Please check in at least one hour before departure. For those wishing to visit the museum or take a site tour at Rovos Rail Station, we recommend arriving two hours prior to departure. The journey begins at Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria, traveling along the eastern line toward the eMalahleni coal-mining area and Middelburg, the “stainless steel capital of Africa.” This historic route was built by the Dutch railway company NZASM between 1893 and 1895, connecting Pretoria to Lourenço Marques (now Maputo). Enjoy a delicious dinner served in the dining cars as you embark on your scenic adventure.

Please ensure the Train Manager or Administration Deputy has your passport. It will be returned to you before the end of the trip.

Your choice of cabin

Lunch, Afternoon Tea and Dinner

Enjoy the sight of the rolling hills of eMakhazeni, eNtokozweni, and Dullstroom, renowned for their exquisite trout fishing. Lunch is served in the dining cars as the train begins its descent down the stunning Drakensberg Mountain escarpment, named by the Voortrekkers for its dragon’s spine-like peaks. Enjoy dinner in the dining cars as the train continues its journey toward Malelane.

Your choice of cabin

All meals

Enjoy breakfast before a thrilling game drive in the Kruger National Park, including tea, lunch, and time for curio shopping. Afterward, return to the train for tea. Dinner is served as the train travels towards Mpaka, with border formalities en route.

The famous Kruger Park spans 2 million hectares and is renowned for its advanced environmental management, home to a vast array of wildlife, including the Big Five and over 500 bird species.

Your choice of cabin

All meals

Today transfer to Swazi Candles and Mantenga Cultural Village for a tour and lunch. Afterward, return to the train for tea in the lounge and observation cars. Dinner is served as the train heads towards Hluhluwe. The Kingdom of eSwatini, a small yet mountainous country, is home to two capital cities: Mbabane and Lobamba. At Swazi Candles, interact with artisans crafting beautiful candles, woodcarvings, textiles, and baskets. Mantenga Village offers a glimpse into traditional Swazi life from the 1800s, set against a stunning mountain backdrop.

Your choice of cabin

All meals

Transfer to Hluhluwe for a game drive in Africa’s oldest proclaimed reserve, known for its rich wildlife and conservation efforts. Spanning 960km² in central Zululand, Hluhluwe is home to all of the Big Five and is a prime birding destination. Return to the train for lunch in the dining cars as it travels south along the Indian Ocean coastline. Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars, followed by dinner en route.

Your choice of cabin

All meals

Enjoy a Durban city tour, visit the botanical gardens, and have lunch at Umhlanga’s beachfront. As South Africa’s third-largest city, Durban is a hub of industry with a major port. The train then travels through the stunning Valley of a Thousand Hills.

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All meals

Transfer to Spionkop Lodge to learn about the historic Battle of Spionkop and walk in the footsteps of Churchill and Gandhi, followed by lunch. In the afternoon, enjoy a nature drive or relax at the lodge. The Drakensberg Mountains, first named by the Voortrekkers for their dragon’s spine-like peaks, are a striking backdrop to the area.

Your choice of cabin

All meals

Breakfast is served in the dining cars before a drive through the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, famous for its golden ochre and orange-hued sandstone cliffs, especially the Brandwag Rock. Visit the picturesque town of Clarens, nestled in the Maluti Mountains, and enjoy an early lunch (own account). Afterward, transfer to the Sandstone Heritage Trust, home to a remarkable collection of heritage trains, vehicles, and military artifacts. A transfer to the train at Bethlehem follows, and it departs for Bloemfontein. The observation car will lead the train until Port Elizabeth, offering rail enthusiasts a unique view.

Your choice of cabin

All meals

Enjoy a tour of Bloemfontein, including the Women’s Memorial and the Anglo Boer War Museum, which commemorates the 27,000 women and children who perished in the concentration camps. Traverse the vast Karoo semi-desert, with its scattered towns, grasses, hardy shrubs, and succulents, before descending the Great Escarpment towards the coast.

Bloemfontein, the judicial capital of South Africa and known as the Rose City, is also the site of the historic Loch Logan Waterfront and the 2010 Soccer World Cup stadium.

Your choice of cabin

All meals

Enjoy a game drive in Addo Elephant Park, South Africa’s third-largest national reserve, which stretches from the semi-arid Karoo to the Zuurberg Mountains and the Sundays River valley. The park is home to one of the densest African elephant populations, with approximately 600 elephants. After the drive, return to the train as it departs for Port Elizabeth.

Your choice of cabin

All meals

Transfer from Port Elizabeth Station to Oudebosch Farm Stall for a refreshment stop. Afterward, enjoy a scenic transfer to Knysna for a lagoon ferry ride and lunch. Knysna, nestled between the majestic Outeniqua Mountains to the north and the Indian Ocean to the south, is renowned for the dramatic Knysna Heads, two sandstone cliffs guarding the mouth of the lagoon. The Garden Route, a narrow coastal terrace between steep cliffs and mountains, is famous for its lush, green landscapes due to the heavy rainfall in the area. Then, transfer to Fancourt for check-in. Dinner and overnight stay at Fancourt.

Please pack an overnight bag for your stay at Fancourt. Tog bags have been placed in your suites for your convenience.

Fancourt

All meals

Breakfast is served until 09:30, followed by check-out. Transfer to an ostrich farm for a visit and lunch. Next, enjoy a visit to the stunning Cango Caves, known for their colorful underground chambers and breathtaking limestone formations. Afterward, transfer to Prince Albert Rd Station, with dinner served in the dining cars en route to Matjiesfontein.

This semi-desert region lies at the foot of the majestic Swartberg mountain range, where many rivers and streams originate. Oudtshoorn, the center of the Klein Karoo, is famous for its ostrich industry and the wealth generated during the early 20th century, which led to extravagant lifestyles in this remote part of Africa.

You may call Reception to collect your bag or take it to check-out on departure.

Your choice of cabin

Breakfast

Trundle through the spectacular mountain ranges and scenic winelands of the Western Cape, heading towards the coast. Arrive at your journey’s end at Cape Town Station.

Please ensure luggage is ready for collection 15 minutes before arrival and that you have your passport

Breakfast

The Pullman Golds, mostly used on the long journeys, accommodate one or two passengers in double or split twin beds and have an en-suite with shower, toilet and basin. The Split Twin is the preferable setup between the Split Twin and Double Lengthways and will be illustrated at check-in. A dedicated host/ess is always available and services the suites daily.

The wood-panelled sleeper coaches, remodelled and refurbished to mint condition, offer every modern convenience and comfort with fittings and facilities of the highest standard. The Deluxe Suites accommodate one or two passengers in double or twin beds and have their own lounge area and en-suite with shower, toilet and basin. A dedicated host/ess is always available and services the suites daily.

The wood-panelled sleeper coaches, remodelled and refurbished to mint condition, offer every modern convenience and comfort with fittings and facilities of the highest standard. The Royal Suites each take up half a carriage with their own private lounge area and en-suite with Victorian bath, separate shower, toilet and basin. They accommodate one or two passengers in double or split twin beds. A dedicated host/ess is always available and services the suites daily.