ROVOS RAIL - CAPE TOWN TO VICTORIA FALLS
"Seven day journey from the Cape of Good Hope to the 'Smoke that Thunders' (Victoria Falls).
This seven-day journey commences in Cape Town and ends at the majestic Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Travel through the spectacular mountain ranges and scenic winelands of the Cape to the haunting barrenness of the Great Karoo. Visit the historic village of Matjiesfontein. Next stop is Kimberley for a city tour and a visit to the world’s largest man-made excavation, the Big Hole, and its Diamond Mine Museum. Arrive in Pretoria for an introduction to our beautifully appointed station. Join in an optional tour of the city or have the afternoon at leisure before spending the night at your hotel.
The next day the train winds its way north through Warmbaths and Nylstroom. The train then passes the escarpment and crosses the Tropic of Capricorn en route to the border with Zimbabwe. Crossing into Zimbabwe at Beitbridge the next morning, Rovos Rail continues to the capital of Matabeleland, Bulawayo. The following day sees the train travelling along one of the world’s longest stretches of straight railway line – 114 kilometres – before traversing Hwange National Park, a rich and diverse wildlife sanctuary where animals can be spotted from the train and a game drive excursion is enjoyed. After a service stop at Thompsons Junction, the sojourn ends at the incomparable Victoria Falls on the mighty Zambezi River. The surrounding areas offer travellers many recreational opportunities including cruises, whitewater rafting as well as superb game viewing and photo safaris. Available in reverse. Depending upon railway capacity, this journey could be routed through Botswana.
This seven-day journey commences in Cape Town and ends at the majestic Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Travel through the spectacular mountain ranges and scenic winelands of the Cape to the haunting barrenness of the Great Karoo. Visit the historic village of Matjiesfontein. Next stop is Kimberley for a city tour and a visit to the world’s largest man-made excavation, the Big Hole, and its Diamond Mine Museum. Arrive in Pretoria for an introduction to our beautifully appointed station. Join in an optional tour of the city or have the afternoon at leisure before spending the night at your hotel.
The next day the train winds its way north through Warmbaths and Nylstroom. The train then passes the escarpment and crosses the Tropic of Capricorn en route to the border with Zimbabwe. Crossing into Zimbabwe at Beitbridge the next morning, Rovos Rail continues to the capital of Matabeleland, Bulawayo. The following day sees the train travelling along one of the world’s longest stretches of straight railway line – 114 kilometres – before traversing Hwange National Park, a rich and diverse wildlife sanctuary where animals can be spotted from the train and a game drive excursion is enjoyed. After a service stop at Thompsons Junction, the sojourn ends at the incomparable Victoria Falls on the mighty Zambezi River. The surrounding areas offer travellers many recreational opportunities including cruises, whitewater rafting as well as superb game viewing and photo safaris. Available in reverse. Depending upon railway capacity, this journey could be routed through Botswana.
ROVOS RAIL - CAPE TOWN TO VICTORIA FALLS ROUTE MAPS
Free Hotel Night Promotion
Book any regular Rovos Rail Journey and stay one night free in a standard room with breakfast at one of the below listed hotels:
Cape Town Hotels: Protea Hotel Sea Point, Protea Hotel Fire & Ice, Holiday Inn Express, Inn on the Square, SunSquare Cape City Bowl
Upgrade Option: Add R700 per person and stay at the 5* Cape Town Taj
Pretoria Hotels: Mont d'Or Bohemian House Pretoria, Court Classique.
Upgrade Option: Add R400 per person and stay at the 5* Castello di Monte or the Sheraton Hotel.
Cape Town Hotels: Protea Hotel Sea Point, Protea Hotel Fire & Ice, Holiday Inn Express, Inn on the Square, SunSquare Cape City Bowl
Upgrade Option: Add R700 per person and stay at the 5* Cape Town Taj
Pretoria Hotels: Mont d'Or Bohemian House Pretoria, Court Classique.
Upgrade Option: Add R400 per person and stay at the 5* Castello di Monte or the Sheraton Hotel.
Important: This promotion can not be combined with a package or other special offer / promotion and is subject to terms and availability.
