#ThursdayDoors – Fugitive’s Drift Lodge – The lodge and library

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Thursday Doors is a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing your link in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time).

Last week, I told you about our short visit to Fugitive’s Drift Lodge in Kwa-Zulu Natal in South Africa. You can read this post, which provides a background to this lodge and the historical battlefields and area it serves, here: https://robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com/2021/01/07/thursdaydoors-fugitives-drift-lodge-part-1-the-guest-house/.

This week, I am sharing some pictures of the library and the lodge. Next week, I am going to share pictures about the battlefields and museums of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. In preparation for these posts, today I am going to provide a short overview of the reasons for the Anglo-Zulu War and a brief overview of the timeline of the events.

The Anglo-Zulu war saw 15 000 British troops invade the independent nation of Zululand in 1879. Highlight battles were Isandlwana, Rorke’s Drift, and the final battle at Ulundi [the capital city of Zululand].

In 1877, Sir Henry Frere, a British colonial administrator, was sent to Cape Town with the task of uniting South Africa under a single British confederation. Frere soon realised that he could not accomplish this goal until the powerful Zulu kingdom on the borders of Natal and the Transvaal had been defeated.

In December 1878, an ultimatum was sent to the Zulu King Cetshwayo, telling him to disband his army or the British would do it for him. A British army under Lord Chelmsford prepared for invasion when the ultimatum expired.

This ultimatum expired on 11 January 1879 and on that date Chelmsford’s central column headed towards the camp of a Zulu chief called Sihayo. This camp was destroyed by the British on 12 January 1879.

On 22 January 1879, the right column of the British force engaged 6,000 Zulu troops near the Inyzane River. On this same day, a Zulu force of 25,000 men attacked the central column who were camping at Isandlwana and annihilated it.

On the evening of that same day, 4,000 Zulu soldiers attacked the British outpost at Rorke’s Drift which was defended successfully by 100 active soldiers and 39 men who were recovering from illnesses in the hospital.

The Anglo-Zulu war ended on 4 June 1879 when Lord Chelmsford’s army defeated the main Zulu force of 15,000 men at the Battle of Ulundi.

Door to one of the rooms at the lodge
Doors to the library balcony with me reflected in the glass
Door at the end of the library balcony
Inside the library with a view of the front door
Views from the library
Gate into a private residence made of bamboo

If you are interested in finding out more about Fugitive’s Drift Lodge you can do so here: https://www.fugitivesdrift.com/

If you would like to join in Thursday Doors posts, you can do so here: https://nofacilities.com/2021/01/14/first-journey-doors-thursday-doors/

Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

Published

43 thoughts on “#ThursdayDoors – Fugitive’s Drift Lodge – The lodge and library”

  3. Lovely doors and wonderful scenery, Robbie. I’m glad there was a railing on that deck, you looked a little too close to the edge in that selfie.

    I appreciate the history, sad as it may be. I always like to understand why things are where they are.

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      1. It looks beautiful, we can take any trips we have been not allowed to travel this year. I do hope you and family are safe, you like us have a nasty variant of the virus at the moment. Stay safe and well 💜💜💜

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  17. Thank you for sharing this beautiful place. I love balconies like this with a panoramic view of earth and sky. I imagine it was inspiring and relaxing at the same time and that you added good energy of gratitude to the location.

    Liked by 1 person

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