We planned this African Safari Train Tour for a honeymoon couple who wanted to go on an adventure in South Africa and Victoria Falls, but didn’t want to eliminate luxury. We sent them on an epic, 15-day luxury rail expedition through South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Tanzania on the famous Rovos Rail.
Their African Safari Train Tour began in Cape Town. They boarded the luxurious Rovos Rail and settled into their Deluxe Suite, which is sumptuously furnished and includes a lounge area, writing desk, en-suite bathroom with shower, and in-room safe. Each evening meal in the dining car is a magnificent event where guests dress in their absolute finest and enjoy delicious gourmet dinners, along with a selection of the finest South African wines.
The Rovos Rail took them to the historic village of Matjiesfontein, the diamond town of Kimberley, and the bustling city of Pretoria in South Africa. They enjoyed a short tour in each stop before heading back to the train to continue their African Safari Train Tour.
Before departing South Africa, they enjoyed a luxury African safari in the Madikwe Game Reserve. This package allows you to stay 2 nights at either Kapamba River Lodge or Thornybush Main Lodge. Each camp offers luxurious accommodations and breathtaking views of the surrounding scenery. They enjoyed thrilling morning and evening game drives and were able to see members of Africa’s Big 5 with the help of expert safari guides.
Next on their African Safari Train Tour, they enjoyed magnificent views and fascinating lectures on the history of the area as their luxury train crossed through Botswana into Zimbabwe. They enjoyed a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River and spent a night at Victoria Falls Hotel. The next day, they took an unforgettable helicopter journey over Victoria Falls before boarding the Rovos Rail again in the afternoon.
Continuing their African Safari Train Tour, they rode through Zambia for a few days. Then, they had an intimate nature experience with a bush walk at Chishimba Falls. The train continued on through Zambia and climbed to the Tanzanian border, then descended into the Great Rift Valley, negotiating the tunnels, switchbacks, and viaducts of the spectacular escarpment.
As the train climbed again to Dar es Salaam, it traversed the Selous Game Reserve—the largest game reserve on the continent and a vision of timeless Africa. At last, they arrived in Dar es Salaam, and their South Africa Safari Train Tour came to an end.
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A108 |
Day 1
Your luxury vacation on board the Rovos Rail luxury train departs Cape Town station and travels towards the Hex River Valley.
Rovos Rail Luxury Train
Day 2
The next day stop at Matjiesfontein, where you’ll have an opportunity to explore this quaint and timeless village before returning to the Rovos train for dinner. A degustation awaits you at every meal onboard the Rovos. This train owns its own railway line, stopping for a restful night’s sleep and running on its own touring schedule. Your luxurious suite is very spacious with no detail missed.
Rovos Rail Luxury Train
Day 3
After a relaxing morning on the Rovos luxury train, enjoy a leisurely lunch as your tour approaches Kimberley, where you can visit the historic Big Hole as well as the Diamond Museum. Enjoy dinner on the luxury train as your Rovos tour continues. After dinner, join fellow passengers in the lounge cars for cognacs and live music.
Rovos Rail Luxury Train
Day 4
Breakfast may be brought to your cabin this morning. Upon arrival in Pretoria, you can enjoy a light lunch before embarking on a city tour of South Africa’s administrative capital.
Rovos Rail Luxury Train
Day 5
Your luxury train tour will arrive in Madikwe Game Reserve for a 2-night African safari experience. During your stay, you can enjoy early morning or evening game drives.
Madikwe Game Lodge
Day 6
Enjoy a full day of game drives for your safari experience.
Madikwe Game Lodge
Day 7
After an early morning game drive, you will pick up the train at Gabrone. The train crosses the Tropic of Capricorn and the eastern edge of the Kalahari
Basin. Known as ‘Kgalagadi’ in Botswana, the Kalahari (which extends to 900 000km2 and covers much of Botswana, parts of Namibia and South Africa) is not a true desert as it does experience small amounts of rain, with some areas enjoying up to 250mm. The surrounding basin covers over 2 500 000km2 extending farther into Botswana, Namibia and South Africa and encroaching into parts of Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is part desert, part plateau. The only constant river, the Okavango, flows into a delta in the northwest forming marshes that are rich in wildlife.
Rovos Rail Luxury Train
Day 8
The day is leisure on board the train. Lectures will take place throughout the journey during the morning and/or afternoon in the lounge car. Pass Gwaai and Dete along one of Africa’s longest stretches of straight railway line – 114 kilometres – and along the eastern edge of the Hwange National Park.
Rovos Rail Luxury Train
Day 9
Arrive at the incomparable Victoria Falls. Plunging over the lip of the Victoria Falls is the largest body of falling water on earth. The mighty Zambezi, fourth longest river in Africa, is about 2kms wide above the falls and cascades dramatically over a precipice 1.6km in length and 108m at its deepest, compressing the vast volume of water into a chasm 50m wide. The sound can be deafening, the aspect magnificent and the memory indelible. In autumn, the spray is so great it inhibits photography while in spring the seasonal flow considerably reduces leaving large slabs of brown basalt exposed on the lip. Enjoy a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River and dinner at the hotel.
Victoria Falls Hotel
Day 10
The day is yours to spend at your leisure. Alternatively, you can enjoy a tour of the magnificent Victoria Falls or see the Falls from above on a thrilling helicopter journey. The Rovos luxury train will continue its tour in the mid-afternoon, and the rest of the day is yours to spend at your leisure as cross the Victoria Falls Bridge.
Rovos Rail Luxury Train
Day 11
Enjoy another leisurely day on the train as you travel across the Kafue Railway Bridge – a 477-metre long steel girder truss bridge of 13 spans each at 33 metres supported on concrete piers. And then the train passes through Zambia’s capital, Lusaka.
Rovos Rail Luxury Train
Day 12
Enjoy another leisurely day on the train and travel the TAZARA railway line, an engineering tour de force and one of Africa’s best-kept secrets as it passes through remote territory.
Rovos Rail Luxury Train
Day 13
After breakfast, disembark at Kasama for a bush walk at the sacred Chishimba Falls. Chisimba Falls is a series of three waterfalls named Mutumuna, Kaela and Chishimba (Chisimba), which are separated over 300m along the Luombe River. According to Bemba tradition, the nature spirit “Chishimba” lives in a cave behind the falls therefore no bad behaviour (including fights, insults and arrogance) is allowed in this area. Though the Bemba people arrived here in the 17th century, they weren’t the first as the land surrounding the falls is dotted with evidence of Iron Age activities including kilns, smelting pipes and iron ore deposits. Then, enjoy a relaxing day of luxury train tourings as Rovos continues on toward the border between Zambia and Tanzania.
Rovos Rail Luxury Train
Day 14
Arrive at Makambako and enjoy a stroll through the town (time permitting). Then the train travels towards the jungled Udzungwa Mountains and negotiates the dramatic switchbacks, viaducts and tunnels of the escarpment.
Rovos Rail Luxury Train
Day 15
After breakfast, the train descends into the highlands and traverses the fertile lands of Tanzania towards the Selous. Enjoy a game drive at the Selous Game Reserve. and then board the train for your last night’s dinner on board.
Rovos Rail Luxury Train
Day 16
After breakfast, arrive in Dar Es Salaam and end your train journey.