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CAPE TOWN TO VICTORIA FALLS
Day 1 Monday This morning you depart from Platform 23 at Cape Town Station at 11h00. Your journey takes you towards the town of Worcester, and then onto the historic village of Matjiesfontein, with its Victorian era atmosphere. You arrive here at 18h00, and there is time for you to visit the area. Day 2 Tuesday The Train takes you further inland, to the famed town of Kimberley, where you arrive at 14h30. You are met by a bus which takes you on a fascinating tour of the Big Hole (the largest man-made excavation in the world) and the Diamond Mine Museum. Return to the train for the 16h00 departure. Enjoy some leisure time before getting ready for your sumptuous dinner at 19h30. Day 3 Wednesday Your tranquil journey continues to Pretoria, and Rovos Rail’s Capital Park Station, where you arrive at 12h00. Transfer to hotel for overnight stay. Tours of the area can be arranged on request. Overnight on a bed & breakfast basis. Day 4 Thursday 09h30 The train departs Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria. 13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars as the train travels north through Warmbaths and Nylstroom, crossing the Tropic of Capricorn. Enjoy afternoon tea and dinner en route to Messina and Beitbridge for Zimbabwe border formalities. (Breakfast 07h00-10h00 • Lunch 13h00 • Tea 16h30 • Dinner 19h30) Day 5 Friday Day at leisure. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served as the train travels towards Bulawayo via Rutenga and Somabhula. Overnight stop on board at Mpopoma. (Breakfast 07h00-10h00, Lunch 13h00, Dinner 19h30) Day 6 Saturday Breakfast is served as the train departs Mpopoma. Lunch is served whilst traveling along the eastern edge of Hwange Park along one of Africa’s longest stretches of straight railway line – 114km. Arrive Kennedy for a game drive at The Hide. Dinner is served in the dining car/s en route to Thompsons Junction for the overnight stop. (Breakfast 07h00-10h00, Lunch 13h00, Dinner 19h30) Day 7 Sunday At 07h00 the train departs Thompsons. Breakfast until 09h30. At 10h00 you will arrive in Victoria Falls. VICTORIA FALLS TO CAPE TOWN Day 1 Sunday 17h00 Depart from Victoria Falls Station, Zimbabwe. Guests may freshen up in their suites before joining fellow travelers in the lounge car or observation car at the rear of the train. 19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Malindi for overnight. Day 2 Monday 05h00 A continental breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. 06h00 Enjoy a game drive at The Hide in Hwange National Park. 12h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train travels between Dete and Gwaai along one of the world’s longest stretches of straight railway line – 114 kilometers – and passes Bulawayo: second city of Zimbabwe, capital of Matabeleland and industrial capital of the country.16h30 Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars. The train travels baobab country.19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to the border at Beitbridge. Day 3 Tuesday 07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00. The train crosses the Limpopo River to Musina. In Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories, the ‘Elephant’s Child’ departs his family for the “great grey-green, greasy Limpopo River, all set about with fever-trees, to find out what the Crocodile has for dinner.” 13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train crosses the Tropic of Capricorn. 16h30 Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars. Travel through Warmbaths (Bela-Bela) – so named for its mineral waters – and Nylstroom, christened by the Voortrekkers as the source of the Nile River as the town’s river happened to be north flowing. Pass the edge of the escarpment where the Highveld drops precipitously.19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Pyramid for overnight. Day 4 & 5 Wednesday/Thursday 07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09:30. 10h00 Arrive Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria. Transfer to Sheraton Hotel for a 2 -night stay on a B&B basis. Following day at leisure or enjoy a tour of Pretoria with lunch. NB: Some Victoria Falls to Pretoria Journeys stretch over 5 days including an additional night on the train and a visit to the Ranch Conservancy exploring the 1000ha reserve on a game drive to see animals and birds. Day 6 Friday 09h00 Transfer to the Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria. 11h00 Depart Pretoria. Travel across the goldfields of the Witwatersrand. Guests may freshen up in their suites before joining fellow travelers in the lounge car and observation car. 13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars. 16h00 Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars. 19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Kingswood. Overnight on board. Day 7 Saturday 07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00.Enjoy a tour of Kimberley’s Diamond Mine Museum and the Big Hole. Capital of the Northern Cape, Kimberley is well known for the discovery of diamonds that led to its establishment in 1871. 13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars. Travel through 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. 16h30 Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars. 19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Gemsbok. Overnight on board. Day 8 Sunday 07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00. During breakfast, there is a chance for guests to disembark the train at Whitehill Siding and walk the 5km into Matjiesfontein. A member of staff will accompany the group. Disembark at Matjiesfontein for an opportunity to stroll through the historic village. Of special interest is the museum on the platform and a collection of historic cars and railway carriages to the right of the Lord Milner Hotel.About an hour after Matjiesfontein, the train arrives at the first of four tunnels on the pass. The first tunnel is 13.5km long so guests are to be careful when walking through the train and may wish to turn on necessary lights. 13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train climbs ±750m down the escarpment through the Hex River Valley. 16h30 Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars. 18h00 The train arrives at journey’s end at Cape Town Station. Vertical Divider
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RATES OCT. 2020 - SEP. 2021*
Pullman Suites: R 53 155 p.p. Deluxe Suites: R 80 275 p.p. Royal Suites: R 107 255 p.p. RATES OCT. 2021 - SEP. 2022* Pullman Suites: R 59 850 p.p. Deluxe Suites: R 89 775 p.p. Royal Suites: R 119 700 p.p. Rates are per person sharing one way * Single supplement: +50% on all suites INCLUDED includes accommodation, meals, all alcoholic and other beverages, 24-hour full room service and limited laundry while on board the train, as well as excursions accompanied by a qualified tour guide (where applicable) and government tax. Hotel is on a B&B basis and includes transfers. DEPARTURE DATES Cape Town - Victoria Falls May 2021: 10 Jun 2021: n/a Jul 2021: n/a Aug 2021: 9 Sep 2021: 6, 13, 27 Oct 2021: 16, 25 Nov 2021: 8, 15 Dec 2021: 3, 17, 24 Jan 2022: 24, 31 Feb 2022: 7, 14, 21, 28 Mar 2022: n/a Apr 2022: n/a May 2022: n/a Jun 2022: n/a Jul 2022: n/a Aug 2022: n/a Sep 2022: 12 Victoria Falls - Cape Town May 2021: n/a Jun 2021: n/a Jul 2021: 25 Aug 2021: 15 Sep 2021: 5, 19 Oct 2021: 17, 31 Nov 2021: 21 Dec 2021: Jan 2022: 16, 23, 30 Feb 2022: 6, 20, 27 Mar 2022: 20 Apr 2022: 10, 17 May 2022: 15 Jun 2022: n/a Jul 2022: 17, 31 Aug 2022: 14 Sep 2022: n/a |
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