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Lodge · South Africa
The Rovos Rail
Rovos Rail's Pullman Suites are the entry-level cabins aboard one of the world's most refined train journeys, used mostly on shorter routes across southern Africa. Each suite sleeps one or two guests with an en-suite shower room, and converts from a sofa-seated lounge by day to double or twin berths by night.
Lodge · South Africa
The Rovos Rail
Rovos Rail's Pullman Suites are the entry-level cabins aboard one of the world's most refined train journeys, used mostly on shorter routes across southern Africa. Each suite sleeps one or two guests with an en-suite shower room, and converts from a sofa-seated lounge by day to double or twin berths by night.
Location · South Africa
About the lodge
An overview of The Rovos Rail.
Rovos Rail's Pullman Suites are the entry-level cabins aboard one of the world's most refined train journeys, used mostly on shorter routes across southern Africa. Each suite sleeps one or two guests with an en-suite shower room, and converts from a sofa-seated lounge by day to double or twin berths by night.
Highlights
- Compact en-suite cabin aboard Rovos Rail's signature carriages
- Used predominantly on the shorter scheduled journeys
- Sofa-seat by day converts to a double bed or twin berths by night
- Private en-suite with shower, basin and toilet
- Fully inclusive of meals, drinks and guided off-train excursions
The Details
Rovos Rail operates a fleet of restored vintage trains running scheduled journeys across South Africa and into neighbouring countries, departing from the company's private station at Capital Park in Pretoria. The Pullman Suite is the smallest of the three cabin grades on board, designed for guests who want the full Rovos experience on one of the shorter routes without the larger footprint of a Deluxe or Royal Suite.
Each Pullman accommodates one or two passengers. The cabin reconfigures throughout the day: a comfortable sofa-seat in the lounge configuration becomes a double bed or twin berths after dinner, arranged either side-by-side or as upper and lower bunks depending on the carriage layout.
Accommodation
The Pullman Suite features a private en-suite bathroom with shower, toilet and basin. Day-time seating converts to sleeping berths in the evening, with the bedding options shifting between double, side-by-side twins or upper and lower bunks depending on guest preference and carriage.
Dining
All meals are served in the dining cars and are included in the fare, along with all beverages consumed on board. Room service is available throughout the journey.
Price Includes
- All meals on board
- All beverages on board
- Room service
- Guided off-train excursions
You pay the lodge's rate, never a markup.
Current offers
Special offer available.
Stay & Pay
The Southern Cross Collection extends the eleven-night Pretoria to Victoria Falls journey to fourteen nights with three complimentary nights in Pretoria and Victoria Falls, a helicopter flight over the falls with dinner on the banks of the Zambezi, and a one-way flight between Victoria Falls and Johannesburg or Cape Town, departing 18 November to 2 December 2026. The eighteen-night African Trilogy adds three complimentary nights in Pretoria and Swakopmund with city and desert tours, departing 8 to 26 October 2026. A 25 per cent non-refundable deposit is required within 14 days of booking, with final payment 60 days before travel; offers are subject to availability and Club discounts do not apply.
Long stay
Combine a short and a long rail journey and a 5 per cent discount applies, already reflected in the published combination fares. A wider selection of multi-night Collections links Rovos Rail journeys with stays in Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and Victoria Falls, running from five to twelve nights. All combinations are subject to availability on the relevant departure dates, and Club discounts do not apply to specials.
Honeymoon offer
For couples celebrating a wedding.
Documented from Rovos Rail's 2026 rate sheet. A formal offer you can claim, not marketing language.
Honeymoon Collection
5-night combined package: 3 nights Rovos Rail Victoria Falls Journey + 2 nights Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel Zimbabwe (or reverse)
Rovos Rail offers a dedicated 5-night Honeymoon Collection combining a 3-night Rovos Rail Victoria Falls Journey with a 2-night stay at Stanley & Livingstone Boutique Hotel Zimbabwe (or in reverse order). This package is specifically curated and branded as a honeymoon product.
