This adventure begins with the train’s departure from Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria. Travel north through Warmbaths (Bela-Bela), so named for its mineral waters, and Nylstroom (Modimolle), christened by the Voortrekkers as the source of the Nile River as the town’s river happened to be north flowing. Cross the Tropic of Capricorn and Limpopo River towards Bulawayo, second city of Zimbabwe, capital of Matabeleland and industrial capital of the country. Enjoy a game drive (4-night journey only) in Matobo National Park, a World Heritage Site with bushmen caves, rock art and dramatic granite hills. It is also the site of Cecil John Rhodes’ grave atop the summit of Malindidzimu – ‘hill of benevolent spirits’ with a ‘view of the world’. Travel along one of the world’s longest stretches of straight railway line – 114km – before traversing Hwange National Park, a rich and diverse wildlife sanctuary where a game drive excursion is enjoyed. Arrive at the incomparable Victoria Falls on the mighty Zambezi River where this sojourn ends. The surrounding areas offer travellers many recreational opportunities including cruises, whitewater rafting as well as superb game viewing and photo safaris. Available in reverse. Depending upon railway capacity, this journey could be routed through Botswana.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Hwange Reserve game drive
• Traverse the edge of the Kalahari Basin
• Traverse the Limpopo province
• Matobo National Park game drive
• Pretoria
• Victoria Falls
Inclusions
3- OR 4-night accommodation in selected suites on board of the Rovos Rail
All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
All beverage (except of international sparkling wines)
Room service
Limited laundry
Excursions with a qualified guide (where applicable)
Entrance fees as per itinerary
Government tax
Exclusions
International airfare – Transfers from/to airport or to/from the hotel – Pre and post tours – International sparkling wines – Gratuities to personnel & guides – Personal expenses – Visa if required – Travel insurance
Additional Information
Note
• Excursions may be changed according to the schedule achieved. Times are approximate and cannot be guaranteed.
• Meals on board (unless adjusted): Breakfast 07:00-10:00 • Lunch 13:00 • Tea 16:30 • Dinner 19:30.
• Please check-in a minimum of one hour before departure. Should you wish to visit the Rovos Rail Museum or do a site tour at Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria, we suggest arriving two hours prior to departure. If Pretoria is your arrival point, we suggest delaying your pick-up so you can enjoy the site tour.
• Passports are required at check-in. No vouchers are required. Luggage will be tagged and placed in your suite on board the train where you will find a full itinerary pack.
DAY 1 PRETORIA
10:00 Depart Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria. Guests may freshen up in their suites before joining fellow travellers in the lounge car or observation car at the rear of the train.
Please ensure the Train Manager or Administration Deputy is in possession of your passport.
13:00 Lunch is served in the dining cars. Travel through Warmbaths (Bela-Bela) – so named for its mineral waters – and Nylstroom, christened by the Voortrekkers as the source of the Nile River as the town’s river happened to be north flowing. Pass the edge of the escarpment where the Highveld drops precipitously.
16:30 Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars. The train crosses the Tropic of Capricorn.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. The train crosses the Limpopo River to Beitbridge. Dress: Formal.
In Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories, the ‘Elephant’s Child’ departs his family for the “great grey-green, greasy
Limpopo River, all set about with fever-trees, to find out what the Crocodile has for dinner.” (L/D)
4-NIGHT ITINERARY
18:00 Depart Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria. Guests may freshen up in their suites before joining fellow travellers in the lounge car or observation car at the rear of the train. Travel through Warmbaths (Bela-Bela) – so named for its mineral waters – and Nylstroom (Modimolle), christened by the Voortrekkers as the source of the Nile River as the town’s river happened to be north flowing. Pass the edge of the escarpment where the Highveld drops precipitously.
20:00 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Polokwane. Dress: Formal. (D)
Please ensure the Train Manager or Administration Deputy is in possession of your passport.
Meals : Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation : Selected suites – Rovos Rail for 3 OR 4 nights
DAY 2 AT LEISURE ON BOARD OR AT LEISURE ON BOARD (border: Musina, South Africa / Beitbridge, Zimbabwe)
07:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00. The train travels baobab country.
13:00 Lunch is served in the dining cars. Travel towards Bulawayo: second city of Zimbabwe, capital of Matabeleland and industrial capital of the country.
16:30 Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Mpopoma. Dress: Formal.
4-NIGHT ITINERARY
07:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars. The train crosses the Tropic of Capricorn en route to Louis Trichardt.
13:00 Lunch is served in the dining cars. Border formalities with South Africa.
16:30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars. The train crosses the Limpopo River en route to Beitbridge for border formalities with Zimbabwe. In Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories, the ‘Elephant’s Child’ departs his family for the “great grey-green, greasy Limpopo River, all set about with fever-trees, to find out what the Crocodile has for dinner.”
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Gwanda. Dress: Formal.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3 HWANGE NATIONAL PARK OR MATOBO NATIONAL PARK
07:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00.
13:00 Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train travels between Gwaai and Dete along one of the world’s longest stretches of straight railway line – 114 kilometres – and along the eastern edge of Hwange Park.
15:00 Enjoy a game drive at The Hide in Hwange National Park.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Thompsons Junction. Dress: Formal.
