You’ll touchdown in Cape Town, South Africa’s ‘Mother City’, where you will be transferred to your chosen city centre hotel.

Spend a relaxing afternoon exploring the Victoria & Albert Waterfront, a bustling shopping and dining hub with beautiful views over the Marina.

Your chosen Cape Town hotel

You have two days at your leisure to take in all that this iconic city has to offer. Framed by striking mountains in one direction, and the ocean in the other, Cape Town is a stunning city.

You may like to take the cable car to the top of Table Mountain for spectacular views, laze around on Camps Bay, explore the colourful Bo-Kaap neighbourhood, or visit the penguins on Boulders Beach.

We can also include day tours as part of your itinerary. Just let our Africa Experts know what you’d like to do. A guided city tour offers a great introduction as you’ll visit historical landmarks, attend a diamond cutting workshop and admire the views from the top of Table Mountain. Embark on a moving visit to Robben Island, discovering the prison where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated.

Your chosen Cape Town hotel

Breakfast

Head to the station this morning, where your 1,600 kilometre luxury rail journey journey will begin. With four days on board Rovos Rail, unwind in your luxurious cabin, enjoy the slower pace of travel, soak in incredible views and indulge in fine dining.

Today, you’ll pass through the Western Cape’s spectacular mountain ranges and lush vineyards, and climb up through the escarpments of the Hex River Valley.

Your choice of Rovos Rail cabin

Afternoon tea and dinner

This morning, you’ll disembark from the train in historic Matjiesfontein. Wander through the quaint village with historic buildings including the Lord Milner Hotel. There is also a museum on the platform with a collection of historic cars and railway carriages.

Your rail journey continues through the vast and barren but beautiful Great Karoo, a semi-desert region that was once an enormous inland sea. Soak in the scenery and enjoy the elegant lounge carriage on board.

Your choice of Rovos Rail cabin

Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner

You’ll head to Kimberley this morning, the capital of the Northern Cape, established thanks to the 1871 discovery of diamonds in the area. You will disembark to explore the Diamond Mine Museum and the Big Hole, one of the world’s largest man-made excavations.

Lunch is served as the train continues north-east towards Klerksdorp and the Highveld’s broad grassland plains, that were once the centre of South Africa’s goldrush.

Your choice of Rovos Rail cabin

Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner

Your journey comes to an end this morning in Pretoria. The city is one of the country’s three capitals and it’s affectionately known as the Jacaranda City after its colourful trees.

Due to ongoing work on on the railway line into Pretoria, passengers will disembark the train at Kookrus and then transfer by bus to the Rovos station in Pretoria.

Your chosen Sandton hotel

Breakfast

Enjoy a relaxed Christmas Day. You’ll no doubt find fellow cricket fans in the bars and restaurants in Nelson Mandela Square or the nearby district of Melrose Arch, or trying their luck in Montecasino!

Your chosen Sandton hotel

Breakfast

Game on! The second South Africa v England Test is being held at Centurion Park (also known as SuperSport Park) in Pretoria’s southern suburbs.

You will have a reserved seat for all 5 days, so not to miss any of the action. Centurion Park holds around 20,000 spectators, and is known for its fun and friendly atmosphere (scoreboard depending!).

In the evenings, you can relive Root’s reverse ramps back in the bars and restaurants of Pretoria.

Your chosen Sandton hotel

Breakfast

After a fantastic South Africa cricket holiday, you will be transferred to Johannesburg airport for your flight home.

If you’d like to extend your holiday with a safari or additional destinations, our Africa Experts would be delighted to help you create a bespoke itinerary. Just let us know what you’d like to do.

Breakfast

Sabi Sands is a private reserve that shares a 50 km unfenced border with Kruger National Park and arguably offers the best wildlife viewing in South Africa. With three nights in the reserve, you’ll have a fantastic opportunity to see the ‘Big 5’ on morning and evening game drives, with the chance to observe the behaviour of leopards in their natural environment a highlight of many safari-goers stay.

Your stay at Arathusa Safari Lodge is all-inclusive. It’s a truly wonderful property, built from natural materials, designed to blend into the surrounding bush. All 12 suites are air-conditioned and have a private balconies and outdoor shower. There is also a infinity pool by the main bar, perfect for sundowners.

Arathusa Safari Lodge

Breakfast, lunch and dinner