On arrival into Cape Town, you’ll be met and transferred to the elegant Victoria & Alfred Hotel, your base for the next three nights.

Perfectly situated on the V&A Waterfront, the hotel is within easy reach of designer boutiques, art galleries and an array of excellent restaurants.

Take a stroll along the harbour, enjoy your first glimpse of Table Mountain, and perhaps dine al fresco beside the marina as the sun sets over the city.

Victoria & Alfred Hotel

Today is a full day to explore Cape Town, one of the world’s most scenic and diverse cities.

You may like to ride the rotating cable car to the top of Table Mountain for panoramic views, then wander through the colourful houses of Bo-Kaap and learn about its Cape Malay heritage.

History lovers might like to visit Robben Island, while those seeking relaxation can enjoy a leisurely lunch at the V&A Waterfront or a stroll along Camps Bay Beach.

In the evening, take in the city’s famous dining scene, from stylish rooftop bars to seafood restaurants overlooking the Atlantic.

Victoria & Alfred Hotel

You may choose to explore more of the city or maybe joining a brewery tour or attend a sporting event.

Alternatively, you may like to join a tour to the Cape of Good Hope. You will be driven along the dramatic coastal road along Chapman’s Peak Drive to Cape Point, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, stopping to see the penguin colony at Boulders Beach along the way.

You may prefer to head inland to the Cape Winelands to sample award-winning wines and farm-to-table cuisine in the charming towns of Stellenbosch or Franschhoek.

However you spend the day, you’ll return to Cape Town in time to enjoy a final evening overlooking the twinkling lights of the harbour.

Victoria & Alfred Hotel

This morning you will be transferred back to Cape Town Airport for your domestic flight north to Johannesburg. On arrival you will be met again and transferred to your hotel in the Pretoria.

Pretoria is South Africa’s administrative capital and is well-known for its Jacaranda tree-lined streets. You may wish to visit the Union Buildings for their sweeping views or explore the historic Church Square, admire Victorian architecture, visit the National Zoological Gardens, or just relax and enjoy this leafy city.

Sheraton Hotel

This morning, bid farewell to Pretoria as you embark on your luxurious northbound journey aboard the legendary Rovos Rail. The train travels through the historic spa town of Bela-Bela, renowned for its therapeutic mineral springs, before continuing to Modimolle where 19th-century Voortrekkers mistakenly believed they had discovered the source of the Nile River.

As the train climbs along the dramatic escarpment of Limpopo Province, sweeping panoramas unfold across the African bushveld. The journey crosses the Tropic of Capricorn, marking your passage into the subtropics, before reaching the Zimbabwean border by the evening.

Rovos Rail delivers an unparalleled five-star experience, meticulously recreating the golden age of rail travel whilst journeying through Africa’s extraordinarily diverse landscapes. The beautifully restored Edwardian-era coaches feature elegant wood panelling, plush furnishings, and period fixtures, complemented by impeccable service from attentive staff who ensure every detail of your journey exceeds expectations.

Your choice of cabin

All meals and drinks

Your luxurious Rovos Rail train crosses the Limpopo River at Beitbridge, marking your passage from South Africa into Zimbabwe. The landscape transforms as you journey northwards through Zimbabwe’s expansive bushveld towards the historic city of Bulawayo, where the train will rest overnight.

The observation car, positioned at the train’s rear, provides the perfect vantage point to watch Africa’s landscapes unfold. Enlarged windows frame the ever-changing scenery, whilst the unique open-air balcony allows you to feel the warm breeze and hear the rhythmic clickety-clack of the rails beneath you. In the elegant lounge cars, sink into deep sofas or classic wingback chairs as you mingle with fellow travellers over sundowners and savour traditional afternoon tea service.

Dining aboard Rovos Rail is a refined affair, with all guests seated in a single sitting that encourages conviviality. Each meal showcases exceptional cuisine served with impeccable silver service and complemented by carefully selected South African wines from the train’s extensive cellar.

