16h30 – Check-in at Rovos Rail Lounge. (D)
18h00 – Depart Cape Town Station. Guests may freshen up in their cabins before joining fellow travellers in the lounge car or observation car. The train travels towards Worcester in the Hex River Valley.
19h30 – Dinner will be served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal
07h00 – Breakfast is served in the dining car un till 10h00. If you wish, you can disembark at Matjiesfontein for an opportunity to stroll through this historic little village. (BLD)
10h00 – The train traverses the Karoo, a vast semi-desert region that was once an enormous inland sea. Over millions of years, volcanic matter was ground down and deposited as silt upon the seabed to form what geologists call the Karoo system.
13h00 – Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16h30 – Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19h30 – Dinner is served in the dining cars. Travel through the Karoo via De Aar towards Kimberley. Dress: Formal.
Day 3 - Luxury Train Journey
07h00 – Breakfast is served until 10h00. (BLD)
12h30 – Lunch is served in the dining cars. Enjoy a tour of Kimberley’s Big Hole and Diamond Mine Museum. Capital of the Northern Cape, Kimberley is well known for the discovery of diamonds in 1871.
16h30 – Afternoon tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19h30 – Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal.
Day 4 - Luxury Train Journey
07h00 – Breakfast is served in the dining cars. The train travels northeast through the goldfields. (BLD)
08h30 – Transfer to Pretoria for a city tour followed by lunch on the Rovos Rail Station platform. Enjoy a walking tour of the station and locomotive workshops (weather permitting). Return to the train.
19h30 – Dinner is served in the dining cars enroute to Zeerust. Dress: Formal
Day 5 - Luxury Train Journey
Please pack a small overnight bag for the stay in Madikwe. Tog bags have been placed in your suite for your convenience. See Inclusions/Exclusions. Spa facilities available (own account). Payment in ZAR or by credit card only. Times of meals and activities are seasonal and will be reconfirmed on arrival.
07h00 – Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10h00. (BLD)
11h00 – Disembark at Zeerust. Transfer by coach to Madikwe for a two-night stay. Lunch is served upon arrival.
Afternoon tea and game drive (approximately 3 hours).
19h00 – Dinner at the lodge. Dress: Casual.
Accommodation: 2 nights Tau Game Lodge (or similar).
Tau is a South African luxury safari lodge situated on the far northern border of South Africa, in malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve, the 4th largest game reserve in the country. Tau Game Lodge can accommodate 60 people in 30 luxury thatched chalets. Furnishings and décor of Tau Game Lodge are Africa-inspired. Each chalet has air-conditioning and ceiling fans, ensuite bathroom, open-air shower and viewing deck.
Day 6 - Luxury Train Journey
Enjoy an early morning game drive, afternoon game drive and other guest activities. Overnight at the lodge. Dress: Casual. (BLD)
Day 7 - Luxury Train Journey
Early morning game drive (approximately 2 hours).
07h00 – Breakfast is served at the lodge until 09h30. Please ensure your bags are ready for collection at 10h00 and proceed to check-out. (BLD)
10h30 – Depart the lodge. Transfer to the train at Gaborone in Botswana. Border formalities will take place enroute and guests are required to present themselves to the border officials (luggage may be searched).
13h00 – Lunch is served in the dining cars. Depart Gaborone at 13h30.
Please ensure the Train Manager/Gift Shop is in possession of your passport and completed forms.
Victoria Falls: It is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the list of activities available (at own expense): Tour of Falls; helicopter
over Falls; whitewater rafting; bungee-jumping; golf. You may book these excursions yourself at the hotel OR beforehand on the train with the onboard lecturer – today between 16h30-18h00. Cash accepted.
16h30 – Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car at the rear of the train.
19h30 – Dinner is served in the dining cars enroute to Plumtree for border formalities. Dress: Formal.
Day 8 - Luxury Train Journey
Victoria Falls: If you have decided to book activities through the onboard lecturer, please ensure you have done so before lunch. Cash accepted.
Lectures in morning and/or afternoon in the lounge car. Please consult Lecture Sheet for details.
07h00 – Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10h00. The train departs Plumtree.
13h00 – Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16h30 – Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car at the rear of the train. Pass Gwaai and Dete along one of Africa’s longest stretches of straight railway line – 114 kilometres – and along the eastern edge of the Hwange National Park where occasional sightings of animals can occur.
19h30 – Dinner is served in the dining cars enroute to Thompson’s Junction. Dress: Formal.
Day 9 - Luxury Train Journey
Please pack a small overnight bag for the stay at Victoria Falls Hotel. See Inclusions/Exclusions. Meals are taken at the Jungle Junction Restaurant. Dinner is at the Livingstone Room. Meals taken in other venues are for your own account. Currency exchange available at hotel (passports not required); there is a business centre and Wi-Fi available throughout. If you are crossing the border into Zambia during your stay, please obtain your passport from the Train Manager/Gift Shop.
