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Namibia Safari: Pretoria to Walvis Bay – Rovos Rail
Rovos Rail · 12 days, 11 nights

Namibia Safari: Pretoria to Walvis Bay

Eleven nights from the Highveld to the Atlantic, with the Fish River Canyon, Sossusvlei's dunes and a night in Etosha.

  1. PretoriaDay 1
  2. KimberleyDay 2
  3. UpingtonDay 3
  4. Fish River CanyonDay 4
  5. KolmanskopDay 5
  6. LüderitzDay 5
  7. KeetmanshoopDay 6
  8. SossusvleiDay 7
  9. WindhoekDay 8
  10. OtjiwarongoDay 9
  11. Etosha National ParkDay 10
  12. TsumebDay 11
  13. Walvis BayDay 12
Train stopExcursion by road
Duration12 days
Nights11
RoutePretoria → Walvis Bay
Places visited13
From, per personUS$215,000

Overview

Leaving Pretoria, this journey tours Kimberley, cruises the Orange River at Upington and crosses into Namibia for the Fish River Canyon, Kolmanskop and Lüderitz. It continues to the quiver trees of Garas Park, flies to Sossusvlei for a night in the dunes, tours Windhoek, visits a cheetah project, overnights in Etosha and ends at Walvis Bay.

  • Kimberley Diamond Mine Museum and the Big Hole
  • Upington walk and Orange River sundowner cruise
  • Fish River Canyon
  • Ghost town of Kolmanskop and lunch in Lüderitz
  • Quiver trees at Garas Park
  • Light-aircraft flights and a night at Sossusvlei
  • Windhoek city tour and a cheetah conservation project
  • Night and game drives in Etosha National Park

Day by day

Day 1PretoriaOn board

Board at the train's station in Pretoria, with time for its museum if you arrive early, and head south across the Witwatersrand goldfields. Settle into the lounge or observation car before a formal dinner.

Meals: Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner

Day 2KimberleyOn board

Tour Kimberley's Diamond Mine Museum and the Big Hole. After lunch the observation car leads the train for a while as it crosses the Karoo towards the railway junction of De Aar.

Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner

Day 3Upington & the Orange RiverOn board

Enjoy a walking tour of Upington followed by a sundowner cruise on the Orange River, South Africa's longest. Border formalities take place in the evening. Tonight is an Africa-themed evening, or smart casual.

Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

Day 4Fish River CanyonOn board

The train crosses the southern Kalahari Basin, then you transfer about an hour to the Fish River Canyon, one of the largest canyons in the world. Dinner is served en route to Aus.

Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

Day 5Kolmanskop & LüderitzOn board

Transfer about an hour to the ghost town of Kolmanskop, then lunch in Lüderitz, known for its colonial architecture and coastal wildlife. Back on board, the observation car leads the train towards Keetmanshoop.

Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

Day 6Keetmanshoop & Garas ParkOn board

Visit Keetmanshoop and Garas Park, home to around 300 prehistoric-looking quiver trees. The train then heads north via Mariental.

Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner

Day 7SossusvleiSossusvlei lodge

Pack a small overnight bag and fly about an hour by light aircraft to a lodge at Sossusvlei. After lunch and some free time, head out on a desert drive and finish with a bush dinner under the stars.

Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

Day 8Sossusvlei & WindhoekOn board

An early desert drive among the red star dunes ends with breakfast in the vlei. Fly back to Windhoek for lunch and a city tour taking in the transport and independence museums, the Lutheran church and the craft centre.

Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

Day 9Cheetah conservation projectOn board

After lunch on board, transfer about an hour to a cheetah conservation project near Otjiwarongo dedicated to saving the cheetah in the wild.

Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

Day 10Etosha National ParkEtosha lodge

Pack an overnight bag and transfer about an hour to a lodge in Etosha. After lunch and check-in, set off on an afternoon game drive of about three hours, then dine at the lodge.

Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner

Day 11Etosha National ParkOn board

After an early breakfast, enjoy a morning game drive in Etosha, then transfer to rejoin the train at Tsumeb. The observation car leads as the train heads southwest towards the Atlantic. Tonight is a roaring-twenties themed evening, or smart casual.

Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner

Day 12Walvis Bay

Cross the Namib Desert over breakfast and arrive at journey's end in Walvis Bay.

Meals: Breakfast

BOTSWANAZIMBABWEPretoriaKimberleyUpingtonFish River CanyonKolmanskopLüderitzKeetmanshoopSossusvleiWindhoekOtjiwarongoEtosha National ParkTsumebWalvis Bay
Where you spend each night
  • Night 1On board
  • Night 2On board
  • Night 3On board
  • Night 4On board
  • Night 5On board
  • Night 6On board
  • Night 7Sossusvlei lodge
  • Night 8On board
  • Night 9On board
  • Night 10Etosha lodge
  • Night 11On board

The map is schematic. Dashed lines are excursions by road.

Dates and prices

Live availability. Choose a cabin type, then select Book Now to reserve online, or Join waitlist on sold-out dates.

Royal Suite

November 9, 2026 US$ 336,000.00 pp dbl
November 9, 2026 US$ 336,000.00 pp sgl

Deluxe Suite

November 9, 2026 US$ 273,000.00 pp dbl
November 9, 2026 US$ 273,000.00 pp sgl

Pullman Suite

November 9, 2026 US$ 215,000.00 pp dbl
November 9, 2026 US$ 215,000.00 pp sgl

Questions about this journey

How long is the Namibia Safari?

It is 11 nights and 12 days from Pretoria to Walvis Bay. Nine nights are on board and two are in lodges, at Sossusvlei and in Etosha National Park.

How do I get to Sossusvlei?

Guests fly about an hour by light aircraft from the train to a lodge at Sossusvlei, and fly back to Windhoek the next day. These flights are included.

Which game drives are included?

There are two game drives in Etosha National Park, one in the afternoon and one the next morning. Sossusvlei adds two desert drives, and there is also a visit to a cheetah conservation project.

What should I pack for the lodge nights?

Pack a small overnight bag for Sossusvlei and Etosha; a tog bag is provided in your suite. Dress at the lodges is casual.

Does the journey run in reverse?

Yes, the operator also runs Walvis Bay to Pretoria on the same classic route. There is also a separate Cape Route between Cape Town and Walvis Bay on selected dates.

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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From, per personUS$215,000
See dates

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