South African Rail Discovery Tour

Depart the UK from London Heathrow with British Airways. Connecting flights to London Heathrow from Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen or Belfast City are available at no extra cost.

Our flight arrives into Johannesburg and we transfer to the idyllic Irene Country Lodge in Pretoria. Enjoy the range of facilities available at your disposal.

Late afternoon, we transfer to Rovos Rail’s private station in Pretoria, where our splendid luxury hotel-on-wheels awaits. For the next 13 days enjoy unparalleled comfort, from each wooden-panelled and tastefully decorated suite to the gorgeous dining cars where feasts await for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. As our train departs Pretoria, dress for dinner and enjoy your first evening on board.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast as the day is ours to relax and enjoy. See the rolling hills of eMakhazeni, eNtokozweni, and Dullstroom pass by from large panoramic windows. Around lunch, the view will shift to the majesty of the Drakensberg Mountains, named for the ‘dragon spine’ that the Voortrekkers saw when gazing at these spiked, weathered peaks. The same range is referred to as uKhahlamba in isiZulu, meaning ‘barrier of spears’. Enjoy a drink in the lounge prior to dinner.

Tour Highlight

Rise for an early breakfast this morning to fuel us for our game drive in the world-renowned Kruger National Park. Established in 1898 to protect South Africa’s beautiful wildlife, the Kruger is home to 147 mammal species, 114 reptile species, 507 bird species, and 336 tree species. Visitors flock from around the globe to see the Big Five – hopefully we will have some good sightings. After lunch, we return to the train for tea in the lounge car, followed by dinner. Sink into the softness of your bed and dream of lions roaring.

This morning we complete border formalities and cross into the Kingdom of eSwatini. Completely landlocked and surrounded by South Africa, this tiny Kingdom’s beauty belies its diminutive size. Also known by its former name Swaziland, we visit the Swazi Candles Centre, followed by the ‘living’ Mantenga Cultural Village. Both attractions provide us with the opportunity to learn about the culture and heritage of eSwatini. Following lunch, we return to our train, crossing back into South Africa this afternoon.

Tour Highlight

Enjoy an early breakfast this morning before heading out for today’s adventure. We transfer to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi National Park for another game drive. Hluhluwe boasts of being the oldest reserve in Africa. Whilst far smaller than Kruger at 960km2, it is known for its rich wildlife (including the Big Five) and extensive conservation efforts. After our exciting game drive, we return to our train for lunch and travel south along the Indian Ocean coastline.

After breakfast, we head into South Africa’s third-largest city, Durban. We explore the stunning botanical gardens and enjoy lunch with panoramic views of the beachfront at nearby Umhlanga. Spot the iconic lighthouse and count the ships that dot the silver horizon, awaiting notice from the harbour. Return to the comfort of our train for afternoon tea, accompanied by the view of the aptly named Valley of a Thousand Hills, prior to dinner.

After breakfast, we travel back in time as we transfer to Spion Kop Lodge (arranged by Rovos Rail). Here we learn of the battle fought on 24th January 1900 during the Second Boer War that led to a calamitous British defeat, where Winston Churchill, Louis Botha, and Mahatma Gandhi were all present! Following lunch, choose to relax at the lodge or embark on an afternoon game drive. We return to the train late afternoon, where we can relax prior to dinner.

Today’s adventure first takes us on a drive through Golden Gate National Park. Situated in the rolling foothills of the Maluti Mountains, the park is known for its eroded sandstone cliffs and outcrops in shades of orange-hue and golden ochre. We visit the quaint town of Clarens, and continue to the Sandstone Heritage Trust, where we can view an impressive collection of heritage trains. Our train meets us at Bethlehem, where we’ve time to freshen up and maybe enjoy a pre-dinner aperitif.

This morning finds us in Bloemfontein, or as it is known by the locals ‘Bloem’, the judicial capital of South Africa. In Afrikaans, Bloemfontein translates as ‘fountain of flowers’ and we find the streets lined with thousands of rose bushes as we tour the city. As well as being the birthplace of JRR Tolkien, ‘Bloem’ is filled with history and we enjoy a visit to the highly regarded Anglo-Boer War Museum. We re-join our waiting train and begin our journey across the mesmerising Karoo, a semi-desert which was once an inland sea. Admire the unique vegetation and scattered towns dotted with the charming windmills that characterise the region. We slowly descend the Great Escarpment as we wind our way back to the coast.

Another morning, another adventure! Following breakfast, we head into the Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa’s third largest reserve. Addo stretches from the Karoo over the Zuurberg Mountains and Sundays River Valley, all the way to the coast. The park is home to one of the densest elephant populations in the world and an experience that we won’t soon forget. After our game drive, we return to the plush comforts of Rovos Rail for lunch. As the afternoon rolls by visit the train’s quaint gift shop, browse the extensive drinks offering, and enjoy your meals alongside vistas of the South African landscape.

Today, we pack an overnight bag (a tog bag will be placed in our suites for our convenience) for our stay at Fancourt Hotel & Resort (arranged by Rovos Rail). Upon arrival at Port Elizabeth, we disembark and travel via Oudebosch to Knysna on South Africa’s renowned Garden Route. At Knysna we board our waiting ferry for our tour of Knysna lagoon. View the magnificent Knysna Heads, two gargantuan sandstone cliffs that stand sentinel to the lagoon mouth. Later, we transfer to the magnificent Fancourt Hotel & Resort, perched at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains.

This morning we visit Oudtshoorn, another semi-desert region at the foothills of the imposing Swartberg Mountains. The town is regarded as the heart of the ‘Klein Karoo’ and back in the ostrich boom of the early 20th century, provided much of the world’s boas and feathered hats, adorning socialites and fashionistas alike. Following a fascinating tour of an ostrich farm our afternoon visit takes us to the ancient Cango Caves, with its massive dripstone halls and monumental limestone formations. Later we travel to Prince Albert Road Station, where our luxury train awaits to welcome us back on board for our final evening. As evening descends, don your finest attire and enjoy a final dinner with the many friends we have made on our journey together.

Our final day on board as we view the spectacular mountain ranges and the scenic winelands passing by. Early evening brings our arrival into Cape Town and we bid a fond farewell to Rovos Rail. We transfer to the hidden gem of the Camps Bay Retreat for our overnight stay.

After two weeks making memories, it is finally time to make our way back home. We head to the airport for our flight to London Heathrow.

We arrive at Heathrow in the morning with packed bags and minds full of memories of our African adventures. Those continuing to other regional UK airports will connect via London Heathrow.