ROVOS RAIL - DAR ES SALAAM TO LOBITO (ANGOLA)

15 Day Expedition traversing the African Continent between the East and West Coast connecting Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania with Lobito in Angola. Being a brand new route to Rovos Rail, this extraordinary journey has never before been traversed by a passenger train, until 2019 when Rovos Rail in its pioneering spirit has undertaken the first passenger rail trip on the copper trail from Dar Es Salaam to Lobito. The trip was a great success in both directions and now forms part of Rovos Rail's annual journeys.
Rohan Vos, owner and CEO says: “To be able to introduce a new adventure after 29 years in operation is exciting and presents me with a refreshing operational challenge. It’s taken over two years to acquire permission and have our proposed itinerary approved by the respective authorities.”
Highlights of this journey include the Selous Reserve, a fly-in two-night safari in the South Luangwa National Park (Zambia) and tour of Lubumbashi (DRC). The train then joins the Benguela line before arriving in Lobito.

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ROVOS RAIL - DAR ES SALAAM TO LOBITO JOURNEY MAP

RATES 2021
Pullman Suites: 
Per person sharing: US$ 13 200
Single person: US$ 19 065
Deluxe Suites:
Per person sharing: US$ 17 500
Single person: US$ 25 105
Royal Suites: 
Per person sharing: US$ 22 900
Single person: on request

RATES 2022
Pullman Suites: 
Per person sharing: on request
Single person: on request
Deluxe Suites:
Per person sharing: on request
Single person: on request
Royal Suites: 
Per person sharing: on request
Single person: on request

PRICE PER PERSON SHARING
Includes: Accommodation, meals, all alcoholic and other
beverages, 24-hour full room service and limited laundry while on board, the services of an on-board historian and doctor as well as excursions, govt. tax and the fly-in 2-night
safari (accommodation, meals and bottled water and a limited wine selection during meals).
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We can also assist with pre- and post departure travel services.

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.

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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DAR ES SALAAM - LOBITO
DEPARTURE DATES
2021: 13 to 27 July

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​Day 1: Depart Dar Es Salaam
12h00 The Pride of Africa departs Dar es Salaam and travels the TAZARA line.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars as the train travels the fertile lands of Tanzania towards the Selous Game Reserve.
16h30 Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Fuga Halt.

​Day 2: Selous Game Reserve
05h30 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure at 07h00.
07h00 Game visit in the Selous Game Reserve, the largest in Africa at 55 000km² (time permitting).
12h30 Return to the train.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars as the train passes the Udzungwa Mountains.
16h30 Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Mlimba.

Day 3: Makambako
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10h00. The train ascends the escarpment negotiating the dramatic switchbacks, viaducts and tunnels.
09h00 Arrive at Makambako and enjoy a stroll through the town (time permitting).
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars as the train passes Baobab forests.
16h30 Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Tunduma.

Day 4: Chisimba Falls
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10h00. Tanzanian and Zambian border formalities take place.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train travels in a southwesterly direction across Zambia.
14h30 Disembark at Kasama for an excursion to Chisimba Falls.
18h00 Depart Kasama.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Mpika.

Day 5: South Luangwa National Park
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09h30.
10h00 Disembark and transfer to Mpika Airport for a chartered flight to the South Luangwa National Park.
12h00 Transfer to respective camps. Enjoy lunch and check-in on arrival.
15h30 Afternoon game drive in the Luangwa Valley.
19h30 Dinner and overnight at camps.

Day 6: South Luangwa National Park
06h00 Wake-up call and continental breakfast.
06h30 Early morning game drive (approximately 3 hours).
10h00 Brunch is served at the lodge. Afternoon at leisure.
15h30 Afternoon game drive (approximately 3 hours).
19h30 Dinner at the lodge.

Day 7: South Luangwa National Park
Breakfast, a morning game drive (approximately 2 hours) and check-out times will be confirmed.
Transfer to the airport for the chartered flight to Ndola, Zambia.
12h00 On arrival, transfer to Ndola Station to rejoin the train.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars as the train travels towards Misundu.
15h00 Arrive at Sakania for Zambian/DRC border formalities.
16h30 Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars as the train travels through Kabemba en route to Mushoshi.

Day 8: Lubumbashi
06h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 08h00.
08h00 Enjoy a drive through Lubumbashi.
11h00 Rejoin the train and travel towards Lukuni.
13h00 Lunch served in the dining cars. The train passes Luishia, an old open-pit copper and cobalt mine.
16h30 Tea is served in the lounge and observation car.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Tenke.

​Day 9: Visit to Copper Mine
06h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure at 08h00.
08h00 Enjoy a visit to a copper mine in an area that holds one of the world’s largest known copper and cobalt resources.
10h30 Enjoy brunch at Katebi Lodge
10h00 Return to the train and depart for Kasombo.
15h30 Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Mutshatsha.

Day 10: Day on Board
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10h00.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars as the train passes Kakopa en route to Malonga.
16h30 Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car.
17h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Dilolo on the DRC/Angola Border.

Day 11: Luau Walking Tour
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10h00. Border formalities take place with Angola.
11h00 Enjoy a walking tour of Luau, the start of the Benguela line.
12h00 The train departs for Luena.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16h30 Tea is served as the train travels alongside the Kasai River. The catchment of the Kasai River encompasses a vast eco-region of 900 000km2 with an incredibly rich fish fauna. As the train passes the villages of Cassai and Cameia there is sometimes an opportunity to see the local fisherman at work.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Luena.

