This extravagantly luxurious 7-day steam train rail journey begins in the bustling city of Cape Town, traverses a variety of diverse regions across South Africa, and ends in the wonderfully warm seaside city of Durban.
En route you will travel through the picturesque Cape Winelands, the spectacularly scenic semi-desert Great Karoo region, and the lush subtropical Valley of a Thousand Hills. Enjoy many stops along the way including a visit to the quaint historic village of Matjiesfontein; a tour of the world’s largest man-made excavation in Kimberley; and a leisurely two-night stop-over at an exclusive hotel in the city of Pretoria. Other highlights include a visit to the Ardmore Ceramics Centre in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains and a thrilling safari adventure in the Nambiti Conservancy, an impressive private game reserve, inhabited by the Big-Five as well as over forty other species of game. The journey ends in the seaside town of Durban, known for its sub-tropical climate, decadent cuisine, and stunning beaches.
This tour is a scenic exploration of South Africa's countryside and is ideal for those travelers wanting to experience something truly unique.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Rovos Rail Cape Town Train Station
Accommodation: Rovos Rail
Once you have settled into your private coach on the Pride of Africa, one of Rovos Rail’s classic luxury trains, you will begin your journey through the lush mountains and valleys of the famously scenic Cape Winelands region, followed by the strikingly beautiful Great Karoo desert. It is here that the train makes its first stop at the delightful little village of Matjiesfontein, known for its beautifully-restored Victorian architecture and its array of charming tourist sights. These attractions include the Transport Museum, showcasing an impressive array of vintage cars and the Marie Rawdon Museum, containing an astonishing collection of Victoriana, which provides a fascinating glimpse into life at this old colonial outpost in the late 1800s.
Day 2: Karoo to Kimberley
Accommodation: Rovos Rail
The train continues its journey through the Karoo to Kimberley, a historic mining town renowned for being the site of the world’s largest man-made excavation known as ‘The Big Hole’. The train makes a stop here for guests to enjoy a tour of this enormous hole as well as the Kimberley Mine Museum, featuring a variety of large-scale dioramas and exhibits including a recreation of a nineteenth-century mine shaft and a large vault full of real diamonds. After departing from Kimberley, guests can take in the view of a shallow lake on the left-hand side, which is regularly inhabited by incredibly large flocks of up to 23,000 flamingos. You will then travel through the Highveld region on your way to South Africa’s administrative capital, the city of Pretoria.
Day 3-4: Pretoria stay & activities
Accommodation: Castello di Monte
Upon your arrival at the Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria, you will be transported to the Tuscan style estate of Castello di Monte Hotel. Guests will be treated to a leisurely two-night stay in this luxurious hotel, which serves as an excellent base for exploring the surrounding wilderness and urban areas. Popular day trips include taking a tour of the vibrant township of Soweto; visiting the Apartheid Museum to learn about South Africa’s tumultuous past; and exploring the countless bars, restaurants, boutiques, and galleries of the bustling metropolis of Johannesburg.
Day 5: Drakensberg Mountains
Accommodation: Rovos Rail
In the morning, guests will be transported back to the Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria, where the train will set off towards the breathtakingly beautiful Drakensberg Mountains. In the afternoon the train climbs Majuba Hill, the site of a battle in which the Boers of the Transvaal regained their independence from the British during the First Boer War. The train then heads to Elandslaagte a farming and coal-mining center, known as the scene of the Battle of Elandslaagte, one of the first battles of the Second Boer War in 1899.
Day 6: Game Drives in the Nambiti Conservancy
Accommodation: Rovos Rail
The sixth day of your journey starts with an early wake-up call followed by some tea, coffee, juice
Day 7: End of Journey
In the morning, the train descends the escarpment en route to Lions River, a tiny village in the center of KwaZulu-Natal’s extraordinarily scenic Midlands area. Upon arrival at the Lions River Station, guests will disembark and head for the Ardmore Ceramics Centre, a renowned pottery studio and gallery set on a beautiful farm in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains. You will then return to the train which will set off at noon to travel through the spectacular Valley of a Thousand Hills, before arriving at your journey’s end in the sunny seaside city of Durban.
On your arrival in Durban, you will connect with your onward travel arrangements.
Rates
Pullman Suite
- Unit sleeps: 2
Includes: On Rovos Rail - accommodation; all meals; all alcoholic and other beverages; 24-hour full room service; limited laundry service; excursions accompanied by a qualified tour guide; entrance fees to places of interest; government tax.
2 nights at Castello di Monte on a bed & breakfast basis and return transfers between Capital Park Station and the luxury guest house.
Please note: The tour departs on scheduled dates and is also available in reverse.
Deluxe Suite
- Unit sleeps: 2
Includes: On Rovos Rail - accommodation; all meals; all alcoholic and other beverages; 24-hour full room service; limited laundry service; excursions accompanied by a qualified tour guide; entrance fees to places of interest; government tax.
2 nights at Castello di Monte on a bed & breakfast basis and return transfers between Capital Park Station and the luxury guest house.
Please note: The tour departs on scheduled dates and is also available in reverse.
Royal Suite
- Unit sleeps: 2
Includes: On Rovos Rail - accommodation; all meals; all alcoholic and other beverages; 24-hour full room service; limited laundry service; excursions accompanied by a qualified tour guide; entrance fees to places of interest; government tax.
2 nights at Castello di Monte on a bed & breakfast basis and return transfers between Capital Park Station and the luxury guest house.
Please note: The tour departs on scheduled dates and is also available in reverse.
Reviews
"I just wanted to let you know that my boyfriend & I had the time of our lives at the lodge. Everything was just perfect, from the food to the room we stayed in.Taking you very much for assisting us with the booking & everything else."
- Wedzero
"We need more exceptionally helpful and intelligent human beings out there like Ruben. Painless, proactive and insightful. Brilliant."
- Tamsin
"I would just like to commend Safari.com on the wonderful service I received from them when I booked accommodation. They kept me informed all along the way and the process ran very smoothly and efficiently."
- June
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