The Rovos Rail continues along one of the world’s longest stretches of straight track, skirting the eastern boundary of the renowned Hwange National Park between Gwaai and Dete. The seemingly endless ribbon of steel stretches across the landscape, offering glimpses of the vast wilderness beyond.

This afternoon presents an unforgettable highlight of your journey, a thrilling safari drive into Hwange National Park itself. Zimbabwe’s largest wildlife reserve protects over 14,000 square kilometres of diverse habitat and supports one of Africa’s greatest concentrations of wildlife. Join expert guides in open safari vehicles as you venture deep into the park in search of its legendary residents.

Hwange is particularly famous for its remarkable elephant population, with herds sometimes numbering in the hundreds gathering at seasonal waterholes. Watch for prides of lion lounging beneath acacia trees, observe endangered African wild dogs on the hunt, and spot numerous other species including buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and an impressive variety of antelope.

You will return to the train for cocktails and evening dinner.

This morning, Rovos Rail arrives at Victoria Falls station, marking the conclusion of your memorable rail journey. Bid farewell to the train’s staff before transferring to the exclusive Elephant Camp, your luxurious home for the next three nights. This intimate tented camp sits within a private concession on the Zimbabwean bank of the Zambezi River, offering an extraordinary blend of comfort and authentic African bush experience. Settle into your spacious safari tent, elegantly furnished with colonial-style décor, en-suite facilities, and a private veranda overlooking the wilderness.

After lunch, you can enjoy your first encounter with the camp’s resident orphaned elephants during an interactive elephant experience. Learn about these magnificent creatures from expert handlers, observing their individual personalities whilst gaining insight into conservation efforts.

The afternoon concludes with sundowners as you watch the day’s golden light fade over the African landscape.

The Elephant Camp

Today centres on experiencing one of the world’s natural wonders, Victoria Falls, known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, ‘The Smoke That Thunders’. After breakfast, transfer to the falls for a guided walking tour along the network of pathways offering multiple viewpoints of this spectacular cascade.

Stand mesmerised as approximately 550 million litres of water per minute plunge over the mile-wide basalt cliff into the gorge 108 metres below, creating a permanent mist that rises hundreds of feet into the air. Your guide explains the falls’ geology, history, and the diverse ecosystem thriving in the rainforest created by perpetual spray.

This evening, embark on a leisurely sunset cruise along the upper Zambezi River. Drift past islands and channels whilst spotting hippos wallowing in the shallows, crocodiles basking on sandbanks, and elephants coming down to drink at the water’s edge. Sip sundowners as the sky transforms into brilliant oranges and purples, with the silhouettes of African wildlife completing an unforgettable scene.

The ELephant Camp

Your final full day at Elephant Camp offers flexibility to choose from various optional activities or simply relax and savour the tranquil bush setting. Rise early for an optional morning game drive or walking safari in the surrounding private reserve, where experienced guides track wildlife including buffalo, giraffe, zebra, and numerous antelope species.

Alternatively, adrenaline enthusiasts might venture out for optional adventure activities that Victoria Falls offers in abundance, white water rafting through the Batoka Gorge’s turbulent rapids, bungee jumping from the iconic Victoria Falls Bridge, or scenic helicopter flights providing aerial perspectives of the falls’ true magnitude.

Back at camp, spend leisurely hours observing the resident elephants, perhaps joining them for a bush walk or cooling riverside interaction. The afternoon might include another elephant experience, a visit to the camp’s lookout points, or simply unwinding on your tent’s veranda with a good book.

As evening approaches, gather around the campfire for pre-dinner drinks, sharing stories with fellow guests before enjoying a final gourmet dinner under the vast African night sky, serenaded by the sounds of the surrounding wilderness.

The Elephant Camp

After breakfast this morning your memorable holiday comes to an end as you are transferred to Victoria Falls Airport in time to check-in for your return journey.