4-NIGHT ITINERARY
06:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09:00. The train travels baobab country and ascends to Bulawayo: second city of Zimbabwe, capital of Matabeleland and industrial capital of the country.
12:00 Lunch is served in the dining cars.
13:30 Transfer (±45 min) to Matobo National Park to see bushmen caves, rock art and the grave of Cecil John Rhodes.
18:00 Depart for Sawmills.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4 VICTORIA FALLS OR HWANGE NATIONAL PARK
Please ensure that your luggage is ready for collection at 09:45 and that you have your passport.
07:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09:30.
10:00 Arrive at journey’s end at the incomparable Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. (B)
The above itinerary is available in reverse too (Victoria Falls to Pretoria).
4-NIGHT ITINERARY
07:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00. The train travels between Gwaai and Dete along one of the world’s longest stretches of straight railway line – 114 kilometres – and along the eastern edge of Hwange Park.
13:00 Lunch is served in the dining cars.
15:00 Enjoy a game drive in Hwange National Park, the nation’s largest wildlife area at 1 462 000ha.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Thompsons Junction. Dress: Formal. (B/L/D)
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5 VICTORIA FALLS
Please ensure that your luggage is ready for collection at 09:45 and that you have your passport.
07:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09:30.
10:00 Arrive at journey’s end at the incomparable Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
The above itinerary is available in reverse too (Victoria Falls to Pretoria).
Meals : Breakfast
ROVOS RAIL
Each train has accommodation carriages, dining cars (±42 seats), a lounge car (±26 seats), small gift shop, smoking lounge (±11 seats) and observation car (±32 seats) with open-air balcony. Maintaining the spirit of a bygone era, there are no radios or television sets on board. The three types of suites available – Pullman (7sqm), Deluxe (10sqm) and Royal (16sqm) – offer passengers privacy and comfort with double or twin beds and fittings and facilities that are of the highest standard. All have en-suites with shower, toilet, basin and bath (Royal only), tea facilities, safes, air conditioning, linen and amenities and are serviced daily. There is adequate storage and small cupboards with hangers and shelves.
The dining cars are made up of two-seaters and four-seaters where guests eat together or individually. The lounge and observation cars – with their big picture windows, sofas and booths – make for great mingling areas or quiet corners to while away the days.
Days on board are smart casual while evening attire is more formal. On long journeys you can enjoy themed evenings where guests can dress up accordingly or opt for smart casual.
An enthusiastic team of chefs is responsible for overseeing the very important task of ensuring guests’ every need is catered for. There’s an accent on fresh local ingredients and traditional dishes are a specialty. Meals are served in one sitting only in the dining cars and are complemented by a selection of fine South African wines. The bar menu is comprehensive although special items such as French Champagne would need to be requested in advance. Breakfast: 07:00-10:00 • Lunch: 13:00 • Tea: 16:30 • Formal Dinner: 19:30. Bar service is from 07:00-±01:00. All meals are served at these times unless otherwise stated in the itineraries.
PULLMAN SUITES
The Pullmans, used on the short journeys, accommodate one or two passengers and have an en-suite bathroom with shower, toilet and basin. During the day, the suites have a comfortable sofa-seat with a conversion to double or twin beds (side-by-side or upper and lower bunks) for the evening. A dedicated host/ess is available at all times and services the suites daily. Please note in the animation that we indicate a bar fridge, however, these have been removed from the Pullmans.
DELUXE SUITES
The Deluxe Suites accommodate one or two passengers in double or twin beds and have their own lounge area and en-suite bathroom with shower, toilet and basin. A dedicated host/ess is available at all times and services the suites daily. A bar fridge is filled with the on-board beverages of the passengers’ choice.
ROYAL SUITES
The Royal Suites each take up half a carriage with their own private lounge area and en-suite bathroom with Victorian bath, separate shower, toilet and basin. They accommodate one or two passengers in double or twin beds. A dedicated host/ess is available at all times and services the suites daily. A bar fridge is filled with the on-board beverages of the passengers’ choice.
Dates of departures 2024 – PRETORIA TO VICTORIA FALLS | |||
3-NIGHT PACKAGE 4-NIGHT PACKAGE | |||
Dates of departures 2024 – VICTORIA FALLS TO PRETORIA | |||
3-NIGHT PACKAGE 4-NIGHT PACKAGE |
Dates of departures 2025 – PRETORIA TO VICTORIA FALLS | |||
3-NIGHT PACKAGE 4-NIGHT PACKAGE | |||
Dates of departures 2025 – VICTORIA FALLS TO PRETORIA | |||
3-NIGHT PACKAGE 4-NIGHT PACKAGE | |||
*Pullman Gold, Deluxe + Royal Suites. |
Rates in CA$, per person, starting from | Train Package | ||
Departures 2024-2025 | Double | Single | |
3 AND 4-NIGHT PACKAGE | |||
Pullman Suites | 4079 | 6119 | |
Deluxe Suites | 6119 | 9179 | |
Royal Suites | 7989 | 11989 |
**Prices in this document are for information only; they were issued at press time, for the current year. Please note that due to exchange rates and temporary promotions, they can increase or decrease at any time. Contact your travel agent for the price and promotion of the moment. Prices include the contribution of customers to the Compensation Fund for clients of Quebec travel agents.
*** PLEASE CAREFULLY READ OUR TERMS & CONDITIONS. ***