07h00 – Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10h00. (BLD)
12h00 – Arrive at the incomparable Victoria Falls. Disembark with overnight bag and walk across to the hotel. Welcome address on the lawn followed by lunch at Jungle Junction. Luggage will be delivered to the rooms.
15h45 – Guests to meet in the hotel foyer before departure for the Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi River.
19h30 – Dinner at the Livingstone Room, Victoria Falls Hotel. Dress: Smart Casual.
Accommodation: 1 night Victoria Falls Hotel.
One of the most popular hotels in town is the Victoria Falls Hotel. This is one hotel which can truly claim to be unique. For almost 100 years, visiting members of Royal families, international and local statesmen, and celebrities worldwide have stayed at the hotel. This hotel boasts an atmosphere steeped in history, combining the charm of the old with the comfort and convenience of today.
Accommodation includes 181 rooms and suites. The suites and rooms are all well appointed, cool and comfortable; furnished in traditional Edwardian style, all air-conditioned with every modern amenity, including satellite TV, personal safe, bathrobes and umbrellas for personal use when visiting the Falls (the spray is like rain). The hotel also has its own private pathway directly to the Falls, which are less than a 10-minute walk away.
Day 10 - Luxury Train Journey
Check-out time is normally at 10h00 (to be advised). If you have organised morning activities, please ensure you have checked out. Complimentary luggage storage at reception until afternoon departure. Please call the front desk and they will send a porter to collect your luggage.
06h30 – Breakfast is served at the Jungle Junction Restaurant until 10h00. Day at leisure in the Victoria Falls. (BLD)
13h00 – Lunch at Jungle Junction.
15h00 – Meet on station platform for departure to Zambia.
16h00 – Depart Victoria Falls and cross the bridge to Livingstone. Tea in the lounge car or observation car.
19h30 – Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal
Please ensure the Train Manager/Gift Shop has your passport for border formalities.
Day 11 - Luxury Train Journey
Lectures in morning and/or afternoon in the lounge car. Please consult Lecture Sheet for details.
07h00 – Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10h00. After breakfast, the train travels across the Kafue railway bridge – a 477-metre long steel girder truss bridge of 13 spans each at 33 metres supported on concrete piers. (BLD)
Enjoy a day at leisure on the train as it travels through Zambia.
13h00 – Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train passes through the country’s capital, Lusaka.
16h30 – Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car at the rear of the train.
19h30 – Dinner enroute to Kapiri Mposhi and the start of the TAZARA railway line. Dress: “African” Theme or Smart Casual.
Day 12 - Luxury Train Journey
Lectures in morning and/or afternoon in the lounge car. Please consult Lecture Sheet for details.
07h00 – Breakfast is served until 10h00. The train passes through Serenje. Enjoy a day at leisure on the train. (BLD)
13h00 – Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16h30 – Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car at the rear of the train.
19h30 – Dinner is served in the dining cars enroute to Kasama. Dress: Formal.
Day 13 - Luxury Train Journey
06h00 – Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. (BLD)
08h00 – Disembark the train at Kasama for a morning excursion to Chisimba Falls.
11h00 – Depart Kasama. Travel towards the border.
13h00 – Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16h30 – Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car. The train passes Chozi.
17h40 – Arrive in Nakonde for Zambian border formalities. Continue to Tunduma on the Tanzanian border.
19h30 – Dinner is served in the dining cars enroute to Mbeya. Dress: Formal.
Please put your watches forward an hour before retiring for the evening.
Day 14 - Luxury Train Journey
Lectures in morning and/or afternoon in the lounge car. Please consult Lecture Sheet for details.
07h00 – Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10h00. (BLD)
09h00 – Arrive at Makambako and enjoy an optional stroll through the town – time permitting.
10h30 – Depart and travel towards Mlimba. The train descends into the Rift Valley and through the Udzungwa Mountains as it negotiates the tunnels, switchbacks and viaducts of the escarpment towards the Selous.
13h00 – Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16h30 – Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car at the rear of the train.
19h30 – Dinner is served in the dining cars enroute to Kisaki. Dress: Formal.
Day 15 - Luxury Train Journey
Lectures in morning and/or afternoon in the lounge car. Please consult Lecture Sheet for details.
07h00 – Continental breakfast is served in the lounge and observation cars until 08h30. (BLD)
The train descends into the highlands and traverses the fertile lands of Tanzania towards Dar es Salaam.
09h30 – Brunch is served in the dining cars until 12h00.
12h30 – Game visit in the Selous Game Reserve, the largest in Africa at 55 000km² (time permitting).
17h00 – Rejoin to the train.
19h30 – Dinner is served in the dining cars enroute to Gwata. Dress: “1920s” Theme or Smart Casual.
Day 16 - End of Rovos Rail Cape Town to Dar es Salaam
Please ensure that you have obtained your passport from the Train Manager/Gift Shop.
05h45 – Depart Gwata in and travel in an easterly direction towards the coast. (B)
07h00 – Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09h30.
11h00 – Arrive at journey’s end in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.