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Grand Tour of South Africa

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You are viewing the 2024 itinerary. Select your departure year
20242025
17 days From $10,495 per person
5.0 stars(1 reviews)

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All aboard the Pride of Africa for an unforgettable journey through South Africa’s most beautiful game parks and an introduction to the beautiful region surrounding Cape Town.

Travel among a group of like-minded travelers led by a professional tour manager

Mobility Rating 2

2024 Tour code: AFJ24

About the tour

Perhaps the wildest country remaining in the modern world, Africa is the destination for this incredible journey. This tour takes us through South Africa, where wild game preserves, national parks, and grand cities can be found hand-in-hand. Arrive in Johannesburg and transfer to nearby Pretoria, where we board Africa's premier luxury train, the Pride of Africa, for a ten night excursion along the southern coastline to Cape Town.

Along the way, enjoy stops in Kruger National Park, Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Spionkop Battlefields, Addo Elephant Park and Featherbed Nature Reserve. From seeing Africa's Big Five to riding through the scenic Cape Fold Mountains while being wined and dined in pure luxury, the time on this train is truly memorable.

As we arrive in Cape Town, the lavish experience continues. We sip wine in the Franschhoek and Stellenbosch valleys, ride a cable car up Table Mountain, ferry to Robben Island and even embark on one more scenic rail adventure aboard the Flying Dutchman Funicular Railway. A South African adventure with a cosmopolitan flair, this journey cannot be beat.

*Please note the October 28 departure will run in reverse from Cape Town to Johannesburg 

Unforgettable Experiences

Pride of Africa
Pride of Africa
Explore the wilderness of Africa in the comfort of the Pride of Africa, the 'world's most luxurious train’.
Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park
Experience authentic African safari on game drives with experts to maximise your chance of spotting the ‘Big Five’.
Cape Town
Cape Town
Discover the history and culture of Cape Town on a guided tour, visiting iconic Table Mountain and Robben Island.
South Africa's Wine Region
South Africa's Wine Region
Tour the finest wine-producing of South Africa and enjoy a traditional 'boerebraai' lunch.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Johannesburg

Today you arrive in Johannesburg and transfer independently to our hotel, the 4-Star Southern Sun in Pretoria. Enjoy some time to settle in before meeting your group and Tour Manager later.

Overnight Pretoria.

Day 2 - Pride of Africa

Today we board the Pride of Africa at the Rovos Rail Station in Capital Park, Pretoria. Our nine-night journey on this truly elegant train, in luxurious air-conditioned suites, takes us across the African plains in comfort and style, with fine china, crisp linen and 5-Star service. All on-board meals and drinks are included, as are meals during off-train excursions.

Overnight train.

Day 3 - Kruger National Park

This morning we wake up early for a highlight of the tour - a game drive in Kruger National Park, the largest park in South Africa, where all of the 'Big Five' game animals can be found. Here we pursue antelope and track herds of elephant that make this huge wilderness their home - catch a glimpse of a leopard as it stalks its prey, or enjoy the thrill of viewing a lion from close range. We enjoy lunch in Kruger National Park before re-boarding the train.

Overnight train.

Day 4 – Exploring Eswatini

This morning we arrive in beautiful Swaziland where we visit the wonderful Swazi Candles. We meet talented artisans as they create a variety of candles and admire the superb basketwork, woodcarvings, and colorful textiles that are on display.

Next, we experience the fascinating Mantenga Cultural Village. Tucked away in the mountains overlooking 'Execution Rock', this village is a living museum of old traditions that represent classic Swazi life during the 1800s. We admire the authentic beehive huts and cultural displays and enjoy a delicious lunch before returning to our train.

Overnight train.

Day 5 - Hluhluwe Game Reserve

Today, aboard the Pride of Africa, we pass through Hluhluwe Game Reserve, one of the oldest of its kind in South Africa. In the afternoon, we enjoy a game drive in the park for a chance to spot some giraffes, zebras, hippopotamuses, and cape buffaloes. After re-boarding the train, we head towards Durban, passing through the incredible and verdant scenery of the St Lucia Wetlands.

