Rovos Rail is a wood-panelled hotel on wheels that links some of Africa's great destinations, from the Cape winelands to Victoria Falls, the Namib Desert and the Indian Ocean. Journeys run from two nights to more than two weeks, mixing long, unhurried days on board with game drives, village walks and guided excursions.
Three nights across South Africa, from the Highveld goldfields through Kimberley and the Karoo to Cape Town.
Leave Cape Town through the winelands, cross the Karoo and stop at Matjiesfontein and Kimberley on the way north to Pretoria.
Two nights from Pretoria to Durban with a Big Five game drive, the battlefield at Spionkop and the Ardmore ceramics gallery.
Eleven nights through South Africa, Mozambique, eSwatini and Zimbabwe, from the Panorama Route and Kruger to Victoria Falls.
A nine-night loop from Pretoria with championship golf for players and game drives, tours and leisure for non-golfers.
A 16-night epic from the Indian Ocean to the Cape across Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa.
Sixteen nights from the Cape to the Indian Ocean via Kimberley, Madikwe, Victoria Falls and the Tazara line.
Eleven nights from the Highveld to the Atlantic, with the Fish River Canyon, Sossusvlei's dunes and a night in Etosha.
Eleven nights from the Atlantic coast to Pretoria, with Etosha, Sossusvlei, the Fish River Canyon and Kimberley.
Twelve nights from Pretoria to Cape Town via the Kruger, eSwatini, Durban, the Drakensberg, Addo and the Garden Route, with golf or touring.
Fifteen nights from Pretoria to the Atlantic, linking the Kruger, eSwatini and Durban with Kimberley, the Fish River Canyon, Sossusvlei and Etosha.
Fourteen nights from Angola's Atlantic coast to Victoria Falls along the Benguela line, with a three-night safari in South Luangwa.
Fourteen nights from Victoria Falls to Angola's Atlantic coast, via South Luangwa, the Congo copper belt and the Benguela line.
Suite configurations depend on availability, and some Royal and Deluxe suites have a room divider.
Each train has a lounge car with sofas, wingbacks and a small gift shop, a smoking lounge, and an observation car at the rear with big picture windows, a bar and an open-air balcony. Afternoon tea is served in the lounge and observation cars on most days, and the bar is open from early morning until late.
In keeping with the spirit of a bygone era there are no radios or televisions on board. A dedicated host is on call around the clock, suites are cleaned daily with a nightly turndown, and on some long journeys a historian gives talks in the lounge car.
Meals are served in one sitting in the dining cars, at tables for two or four, so you can dine together or on your own. Hot breakfasts are made to order, while lunch and dinner are four-course meals with an accent on fresh local ingredients and traditional dishes, paired with fine South African wines.
Days on board are smart casual and dinner is formal: a collar and tie for gentlemen, and cocktail or evening wear for ladies. Longer journeys add themed evenings with an African or roaring-twenties flavour.
There are three suite types: the Royal (about 16 m², half a carriage with a Victorian bath), the Deluxe (about 10 m² with a small lounge area) and the Pullman (about 7 m²). Pullman Gold suites with lengthways beds are mostly used on the long journeys. Every suite has its own en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, a safe and a fridge.
Most nights are spent in your suite on board, and on many evenings the train stops so guests can sleep soundly. Some longer journeys add a night or two off the train, for example in lodges at Sossusvlei, Etosha, Madikwe or South Luangwa, or at the Victoria Falls Hotel.
All meals are served in one sitting in the dining cars, at tables for two or four. Lunch and dinner are four-course meals built around fresh local ingredients and paired with South African wines. Afternoon tea is served in the lounge and observation cars on most days.
Days on board are smart casual, while dinner is formal: gentlemen wear a collar and tie, and ladies usually choose cocktail or evening wear. On long journeys there are themed evenings where you can dress up in an African or roaring-twenties style, or simply stay smart casual.
Journeys range from two-night trips such as Pretoria to Durban, through the three-night Cape Town journey, to long expeditions like the Southern Cross, Namibia Safari, African Collage, African Trilogy, Copper Trail and the 16-night Cape Town to Dar es Salaam journey. Many routes run in both directions.
The short journeys between Pretoria and Cape Town or Durban are a lovely introduction to life on board, with one or two excursions. The long journeys cross several countries and pack in game drives, lodge stays and guided tours, so they suit travellers who want the train to be the whole holiday.
Children are welcome, but parents are asked to respect the adult atmosphere on board, and there are no children's activities or child-minding. Long journeys are not recommended for under-13s, and infants up to two years old cannot travel.
Live dates and fares are shown on this page, and our reservations team can help on (866) 484-7882.
Luxury Train Vacations is a service of TravBuzz Inc. · Fla. Seller of Travel Reg. No. ST41461
