Rovos Rail · 4 days · 3 nights
Pretoria to Cape Town
Pretoria · Kimberley · Matjiesfontein · Cape Town
Rovos Rail · 15 days, 14 nights
Copper Trail: Victoria Falls to Lobito
Fourteen nights from Victoria Falls to Angola's Atlantic coast, via South Luangwa, the Congo copper belt and the Benguela line.
- Victoria FallsDay 1
- LivingstoneDay 1
- Kafue RiverDay 2
- LusakaDay 3
- NdolaDay 4
- South LuangwaDay 4
- LubumbashiDay 8
- KolweziDay 9
- LuauDay 11
- LuenaDay 12
- KuitoDay 13
- HuamboDay 14
- LobitoDay 15
Train stopExcursion by road
Duration15 days
Nights14
RouteVictoria Falls → Lobito
Places visited13
From, per personUS$18,200
Overview
Starting at Victoria Falls, this expedition crosses the Zambezi into Zambia for a Kafue River cruise and Lusaka's elephant sanctuary, then flies guests into South Luangwa for three nights of safari. The train continues through Lubumbashi and the copper country of the Democratic Republic of Congo before following the Benguela Railway across Angola to Lobito.
- Crossing the Victoria Falls Bridge
- Kafue River sunset cruise and the Kafue Railway Bridge
- Lusaka elephant sanctuary
- Three nights of game drives in South Luangwa
- Lubumbashi city drive and a copper mine visit
- Walking tours of Luau, Luena, Kuito and Huambo
- Lectures by an on-board historian
Day by day
Day 1Victoria FallsOn board
Check in at the Victoria Falls Hotel at least 90 minutes before departure. The train crosses the bridge over the Zambezi to Livingstone in Zambia, then travels on to Choma.
Meals: Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 2Kafue RiverOn board
Lectures run throughout the journey in the lounge car. After lunch the train crosses the 477-metre Kafue Railway Bridge, and in the evening you enjoy a sunset cruise on the Kafue River with drinks included.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 3Elephant sanctuaryOn board
Visit Lusaka's elephant sanctuary, where orphaned elephants are rescued and rehabilitated. The train then crosses the Central Province towards Kapiri Mposhi and Ndola.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 4South Luangwa National ParkSouth Luangwa lodge
Transfer to Ndola airstrip for a charter flight of about 45 minutes to South Luangwa National Park. After lunch at your lodge, head out on an afternoon game drive of about three hours.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 5South Luangwa National ParkSouth Luangwa lodge
A full safari day with an early-morning game drive, brunch and free time, then an afternoon drive in the Luangwa Valley.
Meals: Breakfast · Brunch · Dinner
Day 6South Luangwa National ParkSouth Luangwa lodge
Another day of morning and afternoon game drives in this game-rich park bounded by the Muchinga Escarpment and the Luangwa River.
Meals: Breakfast · Brunch · Dinner
Day 7South Luangwa to the Congo borderOn board
Fly back to Ndola and rejoin the train for an early lunch. Border formalities take place as the train enters the Democratic Republic of Congo bound for Lubumbashi.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 8LubumbashiOn board
Enjoy a drive through the city of Lubumbashi, then travel on past the old Luishia open-pit mine.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 9Copper mineOn board
Visit a copper mine in one of the world's richest copper and cobalt regions, followed by lunch at Katebi Lodge, then return to the train.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 10At leisure on boardOn board
A relaxed day on board towards Malonga and Dilolo. Tonight is an Africa-themed evening, or smart casual.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 11LuauOn board
Cross into Angola and, time permitting, take a walking tour of Luau, where the Benguela line begins. The train then follows the Cassai River.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 12LuenaOn board
A walking tour of Luena introduces Angola's recent history.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 13KuitoOn board
Stroll through Kuito, built in the historic heart of the Ovimbundu kingdom, then continue to Huambo.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 14HuamboOn board
Tour Huambo, Angola's second-largest city, before the train travels on to Cubal. Tonight is a roaring-twenties themed evening, or smart casual.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 15Lobito
After breakfast the journey ends at Lobito's Central Station on the Atlantic coast.
Meals: Breakfast
Where you spend each night
- Night 1On board
- Night 2On board
- Night 3On board
- Night 4South Luangwa lodge
- Night 5South Luangwa lodge
- Night 6South Luangwa lodge
- Night 7On board
- Night 8On board
- Night 9On board
- Night 10On board
- Night 11On board
- Night 12On board
- Night 13On board
- Night 14On 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
- Flights as per itinerary
- Entrance fees as per itinerary
- On-board doctor and historian with lectures
- Government tax
- Off-train stays: meals, standard bar drinks, guided excursions, laundry
- 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
July 5, 2027
US$ 18,200.00 pp dbl
July 5, 2027
US$ 26,400.00 pp sgl
Deluxe Suite
July 5, 2027
US$ 24,000.00 pp dbl
July 5, 2027
US$ 34,700.00 pp sgl
Royal Suite
July 5, 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
Where does the Copper Trail start?
Check-in is at the Victoria Falls Hotel, and the train departs from Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. It ends at Lobito's Central Station in Angola.
How long is the journey?
It is 14 nights and 15 days, covering about 3,100 km. Three nights are spent at lodges in South Luangwa National Park.
Are the flights to South Luangwa included?
Yes. The charter flights between Ndola and South Luangwa are included, along with meals, standard bar drinks and guided activities at the lodges.
Do I need to change my watch?
Yes. On the way west the operator asks guests to turn watches back an hour before entering Angola.
Is there an expert on board?
Yes. A historian gives lectures in the lounge car, and a doctor travels with the train.
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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