- Minimum stay
- 5 nights
Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Terms and eligibility may change. Your specialist confirms all offers at the time of booking.
Family policies
Travelling with children.
What our safari specialists know about bringing children to The Rovos Rail, current as of May 2026. They plan family trips here all the time, so anything below that needs arranging, they will sort. For the bigger picture, see our guide to safari with children .
- Minimum ages
- Stay 3+ · Game drives 3+ · Walking safari 3+
- Child rates
- Children 0–2 years not permitted to travel on Rovos Rail. Long journeys not recommended for under 13s. No specific child discount published for the train itself; full child policy at rovos.com.
- Family rooms
- Family unit available.
- Care
- No dedicated kids' programme
- Exceptions
-
Rovos Rail is the train journey itself (Pretoria-based). Children are accommodated but parents are asked to be sensitive to the adult atmosphere on board, keeping children respectful and quiet. There are no child-minding facilities or activities for children on board. Associated properties have their own child policies: The Residence Hotel charges a child surcharge of ZAR 1,833 per child per night (max 2 children 0-17 years sharing with 2 adults); Pool Villa accommodates max 4 pax (2 adults + 2 children 0-17), Luxury Suite and One Bedroom Suite max 3 pax with children on sleeper sofas or additional beds. St James Manor: 0–5 yrs complimentary (only when entire guesthouse booked exclusively), 6–12 yrs at 25% of single adult rate, 13–16 yrs at 50%, 17+ as adult.
Cultural
Beyond the game drive.
Community visits, cultural walks, and dining experiences documented at Rovos Rail.
Village visit
Village Cultural Tour (School and Creative Centre visits)
Guests join a guided Village Cultural Tour that includes optional visits to a local school and a creative centre, offering an immersive look at community life near the lodge.
- Cost
- complimentary
- Availability
- Included in rates
Workshop
Zambian Cooking Class and Dining Experience
Guests participate in a hands-on Zambian cooking class followed by a dining experience, providing an authentic taste of local cuisine and culinary traditions.
- Cost
- complimentary
- Availability
- Included in rates
Cultural walk
Livingstone Town Tour including Local Markets and Museums
A guided tour of Livingstone town taking in the local markets and museums, giving guests insight into the history and everyday culture of this iconic Zambian town.
- Cost
- complimentary
- Availability
- Included in rates
Cultural walk
Local Foraging Walks
Seasonal guided walks during which guests learn about and forage for local wild plants and produce in the area surrounding the lodge.
Seasonal availability only.
- Cost
- complimentary
- Availability
- Seasonal
Village visit
Matjiesfontein Village Visit
As part of the Rovos Rail Namibia Collection itinerary, guests visit the authentically preserved Victorian village of Matjiesfontein, experiencing its unique heritage and history.
Part of the Walvis Bay–Cape Town rail journey (21 Feb – 6 Mar 2026), 11 nights Rovos Rail + 2 nights The Cellars-Hohenort.
- Availability
- Subject to scheduled departure dates
Sourced from operator rate sheets and audited by our safari specialists. Prices and availability subject to change. Your specialist confirms at booking.
Imagery
A closer look.
Your specialist for this lodge
Safari Specialist - Southern Africa
Knows The Rovos Rail backwards. Your direct contact from first enquiry to the day you come home.
With Lynn and Jolene across the team.
"We’ve had a really good experience with Sara at Safari.com. She’s been great to deal with, very patient with all our changes & always quick to come back with helpful advice. She really listened to what we wanted and put together a fantastic South Africa and Namibia trip for us."
Speak to a safari specialist
Let's design your stay.
From your first enquiry to the day you come home, one named safari specialist looks after every detail. We can handle the whole trip, not just the stay at The Rovos Rail: multi-country itineraries, internal flights, road transfers, tipping guidance, travel insurance, the lot. A safari specialist will be in touch within as little as 15 minutes during working hours.
Planning something beyond the ordinary?
Private & bespoke travel