Rovos Rail · 4 days · 3 nights
Pretoria to Cape Town
Pretoria · Kimberley · Matjiesfontein · Cape Town
Rovos Rail · 12 days, 11 nights
Southern Cross: Pretoria to Victoria Falls
Eleven nights through South Africa, Mozambique, eSwatini and Zimbabwe, from the Panorama Route and Kruger to Victoria Falls.
- PretoriaDay 1
- GraskopDay 2
- MalelaneDay 2
- Kruger National ParkDay 3
- MaputoDay 4
- MpakaDay 4
- MantengaDay 5
- HoedspruitDay 6
- KapamaDay 6
- Louis TrichardtDay 6
- Great ZimbabweDay 8
- GweruDay 8
- Antelope ParkDay 9
- BulawayoDay 9
- Matobo National ParkDay 10
- Hwange National ParkDay 11
- Victoria FallsDay 12
Train stopExcursion by road
Duration12 days
Nights11
RoutePretoria → Victoria Falls
Places visited17
From, per personUS$165,000
Overview
The Southern Cross takes the eastern line out of Pretoria to the Panorama Route and the Kruger, then tours Maputo and the Kingdom of eSwatini. It continues through Limpopo to Kapama, the Great Zimbabwe Monument, Antelope Park, Matobo and Hwange before ending with a walking tour of Victoria Falls and a sunset cruise on the Zambezi.
- Panorama Route: Pilgrim's Rest, Bourke's Luck Potholes and Graskop
- Game drives in the Kruger, Kapama and Hwange
- City tour of Maputo
- Swazi Candles and Mantenga Cultural Village
- Great Zimbabwe Monument
- Matobo National Park, rock art and Rhodes' grave
- Walking tour of Victoria Falls and a Zambezi sunset cruise
Day by day
Day 1PretoriaOn board
After a station tour and museum visit, the train leaves Pretoria on the eastern line through the coal country of eMalahleni, where the train's story began, and Middelburg. Hand your passport to the train manager for the border crossings ahead.
Meals: Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 2Panorama RouteOn board
Spend the day touring the Panorama Route: the living-museum gold town of Pilgrim's Rest, the river-carved Bourke's Luck Potholes and Graskop, with lunch along the way. The Graskop glass lift down into the forest gorge is available at your own expense. The train then runs on to Malelane.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 3Kruger National ParkOn board
Enjoy a game drive in the Kruger, home of the Big Five, with lunch and a chance to browse for curios. In the afternoon the train crosses into Mozambique and heads for Maputo.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 4Maputo, MozambiqueOn board
Tour Mozambique's capital, a lively blend of African, Portuguese and colonial architecture, with lunch in the city. The train then travels on to Mpaka in eSwatini.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 5eSwatiniOn board
Transfer about 90 minutes to Swazi Candles, where artisans craft candles by hand, and to Mantenga Cultural Village, a living museum of traditional Swazi life, with lunch at Mantenga Lodge. The train re-enters South Africa and heads for Hoedspruit.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 6Kapama Reserve & HESCOn board
After a continental breakfast, go on a game drive in Kapama Private Game Reserve, followed by a visit to the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre. The train then travels north to Louis Trichardt. Tonight is an Africa-themed evening, or smart casual.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 7At leisure on boardOn board
A relaxed day crossing the Soutpansberg Mountains and the Limpopo River valley into Zimbabwe, then on through baobab country.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 8Great Zimbabwe MonumentOn board
Transfer about 75 minutes to the Great Zimbabwe Monument, the largest pre-colonial stone ruins south of the Egyptian pyramids, for a visit with lunch and time to shop for curios. The train then travels to Gweru.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
Day 9Antelope ParkOn board
Spend the day at Antelope Park, set in open savannah grassland, with lunch; optional extras such as canoeing, horseback game viewing and bird-watching cruises can be arranged. The train continues to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 10Matobo National ParkOn board
Transfer about an hour to Matobo National Park, a World Heritage Site of granite hills, to see bushman caves, rock art and the grave of Cecil John Rhodes. The train then travels to Kennedy.
Meals: Breakfast · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 11Hwange National ParkOn board
Enjoy a game drive with a packed lunch in Hwange, Zimbabwe's largest wildlife area and known for its lions. The train then runs along one of the world's longest straight stretches of railway. Tonight is a roaring-twenties themed evening, or smart casual.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Afternoon tea · Dinner
Day 12Victoria Falls
Arrive at Victoria Falls Station after breakfast and walk across to the Victoria Falls Hotel. Join a walking tour of the Falls with lunch, then a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River before the journey ends back at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch
Where you spend each night
- Night 1On board
- Night 2On board
- Night 3On board
- Night 4On board
- Night 5On board
- Night 6On board
- Night 7On board
- Night 8On board
- Night 9On board
- Night 10On board
- Night 11On 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
- Guided excursions where applicable
- Preselected local wines, beers and soft drinks on excursions
- Entrance fees as per itinerary
- Government tax
- 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.
Royal Suite
November 19, 2026
US$ 313,000.00 pp dbl
November 19, 2026
US$ 313,000.00 pp sgl
Deluxe Suite
November 19, 2026
US$ 235,000.00 pp dbl
November 19, 2026
US$ 235,000.00 pp sgl
Pullman Suite
November 19, 2026
US$ 165,000.00 pp dbl
November 19, 2026
US$ 165,000.00 pp sgl
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
Which countries does the Southern Cross visit?
It travels through South Africa, Mozambique, eSwatini and Zimbabwe. There are several border crossings, so the train manager looks after your passport during the journey.
How many game drives are included?
There are game drives in the Kruger, in Kapama Private Game Reserve and in Hwange National Park. Antelope Park also offers optional activities such as horseback game viewing at extra cost.
What happens on the last day at Victoria Falls?
The train arrives in the morning and guests walk across to the Victoria Falls Hotel. You join a walking tour of the Falls with lunch and a sunset cruise on the Zambezi before the journey ends at the hotel.
Is the Graskop lift included?
No. The Graskop glass lift into the forest gorge is offered at your own expense during the Panorama Route tour. The rest of the tour, including lunch, is included.
Are there themed evenings?
Yes. There is an Africa-themed evening after the Kapama day and a roaring-twenties evening after Hwange. Smart casual is always an option, and other dinners are formal.
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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