Rovos Rail · 4 days · 3 nights
Pretoria to Cape Town
Pretoria · Kimberley · Matjiesfontein · Cape Town
Rovos Rail · 17 days, 16 nights
Cape Town to Dar es Salaam
Sixteen nights from the Cape to the Indian Ocean via Kimberley, Madikwe, Victoria Falls and the Tazara line.
- Cape TownDay 1
- MatjiesfonteinDay 2
- KimberleyDay 3
- PretoriaDay 4
- Madikwe Game ReserveDay 5
- GaboroneDay 7
- FrancistownDay 8
- Victoria FallsDay 9
- LivingstoneDay 10
- LusakaDay 11
- KasamaDay 12
- Chisimba FallsDay 13
- TundumaDay 13
- MbeyaDay 14
- MakambakoDay 15
- Nyerere National ParkDay 16
- Dar es SalaamDay 17
Train stopExcursion by road
Duration17 days
Nights16
RouteCape Town → Dar es Salaam
Places visited17
From, per personUS$18,200
Overview
This epic journey starts in Cape Town and heads north through the Karoo to Matjiesfontein, Kimberley and Pretoria, then two nights in Madikwe Game Reserve. It crosses Botswana into Zimbabwe for a night at the Victoria Falls Hotel, joins the Tazara line through Zambia to Chisimba Falls, and climbs into Tanzania for Nyerere National Park and Dar es Salaam.
- Matjiesfontein and Kimberley's Big Hole
- Pretoria city tour and station workshops
- Two nights in a Madikwe safari lodge
- Night at the Victoria Falls Hotel with a Zambezi sunset cruise
- Chisimba Falls walk
- Udzungwa escarpment switchbacks and tunnels
- Game drive in Nyerere National Park
Day by day
Day 1Cape TownOn board
Check in two hours before departure at the train's lounge in central Cape Town. Lunch is served as the train trundles through the winelands towards Worcester, then climbs about 750 m up the escarpment. The historian's lectures run throughout the journey.
Meals: Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 2MatjiesfonteinOn board
Step off at Matjiesfontein to stroll the historic village and its platform museum, then cross the vast semi-desert of the Karoo towards Kimberley.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 3KimberleyOn board
Enjoy a tour of Kimberley's Diamond Mine Museum and the Big Hole. The train then travels north overnight.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 4PretoriaOn board
Transfer about 90 minutes into Pretoria for a city tour, followed by lunch at the train's station and a walking tour of the station and its museum. Return to the train, which heads for Zeerust.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 5Madikwe Game ReserveMadikwe lodge
Pack a small overnight bag and transfer about 90 minutes to a lodge in Madikwe for two nights. Lunch is served on arrival, followed by afternoon tea and a game drive.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 6Madikwe Game ReserveMadikwe lodge
A full safari day: an early-morning game drive, breakfast and lunch at the lodge, then afternoon tea and another game drive.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 7Madikwe to BotswanaOn board
After a last early game drive and breakfast, transfer about an hour to rejoin the train at Gaborone, clearing the border on the way. The train then crosses the Tropic of Capricorn along the eastern edge of the Kalahari.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 8At leisure on boardOn board
A day on board crossing from Botswana into Zimbabwe, then running along one of the world's longest straight stretches of railway beside Hwange National Park.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 9Victoria FallsVictoria Falls Hotel
Arrive at Victoria Falls and walk across to the Victoria Falls Hotel with an overnight bag. After a welcome on the lawn and lunch, join a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, then dine at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 10Victoria FallsOn board
A day at leisure in Victoria Falls, with breakfast and lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon the train crosses the Victoria Falls Bridge into Zambia.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 11At leisure on boardOn board
The train crosses the 477-metre Kafue Railway Bridge and passes Zambia's capital, Lusaka, in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 12At leisure on boardOn board
A day on the Tazara line, an engineering feat that passes through remote territory towards Kasama. Tonight is an Africa-themed evening, or smart casual.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 13Chisimba FallsOn board
Visit Chisimba Falls, where you can walk down to the rock pools at the base or enjoy the views from above. The train then climbs to the Tanzanian border, roughly midway between two of Africa's Great Rift Valley lakes.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 14At leisure on boardOn board
The train crosses the Rift Valley and baobab forests towards Mbeya, then continues to Makambako.