Day 12: Luena Walking Tour
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10h00.
10h00 Enjoy a walking tour of Luena to learn more about the recent history of Angola.
11h00 Depart for Tchicala Tcholohanga.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16h30 Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Kuito.

​Day 13: Kuito Walking Tour
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09h00.
09h00 Enjoy a stroll through the town of Kuito, built in the historical heart of the Ovimbundu kingdom.
11h00 Depart for Huambo.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16h30 Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Huambo.

Day 14: Huambo Walking Tour
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09h00.
09h00 Enjoy a walking tour of Huambo, the second largest city in Angola and one of the old kingdoms on the central plateau.
11h00 Depart for Lépi.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16h30 Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Caimbambo.

Day 15: Arrive Lobito Station
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09h30.
10h00 Arrive at journey’s end, Lobito Station, Benguela Province, Angola. Optional Extension: Rates on Reguest
14h30 Transfer to Hotel Terminus for check-in and lunch. Enjoy a city tour of Benguela. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

LOBITO - DAR ES SALAAM
DEPARTURE DATES
​2021: 30 July to 13 August

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Day 1: Depart Lobito
12h00 The Pride of Africa departs from Lobito.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars as the train travels through the Benguela province.
16h30 Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car. Afternoon lecture in the lounge car.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars as the train crosses into the Huambo province.

Day 2: Huambo Walking Tour
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09h00.
09h00 Enjoy a walking tour of Huambo, the second largest city in Angola and one of the old kingdoms on the central plateau.
12h00 Depart for Boas Agus.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16h30 Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Kuito.

Day 3: Kuito Walking Tour
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09h00.
09h00 Enjoy a stroll through the town of Kuito, built in the historical heart of the Ovimbundu kingdom.
11h00 Depart for Savinguila.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16h30 Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Luena.

Day 4: Luena Walking Tour
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09h00.
09h00 Enjoy a walking tour of Luena to learn more about the recent history of Angola.
11h00 Depart and travel towards Cameia.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars as the train travels alongside the Kasai River. The catchment of the Kasai River encompasses a vast eco-region of 900 000km2 with an incredibly rich fish fauna. As the train passes the villages of Cassai and Cameia there is sometimes an opportunity to see the local fisherman at work.
16h30 Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Luau on the Angolan border.

Day 5: Day on Board
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10h00. Border formalities take place in DRC.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars en route to Malonga.16h30 Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Malonga.

Day 6: Day on Board07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10h00 as the train travels towards Mungulunga.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars as the train passes Mutshatsha.
16h30 Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Kolwezi.

Day 7: Copper Mine Visit06h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 08h00.
08h00 Enjoy a visit to a copper mine in an area that holds one of the world’s largest known copper and cobalt resources.
10h30 Enjoy brunch at Katebi Lodge.
13h00 Return to the train and depart for Kazembe.
15h30 Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Lubumbashi.

Day 8: Lubumbashi
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10h00.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars.
15h00 Enjoy a drive through the city of Lubumbashi.
18h00 Return to the train and depart for Mushoshi.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Sakania on the DRC border.

Day 9: South Luangwa National Park
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09h30 as the train travels to Ndola. Border formalities take place.
10h00 Disembark and transfer to Ndola Airport for a chartered flight to the South Luangwa National Park.
12h00 Transfer to respective camps. Enjoy lunch and check-in on arrival.
15h30 Afternoon game drive in the Luangwa Valley.
19h30 Dinner and overnight at the camps.

Day 10: South Luangwa National Park
06h00 Wake-up call and continental breakfast.
06h30 Early morning game drive (approximately 3 hours).
10h00 Brunch is served. Afternoon at leisure.
15h30 Afternoon game drive (approximately 3 hours).
19h30 Dinner and overnight at the camps.

Day 11: South Luangwa National Park
Breakfast, a morning game drive (approximately 2 hours) and check-out times will be confirmed.
Transfer to the airport for the chartered flight to Mpika, Zambia.
12h00 On arrival, transfer to Mpika Station to rejoin the train.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars as the train travels towards Kasama.
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 en route to Kasama.

Day 12: Chisimba Falls
06h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure at 08h00.
08h00 Disembark the train at Kasama for a morning excursion to Chisimba Falls.
11h30 Depart for the border.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16h30 Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car as 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 as the train heads for Mbeya and descends into the Rift Valley.

Day 13: Makambako
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10h00.
09h00 Arrive at Makambako and enjoy a stroll through the town (time permitting).
10h30 Depart for Mlimba and the Udzungwa Mountains and negotiate the dramatic switchbacks, viaducts and tunnels towards the Selous Game Reserve.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16h30 Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Kisaki.

Day 14: Selous Game Reserve
07h00 Continental breakfast is served in the dining cars until 08:00. The train descends into the highlands and traverses the fertile lands of Tanzania towards Dar es Salaam.
10h30 Brunch is served in the dining cars until 11:45.
12h00 Game visit to the Selous Game Reserve, the largest in Africa at 55 000km2 (time permitting).
18h00 Return to the train.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Gwata.

Day 15: Arrive in Dar Es Salaam
05h45 Depart Gwata in and travel in an easterly direction towards the coast.
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09h30.
11h00 Arrive at journey’s end in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

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GALLERY