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This extravagantly luxurious 7-day steam train rail journey begins in the bustling city of Cape Town, traverses a variety of diverse regions across South Africa, and ends in the wonderfully warm seaside city of Durban.
En route you will travel through the picturesque Cape Winelands, the spectacularly scenic semi-desert Great Karoo region, and the lush subtropical Valley of a Thousand Hills. Enjoy many stops along the way including a visit to the quaint historic village of Matjiesfontein; a tour of the world’s largest man-made excavation in Kimberley; and a leisurely one-night stop-over at an exclusive hotel in the city of Pretoria. Other highlights include a visit to the Ardmore Ceramics Centre in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains and a thrilling safari adventure in the Nambiti Conservancy, an impressive private game reserve, inhabited by the Big-Five as well as over forty other species of game. The journey ends in the seaside town of Durban, known for its sub-tropical climate, decadent cuisine, and stunning beaches.
Once you have settled into your private coach on the Pride of Africa, one of Rovos Rail’s classic luxury trains, you will begin your journey through the lush mountains and valleys of the famously scenic Cape Winelands region towards Worcester.
Accommodation: Rovos Rail
The train continues its journey to the strikingly beautiful Great Karoo desert. It is here that the train makes its first stop at the delightful little village of Matjiesfontein, known for its beautifully-restored Victorian architecture and its array of charming tourist sights. These attractions include the Transport Museum, showcasing an impressive array of vintage cars and the Marie Rawdon Museum, containing an astonishing collection of Victoriana, which provides a fascinating glimpse into life at this old colonial outpost in the late 1800s.
Accommodation: Rovos Rail
Arrive in Kimberley, a historic mining town renowned for being the site of the world’s largest man-made excavation known as ‘The Big Hole’. The train makes a stop here for guests to enjoy a tour of this enormous hole as well as the Kimberley Mine Museum, featuring a variety of large-scale dioramas and exhibits including a recreation of a nineteenth-century mine shaft and a large vault full of real diamonds. After departing from Kimberley, guests can take in the view of a shallow lake on the left-hand side, which is regularly inhabited by incredibly large flocks of up to 23,000 flamingos. You will then travel through the Highveld region on your way to South Africa’s administrative capital, the city of Pretoria.
Accommodation: Rovos Rail
Upon your arrival at the Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria, you will be transported to the Sheraton Hotel. Guests will be treated to a leisurely one-night stay in this luxurious hotel, which serves as an excellent base. Enjoy a tour of Pretoria with lunch included.
Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel
In the morning, guests will be transported back to the Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria, where the train will set off towards the breathtakingly beautiful Drakensberg Mountains. In the afternoon the train climbs Majuba Hill, the site of a battle in which the Boers of the Transvaal regained their independence from the British during the First Boer War. The train then heads to Elandslaagte a farming and coal-mining center, known as the scene of the Battle of Elandslaagte, one of the first battles of the Second Boer War in 1899.
Accommodation: Rovos Rail
The sixth day of your journey starts with an early wake-up call followed by some tea, coffee, juice and pastries served in the train’s dining car. Guests will then embark on an exhilarating game drive in the Nambiti Conservancy, a private game reserve set on 20,000 acres of malaria-free bushveld in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province. This impressive expanse of wilderness is inhabited by the ‘Big Five’ - elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and wildebeest - as well as over forty other species of game including cheetah, giraffe, hippo, hyena, impala, eland and zebra.
Accommodation: Rovos Rail
In the morning, the train descends the escarpment en route to Lions River, a tiny village in the center of KwaZulu-Natal’s extraordinarily scenic Midlands area. Upon arrival at the Lions River Station, guests will disembark and head for the Ardmore Ceramics Centre, a renowned pottery studio and gallery set on a beautiful farm in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains. You will then return to the train which will set off at noon to travel through the spectacular Valley of a Thousand Hills, before arriving at your journey’s end in the sunny seaside city of Durban.
On your arrival in Durban, you will connect with your onward travel arrangements.
September 17, 2024
Thanks to Keith!
Keith was prompt, thorough and efficient. He was available as and when needed, answering all the questions I had, and guiding us along the way.
September 8, 2024
Keith went above and beyond…
Keith went above and beyond expectations arranging our holiday safari travels (for one vegan and one mobility-impaired traveller, no less:-). Safari.com is lucky to have Keith on board. He helped us feel confident in our choices, keeping us up to date with options, and finessing holiday scheduling issues with aplomb.
August 17, 2024
Keith from Safari.com has made the…
Keith from Safari.com has made the process of booking a safari incredibly easy. He also has gone beyond and above to cater to my needs
Sep 17, 2024
Thanks to Keith!
Keith was prompt, thorough and efficient. He was available as and when needed, answering all the questions I had, and guiding us along the way.
Sep 17, 2024
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We have completed the preliminary reservations with this amazing travel firm. Thank God they exist! We would never have been able to figure out how to put the pieces of our trip to AFRICA together without them. They are patient, caring, detailed, and responsive to communications…something you expect, but do not always receive when service is involved. Connect with them via email if you are even thinking about going to Africa. Cheers!
Sep 16, 2024
First time to Cape Town
We are a group of ten friends traveling together to Cape Town for the first time. Safari.com was our top choice for travel agents. Leché and Tracy were incredibly helpful and prompt with our questions and bookings. The trip to Sanbona Wildlife Reserve was fantastic, and everything went off without a hitch. We highly recommend Safari.com for your safari plans!
Sep 15, 2024
Very responsive
Very responsive, I sent an email and got a response almost immediately (I checked it’s like 11pm their time…on a Sunday)
Sep 15, 2024
Shann was amazingly helpful
Shann was amazingly helpful! After spending several days online on our own trying to find good accommodation or even available rooms and lodges, we reached out to safari and to shann, who set us up in record time with a beautiful destination, flights and transfers. I absolutely recommend this dite and the incredible service
Sep 15, 2024
Safari booking
Fadiel was very prompt in responding to my emails. Despite a double booking for our Safari - not his fault - everything worked out well in the end.
Sep 14, 2024
Sara Van Coillie
Sara Van Coillie, representing Safari.com, has gone above and beyond in assisting with a custom booking for an African safari experience I wanted arranged for my colleagues visiting Namibia for the first time. I highly recommend reaching out to her—she’s a true champion! It’s been a pleasure working with her.
Sep 14, 2024
Had such an amazing experience working…
Had such an amazing experience working with Leigh-Ann. She was able to get me everything I wanted at the price I wanted. Could not recommend more.
Sep 13, 2024
Sara curated a trip of a lifetime
Sara curated a trip of a lifetime. Met all our requirements and exceeded our expectations all within our budget!