Meals: Breakfast · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 15MakambakoOn board
Time permitting, take an optional stroll through Makambako before departure. The train then descends the dramatic switchbacks, viaducts and tunnels of the escarpment towards the Udzungwa Mountains.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 16Nyerere National ParkOn board
Weather permitting, enjoy a game drive in Nyerere National Park, the largest in Africa, with a continental breakfast and brunch on board. The train then crosses the fertile lands of Tanzania. Tonight is a roaring-twenties themed evening, or smart casual.
Meals: Breakfast · Brunch · Dinner
Day 17Dar es Salaam
After breakfast the journey ends at Tazara Station in Dar es Salaam.
Meals: Breakfast
Where you spend each night
- Night 1On board
- Night 2On board
- Night 3On board
- Night 4On board
- Night 5Madikwe lodge
- Night 6Madikwe lodge
- Night 7On board
- Night 8On board
- Night 9Victoria Falls Hotel
- Night 10On board
- Night 11On board
- Night 12On board
- Night 13On board
- Night 14On board
- Night 15On board
- Night 16On board
The map is schematic. Dashed lines are excursions by road.
Most spacious
Royal Suite
2 per carriage · ±16 m²
- Takes up half a carriage
- Private lounge area
- Victorian bath plus separate shower
- Double or split twin beds
- Minibar, safe and air conditioning
Mid-size
Deluxe Suite
3 per carriage · ±10 m²
- Own small lounge area
- En-suite shower, toilet and basin
- Double or split twin beds
- Writing desk, fridge and tea facilities
Long journeys
Pullman Gold Suite
5 per carriage · ±7 m²
- Lengthways twin beds set as sofas by day
- Converts to a lengthways double
- En-suite shower, toilet and basin
- Fold-up writing desk
Short journeys
Pullman Suite
5 per carriage · ±7 m²
- Comfortable sofa-seat by day
- Side-by-side double or upper and lower bunks at night
- En-suite shower, toilet and basin
- Safe, small fridge and air conditioning
Suite configurations depend on availability, and some Royal and Deluxe suites have a room divider.
- Accommodation on board
- All meals
- All beverages on board
- Room service
- Limited laundry
- Overnight bag
- Guided excursions where applicable
- Preselected local wines, beers and soft drinks on excursions
- Entrance fees as per itinerary
- On-board doctor and historian with lectures
- Government tax
- Off-train stays: meals, guided excursions and preselected local wines, beers and soft drinks
- Deposit
- 25% of the total at booking
- Final payment
- 65 days before departure
Dates and prices
Live availability. Choose a cabin type, then select Book Now to reserve online, or Join waitlist on sold-out dates.
Pullman Suite
February 27, 2027
US$ 18,200.00 pp dbl
July 3, 2027
US$ 18,200.00 pp dbl
October 9, 2027
US$ 18,200.00 pp dbl
February 27, 2027
US$ 26,400.00 pp sgl
July 3, 2027
US$ 26,400.00 pp sgl
October 9, 2027
US$ 26,400.00 pp sgl
Deluxe Suite
February 27, 2027
US$ 24,000.00 pp dbl
July 3, 2027
US$ 24,000.00 pp dbl
October 9, 2027
US$ 24,000.00 pp dbl
February 27, 2027
US$ 34,700.00 pp sgl
July 3, 2027
US$ 34,700.00 pp sgl
October 9, 2027
US$ 34,700.00 pp sgl
Royal Suite
February 27, 2027
US$ 31,500.00 pp dbl
July 3, 2027
US$ 31,500.00 pp dbl
October 9, 2027
US$ 31,500.00 pp dbl
Join the waitlist
This departure is currently sold out. Leave your details and we will contact you the moment a cabin becomes available.
Questions about this journey
How long is the Cape Town to Dar es Salaam journey?
It is 16 nights and 17 days, covering about 5,800 km. Most nights are on board, with two in a Madikwe safari lodge and one at the Victoria Falls Hotel.
Which countries does it pass through?
South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania. The train manager holds your passport for the border formalities along the way.
Which safari experiences are included?
You have two nights in a Madikwe lodge with several game drives, and a game drive in Tanzania's Nyerere National Park near the end of the journey. The Victoria Falls stay adds a sunset cruise on the Zambezi.
What should I pack for the off-train nights?
Pack a small overnight bag for Madikwe and Victoria Falls; the train provides a tog bag in your suite. Dress at the Victoria Falls Hotel dinner is smart casual, with no safari wear, shorts or sandals.
Where does the journey end?
It ends at Tazara Station in Dar es Salaam after breakfast on the final morning.
How do I check dates and fares?
Live dates and fares are shown on this page, and our reservations team can help on (866) 484-7882.
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