Cape Town | Pretoria
Experience the golden era of travel on the beautifully restored and all inclusive Rovos Rail as you travel between Cape Town and Pretoria.
Highlights:
Rovos Rail offers a five star experience on rails, capturing the elegance and atmosphere of a bygone era as you travel through Africa’s diverse landscapes. The classic wood panelled coaches offer period charm, accompanied by attentive and friendly service.
The observation car is located at the end of the train and offers a relaxing place to enjoy the views from its enlarged windows and unique open-air balcony. In the lounge, deep sofas and wingback chairs offer a comfortable place to catch up with fellow guests over a drink and enjoy afternoon tea.
Meals are served in one seating and are an occasion in their own right with silver service and fine cuisine, accompanied by outstanding South African wines. During the day the dress code is smart-casual, whilst dinner is the time to dress to impress with more formal attire.
Your 1,600 kilometre journey commences this afternoon from Cape Town, a city cradled by the iconic Table Mountain. The journey continues through spectacular mountain ranges and lush vineyards of the Western Cape. Passing through Worcester in the Hex River Valley, the train climbs over 750 metres up the face of the escarpment, before passing through a series of tunnels on the pass, the last being an impressive 13 kilometres long.
After breakfast, arrive in the historic village of Matjiesfontein where there is an opportunity to take a stroll 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.
Continue through the stark and barren beauty of the Great Karoo, a semi-desert region that was once an enormous inland sea. Enjoy the company of your fellow guests amidst the elegant surrounding of your Rovos Rail train.
This morning, arrive at Kimberley where you will enjoy a visit to the Diamond Mine Museum and the Big Hole. Capital of the Northern Cape, the town is well known for the discovery of diamonds that led to its establishment in 1871. The Big Hole to this day remains as one of the world’s largest man-made excavations.
Lunch is served as the train continues north-east towards klerksdorp and the broad grassland plains of the Highveld that were once the centre of South Africa’s goldrush.
Your journey comes to an end this morning in Pretoria at Rovos Rails’ own station. The city of Pretoria is one of the country’s three capital cities and 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.
Rovos offers a choice of three elegantly styled cabin types, each with air conditioning, en suite shower and a safe.
Pullman Suites
Deluxe Suites
Upgrade to a Deluxe Suite from £679
Royal Suites
Upgrade to a Royal Suite from £1369
Prices are per person based on two people sharing a cabin. Depending on rail traffic, this journey may need to re-route.
First class service and spectacular scenery has made Rovos Rail one of the world’s greatest rail journeys.
Your Rovos Rail experience includes:
All Rovos Rail train routes can be booked as they are or added into a longer South Africa holiday.
CAPE TOWN TO PRETORIA
Departs Mondays and Saturdays at 16:00
Arrives Thursday and Tuesdays at 10:00
PRETORIA TO CAPE TOWN
Departs Tuesdays and Fridays at 11.00
Arrives Fridays and Mondays at 10.00
