinary
effort and attention to detail made our stay memorable.
When I travel I miss my pets at home. Having the black labrador, Spud, meet us at our door made me feel so welcome. There is nothing quite like enjoying morning coffee and a view of the African countryside with a sleeping dog at your feet.
We are looking forward to our next stay.
Dan Hatheway
Deep River Connecticut
It was a pleasure to meet you after waiting all these years.
Below is from Dan, for you to use on the blog. Rest assured he will have much more to say!
God bless you,
Alison
Dear Nicky,
I want to tell you how much Alison and I enjoyed our stay at Fugitive's Drift. Your extraordinary
effort and attention to detail made our stay memorable.
When I travel I miss my pets at home. Having the black labrador, Spud, meet us at our door made me feel so welcome. There is nothing quite like enjoying morning coffee and a view of the African countryside with a sleeping dog at your feet.
We are looking forward to our next stay.
Dan Hatheway
Deep River Connecticut
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Great feedback from Sally Kirby of Sally and Alice Travel Co
Sally kindly agreed to let me share her feedback on her stay at Fugitives' Drift last week.
Hello Nicky,
Sorry not to see you at Fugitives during our stay, but rest assured we were very well looked after by your team. Having heard so much about Fugitives Drift over the years, I am so pleased I finally got there to find out what all the fuss was about, it is a very special place. I have listed in brief some of the highlights from my stay, thank you so much for arranging it and for suggesting Umzinyathi for our group, it was perfect:
Fugitives Lodge – beautiful gardens, herb garden, pool area for midday lounging and freshen up before afternoon tour. Dogs running around, family photos, press snippets – steeped in history yet very relaxing. Lots of space for people to spread out and find there own little corner to relax and enjoy the views.
Harford Library – I could have spent days in here, such a wonderful building and full of so many fascinating books, comfy sofas – and views over to Isandlwana mesmerizing.
Umzinyathi – beautiful setting, loved the views out the front. We arrived in the dark to find all candles and fire lit, very atmospheric. Breakfast under the trees, watching the giraffes nearby and cattle being herded. Margaret and Keos were on hand to look after us, very warm, smiley and attentive.
Rorkes Drift tour with Andrew – he was excellent, very natural, moving and an excellent storyteller. I left with a lot of soggy tissues, and a notebook brimming – and a fascination with Anglo-Zulu history
Staff – all great but particularly loved Grace, she was the perfect hostess and had everyone clapping when she sang after dinner.
Dinner – v atmospheric, we had two long tables, the 5 course dinner was delicious and lots of interesting conversation flowing across several different nationalities and age groups.
Thank you again to you and the team for welcoming us into your beautiful home. You have a fantastic set up and I look forward to working with you all.
With best wishes,
Sally
e: sally@sallyandalice.com
t: +44 7904 958 194
s: sallykirby
w: www.sallyandalice.com
Hello Nicky,
Sorry not to see you at Fugitives during our stay, but rest assured we were very well looked after by your team. Having heard so much about Fugitives Drift over the years, I am so pleased I finally got there to find out what all the fuss was about, it is a very special place. I have listed in brief some of the highlights from my stay, thank you so much for arranging it and for suggesting Umzinyathi for our group, it was perfect:
Fugitives Lodge – beautiful gardens, herb garden, pool area for midday lounging and freshen up before afternoon tour. Dogs running around, family photos, press snippets – steeped in history yet very relaxing. Lots of space for people to spread out and find there own little corner to relax and enjoy the views.
Harford Library – I could have spent days in here, such a wonderful building and full of so many fascinating books, comfy sofas – and views over to Isandlwana mesmerizing.
Umzinyathi – beautiful setting, loved the views out the front. We arrived in the dark to find all candles and fire lit, very atmospheric. Breakfast under the trees, watching the giraffes nearby and cattle being herded. Margaret and Keos were on hand to look after us, very warm, smiley and attentive.
Rorkes Drift tour with Andrew – he was excellent, very natural, moving and an excellent storyteller. I left with a lot of soggy tissues, and a notebook brimming – and a fascination with Anglo-Zulu history
Staff – all great but particularly loved Grace, she was the perfect hostess and had everyone clapping when she sang after dinner.
Dinner – v atmospheric, we had two long tables, the 5 course dinner was delicious and lots of interesting conversation flowing across several different nationalities and age groups.
Thank you again to you and the team for welcoming us into your beautiful home. You have a fantastic set up and I look forward to working with you all.
With best wishes,
Sally
e: sally@sallyandalice.com
t: +44 7904 958 194
s: sallykirby
w: www.sallyandalice.com
Thursday, October 13, 2011
RATTRACE 2011
Last weekend we hosted the 5th Rattrace - we had a smaller field this year but nonetheless everyone had a great time, no injuries, no punctures and a beautifully cool day. The winner of the bike this year was Thabani Ximba. Craig Carter was pipped at the post by his friend Klaas Meintjies (extraorindary win considering he took a wrong turn and caused a pile up near the gate!) and Tanya McKenzie, heroically retained her title. Tanya's win was dedicated to her beloved son Tegan who died tragically 3 weeks ago.
Brian Green and Andrew Murray, clearly needing more exercise than the rest of us rode to Isandlwana and back - and still managed to come in 5th and 6th! Not bad for two middle aged chaps!
