Rovos Rail: African Collage Pretoria to Cape Town 12 Nights/13 Days - Pullman

A trip aboard Rovos Rail is a journey like no other. Experience the opulent elegance of rail travel on one of Rovos Rail’s exceptional safaris through the heart of Africa. Combining some of the most magnificent scenery with the glamour and excitement of the golden age of rail travel, Rovos Rail will delight the most discerning traveller. With discreet and friendly service, five-star cuisine and a selection of South Africa’s finest wines, Rovos Rail harks back to a simpler, more elegant era – encompassing the timeless grace and high romance of African exploration. Trains depart regularly from Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria for Cape Town, Durban and Victoria Falls with longer journeys operated on an annual basis. These include two golf itineraries, of nine days, each with delightful programmes for non-golfers. There is another nine-day safari to Swakopmund as well as the two-week adventure to Dar es Salaam.

Day 1: Depart from Rovos Rail Station.
Please check-in a minimum of one hour before departure. Should you wish to visit our museum or do a site tour at Rovos Rail Station, we suggest arriving two hours prior to departure.
18h00 Depart from Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria. The train travels on the eastern line towards the harsh eMalahleni coal-mining area and Middelburg, known as the “stainless steel capital of Africa”. The Dutch railway building company, NZASM, built the eastern line between Pretoria and Lourenço Marques (Maputo) from 1893 to 1895. 19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal
Please ensure the Train Manager or Administration Deputy is in possession of your passport. It will be returned to you before the end of the trip.
Day 2: At leisure on board.
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00. The rolling hills of eMakhazeni, eNtokozweni and Dullstroom are a welcome sight and are renowned for the genteel yet skilful sport of trout fishing.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train descends the spectacular Drakensberg Mountain escarpment, first named by the Voortrekkers who thought the unbroken chain of heavily weathered peaks reminded them of the spines on a dragon’s back, hence the name ‘Dragon Mountain’ or Drakensberg in Afrikaans.
16h30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Malelane. Dress: Formal
Day 3: Off Board Excursion
Kruger Park
05h30 Breakfast is served in the dining cars.
06h30 Game drive in the Kruger National Park with tea, lunch and an opportunity for curio shopping.
15h00 Return to the train.
16h30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Mpaka. Dress: Formal
White River/Mbombela
05:30 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Transfer to White River Country Club (±75 min) OR Mbombela (±60 min) for tee off and lunch. *If available, golf at Leopard Creek may be booked on request for your own account.
16:30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 Dinner is served en route to Mpaka. Dress: Formal.
The famous Kruger Park (2-million hectares) is a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques and home to an impressive number of species, e.g. 336 species of trees, 49 species of fish, 34 species of amphibians, 114 species of reptiles, 507 species of birds and 147 species of mammals including the Big Five.
Day 4: Off Board Excursion
Eswatini
06h00 Breakfast is served. Border formalities take place.
08h00 Transfer (±90 min) to Swazi Candles and Mantenga Cultural Village with lunch.
14h00 Return to the train (±75 min).
16h00 Depart for Golela for border formalities.
16h30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19h30 Dinner is served en route to Hluhluwe. Dress: Formal Nkonyeni/Royal Swazi
06:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Transfer (±75 min) to Nkonyeni OR Royal Swazifor tee off and lunch.
14:00 Return to the train.
16:00 Depart for Golela for border formalities.
16:30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal The tiny Kingdom of eSwatini (Swaziland) covers only 17 000km2, most of which is mountainous. For such a small country, it is surprising that it sustains two capital cities: Mbabane is the administrative capital and Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital. In April 2018, Swaziland changed its name to the Kingdom of eSwatini (meaning “place of the Swazi”) and is an absolute monarchy. It is landlocked and borders South Africa and Mozambique. At Swazi Candles, guests are invited to interact with the artisans as they make a variety of candles. Woodcarvings, colourful textiles and superb basketwork are also on display. Mantenga Lodge is nestled in the mountains overlooking ‘Execution Rock’. The village is a living museum of old traditions that represents a classic Swazi lifestyle during the 1800s.
Day 5: Off Board Excursion
05h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars.
07h00 Transfer (±30 min) to Hluhluwe for a game drive. As the oldest proclaimed reserve in Africa, Hluhluwe encompasses 960km² of hilly topography in central Zululand and is known for its rich wildlife and conservation efforts. It is the only state-run park in KwaZulu-Natal with all the Big Five game animals and is also a prime birding destination.
11h00 Return to the train.
12h30 Lunch is served in the dining cars. Travel south along the Indian Ocean coastline.
16h30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal
Day 6: Off Board Excursion
Durban
06h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars.
09h00 Enjoy a Durban city tour, a visit to the botanical gardens and lunch at Umhlanga’s beachfront. Durban is the third largest city in South Africa and enjoys great importance due to its industry and very large port.
15h00 The train traverses the Valley of a Thousand Hills.
16h30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19h30 Dinner is served. Dress: “Africa” Theme or Smart Casual
Durban/MT Edgecombe/Cotswold
06:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure.
Transfer to Durban Country Club (±15 min) OR Mt Edgecombe (±20 min) OR Cotswold Downs (±30 min) for tee off and lunch. Durban is the third largest city in South Africa and enjoys great importance due to its industry and very large port.
15:00 The train traverses the Valley of a Thousand Hills.
16:30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 Dinner is served. Dress: “Africa” Theme or Smart Casual
Day 7: Off Board Excursion
Spionkop
06h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars.
09h00 Transfer (±30 min) to Spionkop Lodge to hear the historic tale of the Battle of Spionkop and walk in the footsteps of Churchill and Gandhi. Enjoy lunch.
14h00 Afternoon game drive OR relax at the lodge.
16h30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal
Champagne Sports Resort
06:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Transfer (±75 min) to Champagne Sports Resort for tee off and lunch.
15:30 Return (±75 min) to the train.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Harrismith. Dress: Formal
The Drakensberg Mountains were first named by the Voortrekkers who thought the unbroken chain of heavily weathered peaks reminded them of the spines on a dragon’s back, hence the name ‘Dragon Mountain’ or Drakensberg in Afrikaans.
Day 8: Off Board Excursion
06:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars.
08:00 Take a drive through the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. The park’s most notable features are its golden ochre and orange-hued deeply eroded sandstone cliffs and outcrops, especially the Brandwag Rock.
09:30 Visit the small and picturesque town of Clarens situated in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains. Enjoy an early lunch (own account).
13:00 Transfer (±60 mins) to the Sandstone Heritage Trust, a large agricultural estate that houses an impressive collection of heritage trains, tractors, busses, cars and military vehicles.
15:30 Transfer (±60 mins) to the train at Bethlehem and depart for Bloemfontein.
16:30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal
19:30 The observation car will be leading the train until Port Elizabeth – a different aspect that our rail enthusiasts enjoy.
Day 9: Off Board Excursion
06h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure.
08h00 Tour of Bloemfontein including the Women’s Memorial and Anglo Boer War Museum.
10h00 Depart for Coerney. Traverse the Karoo, a vast and beautiful semi-desert stretching across the great South African plateau inland from the Cape coast with scattered towns and villages. Cross the dry southeastern region with its variety of grasses, hardy shrubs, tumbleweeds and succulents and descend the Great Escarpment towards the coast.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16h30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal
Bloemfontein is the seat of the South African judicial system. At the end of the 19th century, it was also the capital of the old Boer Republic of The Orange Free State. Bloemfontein is capital of the Free State Province and also known as the Rose City. Loch Logan Waterfront is next to the city’s newly renovated stadium, which was one of the venues during the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The Women’s Memorial at the Anglo Boer War Museum is a reminder of life in the concentration camps and commemorates the 27 000 women and children who died in these camps. The Museum itself is a graphic depiction of the hardship endured by all during the war and relates the history of South Africa from 1652.