Chris Harvie in his inimitable style managed to part people with their money during the fining ceremony in such a way that they were more than happy to do it! Thank you all for entering into the fun of things and for your incredible generosity. We raised just over R30 000 for The David Rattray Foundation.
Unfortunately the Quarmby's were not here to witness something that they instigated and that will probably never happen again - and that was me cycling the Rattrace. Yes I did it, along with Marian Myers and most importantly finished it. Contrary to my expectation it was much more fun than I thought it would be. Our pelaton brought up the rear, well, I guess someone has to do it! It was recommened and very quickly finalised during the fining (I hasten to add recommended by Patrick's friends not by us ... although maybe the finalisation part was helped along by us ....) that the Quarmby's be severely fined in absentia for not being here to witness the bet they laid last year!
1st - Klaas Meintjies
2nd - Craig Carter
3rd - Rob Godlonton
4th - Thabani Ximba
5th - Brian Green
6th - Andrew Murray
7th - Dedrich Eicker
8th - Sandile Magwaze
9th - William Murray
10th - Tanya McKenzie
11th - Matthew Howarth
12th - Chantal Carter
Thank you to all of you who participated this year, we really appreciate your support
Brian Green and Andrew Murray, clearly needing more exercise than the rest of us rode to Isandlwana and back - and still managed to come in 5th and 6th! Not bad for two middle aged chaps!
Chris Harvie in his inimitable style managed to part people with their money during the fining ceremony in such a way that they were more than happy to do it! Thank you all for entering into the fun of things and for your incredible generosity. We raised just over R30 000 for The David Rattray Foundation.
Unfortunately the Quarmby's were not here to witness something that they instigated and that will probably never happen again - and that was me cycling the Rattrace. Yes I did it, along with Marian Myers and most importantly finished it. Contrary to my expectation it was much more fun than I thought it would be. Our pelaton brought up the rear, well, I guess someone has to do it! It was recommened and very quickly finalised during the fining (I hasten to add recommended by Patrick's friends not by us ... although maybe the finalisation part was helped along by us ....) that the Quarmby's be severely fined in absentia for not being here to witness the bet they laid last year!
1st - Klaas Meintjies
2nd - Craig Carter
3rd - Rob Godlonton
4th - Thabani Ximba
5th - Brian Green
6th - Andrew Murray
7th - Dedrich Eicker
8th - Sandile Magwaze
9th - William Murray
10th - Tanya McKenzie
11th - Matthew Howarth
12th - Chantal Carter
Thank you to all of you who participated this year, we really appreciate your support
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Fugitives' Drift - Newsletter August 2011
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| HOME | ABOUT US | ACCOMMODATION | TOURS | RATES | THE DAVID RATTRAY FOUNDATION | CONTACT US | ||||||
August 2011 After 11 happy and highly successful years at Fugitives’ Drift, Rob Caskie and Karen de Haan will be moving to Howick in October, but I am pleased to say that Rob will still be available to us on a freelance basis and that he will be continuing with his own inimitable battlefield tours in KZN. We shall miss them both enormously for many reasons, not least for their overriding passion for Fugitives’ Drift and all it stands for. Rob’s ability to fix anything and his wicked sense of humour will be hard to replace as will Karen’s extraordinary attention to detail and her organizational skills. They have been an invaluable and integral part of this operation for many years and never more so than in the past four years. We shall look back, as I am sure they will, on their long period of service here with great warmth. At this crucial time in the development of our business, I am therefore very pleased to be able to announce that David’s and my eldest son, Andrew, joined the team at Fugitives’ Drift in July along with his partner Anel de Kock.
Andrew has a B.Comm. degree, is passionate about all things wild and especially about our beloved Fugitives Drift, where he grew up, and its flora and fauna of which he has an intimate knowledge. He is a fluent Zulu speaker, an enthusiastic fisherman and a not-very-enthusiastic horseman! Andrew spent his childhood sitting at David’s feet and listening to his stories of the Anglo Zulu War and has always shared his father’s enthusiasm for the history of our area and for the Zulu people. Indeed, at the age of nine, Andrew took his first ‘tour’ to the site of the skirmish at Fugitives’ Drift when David had to rush off unexpectedly to fight an out-of-control veldt fire! Following a ranger training course at Phinda, Andrew spent 14 months at Kwandwe Game Reserve, near Grahamstown. He loved his time as a guide there and will bring this invaluable experience with him as he returns to the fold at Fugitives’ Drift and follows in his father ‘s impressive footsteps. Anel is a highly-qualified chef and was Executive Chef at Kwandwe. It will be a huge bonus for us be able to benefit from her many years of experience and an injection of her new ideas and flavours into our cuisine. These are exciting times for us and we look forward with great confidence as a new generation of Rattrays begins to make its mark on Fugitives’ Drift and to welcoming both new and old guests to the Lodge as we embrace the future with relish, whilst continuing to honour the past with our unparalleled history tours and exemplary hospitality.
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 Fugitives' Drift Lodge · Rorke's Drift · KwaZulu-Natal · South AfricaReservations: Tel: +27 (0)34 642 1843 / 271 8051 Fax: +27 (0)34 271 8053 Email: reservations@fugitivesdrift.com | ||||||
The purpose of the book is not just to raise funds for the Foundation, but also to raise awareness of the Foundation’s origins, goals and methods.
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