Day 10: Off Board Excursion
Addo Elephant Park
07:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00.
12:30 Game drive in Addo Elephant Park, South Africa’s third largest national reserve stretching from the semi-arid Karoo, over the Zuurberg Mountains and down through the Sundays River valley to the coast. The park is home to one of the densest African Elephant populations on earth – roughly 600. Return to the train. Depart for Port Elizabeth.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal. Humewood
07:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Transfer (±75 min) to Humewood Golf Course for tee off and lunch.
15:45 Return to the train. Depart for Port Elizabeth.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Willowmore. Dress: Formal
Day 11: Off Board Excursion
Knysna
Please pack an overnight bag for your stay at Fancourt. Tog bags have been placed in your suites for your convenience.
06h00 Breakfast is served until departure.
08h00 Transfer (±90 min) from Port Elizabeth Station to Oudebosch Farm Stall.
09h30 Enjoy a refreshment stop at Oudebosch.
10h00 Transfer (±90 min) to Knysna for a lagoon ferry ride with lunch.
16h30 Transfer (±60 min) to Fancourt and check-in.
19h00 Dinner and overnight at Fancourt. Dress: Smart Casual Pezula/Simola
Please pack an overnight bag for your stay at Fancourt. Tog bags have been placed in your suites for your convenience.
06:00 Breakfast is served until departure.
07:30 Transfer (±90 min) from Port Elizabeth Station to Oudebosch Farm Stall.
09:00 Enjoy a refreshment stop at Oudebosch.
09:30 Transfer (±90 min) from Oudebosch Farm Stall to Pezula OR Simola for tee off and lunch. Check-in at Fancourt Estate after golf.
19:00 Dinner and overnight at Fancourt. Dress: Smart Casual.
George and Knysna sit between the majestic Outeniqua Mountains to the north and the Indian Ocean to the south. The Knysna Heads – two sandstone cliffs guarding the mouth of the lagoon connecting the estuary with the sea – is a dramatic viewpoint. At lunchtime, the train travels the Garden Route, a narrow coastal terrace lying between the deep-set coastal cliffs rising sheer out of the sea and the mountains a short distance inland – a topology that facilitates heavy rainfall, hence the name as it is always lush and green.
Day 12: Off Board Excursion
Oudtshoorn
You may call Reception to collect your bag or take it to check-out on departure.
06h30 Breakfast is served until 09:30. Check out.
10h00 Transfer (±60 min) to an ostrich farm for a visit followed by lunch.
13h30 Transfer (±30 min) to the Cango Caves for a visit.
15h00 Transfer (±150 min) to Prince Albert Rd Station.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Matjiesfontein. Dress: “1920s” Theme or Smart Casual.
Fancourt Montagu/Oueniqua
You may call Reception to collect your bag or take it to check-out before tee off.
06:30 Breakfast is served until tee off at Fancourt.
13:30 After lunch, transfer (±180 min) to Prince Albert Rd Station to rejoin the train. Enjoy a refreshment stop en route.
16:30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Matjiesfontein. Dress: “1920s” Theme or Smart Casual
This semi-desert region is situated at the foot of the majestic Swartberg mountain range where many rivers, streams and falls have their origins. The great natural wonder of the Cango Caves has colourful underground chambers with breathtaking limestone formations. Oudtshoorn is regarded as the centre of the Klein Karoo and is famous for feathering the world in the time of the boa and grand hats. The ostrich boom of the early 20th century turned out many millionaires who, in turn, created elaborate lifestyles in this remote part of Africa.
Day 13: Disembark the train
Please ensure luggage is ready for collection 15 minutes before arrival and that you have your passport.
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00. Trundle through the spectacular mountain ranges and scenic winelands of the Western Cape towards the coast.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars.
18h00 Arrive at journey’s end at Cape Town Station.