Overnight train.

Day 6 – Durban sightseeing

We arrive in Durban today, an incredible city where we take a guided city tour and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. After re-joining our train, we continue through the Valley of a Thousand Hills, an area of incredible natural beauty. Situated in the Kingdom of the Zulu, the evocative name comes from the numerous hills that cascade from the sky down to the Umgeni River.

Overnight train.

Day 7 - Spionkop Battlefields

Today we tour Spionkop, or 'Spy Hill', discovering the historic battlefield site with a local expert. In January 1900, this was the sight of a bloody battle between Boer farmers and British troops, who's miscalculated tactics led to an embarrassing defeat of what, at the time, was considered to be the mightiest army in the world.

Overnight train.

Day 8 - Golden Gate National Park and Clarens

Today we drive through the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. Nestled in the foothills of the Maluti Mountains, we admire the captivating scenery and colorful sandstone formations before arriving in the charming town of Clarens. You have some time to explore and enjoy lunch in this calm and beautiful town nicknamed the 'Jewel of the Eastern Free State'.

Afterwards, we visit Sandstone Heritage Trust, a large agricultural estate with an impressive collection of heritage trains, tractors, buses, cars and military vehicles. We return to the Pride of Africa where you can enjoy the unique experience of the observation car leading the train for a while.

Overnight train.

Day 9 - The Pride of Africa

This morning we enjoy a tour of Bloemfontein, South Africa's judicial capital. Exploring this relaxed and friendly city, we visit the Women's Memorial and Anglo Boer War Museum. The rest of your day is spent relaxing on board, soaking up the passing views, and enjoying the train's wonderful facilities.

You could take your favorite book and spend the afternoon in the beautiful surroundings of the Lounge Car. Visit the Dining Car for your meals, admiring the elegant pre-1940 dining cars, with the polished wood and nostalgic Victorian atmosphere.

Overnight train.

Day 10 - Addo Elephant Park

This morning we travel to Addo Elephant Park for a game drive exploring the landscape in open vehicles. The park is inhabited not only by elephants, but by lions, leopards, cape buffalo and rhinos. We return to the train in Port Elizabeth for lunch on board. After some time at leisure this afternoon, the Pride of Africa continues to Oudtshoorn, home to the world's largest population of ostriches.

Overnight train.

Day 11 – Ostrich’s in Oudtshoorn

Oudtshoorn is known as the 'ostrich capital of the world' and today we enjoy a fascinating visit to an ostrich farm, before continuing on to George. Leaving the train, we take a short drive to Fancourt Golf Estate for dinner as we spend the night on the estate.

Overnight George.

Day 12 - Featherbed Reserve and Cape Town

This morning, we enjoy the scenic drive down the coast to Knysna, famed for its picturesque setting on the shores of a large estuary. Here we take a ferry out to the Featherbed Nature Reserve, accompanied by knowledgeable guides. Reboarding the train, we travel through the magnificent scenery on the famous 'Garden Route' to Riversdale.

Overnight train.

Day 13 – Arrival in Cape Town

Our last day on board the Pride of Africa takes us through the wild scenery of the Cape Fold Mountains. The final leg of our journey is to the beautiful city of Cape Town, set against the backdrop of Table Mountain. South Africa's cultural capital is one of the most vibrant destinations in Africa and features some incredible architecture, including the Italian Renaissance-style City Hall, completed in 1905. Here we check into the 4-Star Southern Sun The Cullinan.

Overnight Cape Town.

Day 14 - Stellenbosch Vineyards

Today we travel by coach around two of South Africa's finest wine-producing areas: the Franschhoek and Stellenbosch valleys. Here, we enjoy a delicious 'Boerebraai' lunch, a unique South African social event, where family and friends gather together to create a memorable dining experience.

Overnight Cape Town.

Day 15 - Table Mountain and Robben Island

This morning we make the cable car ascent of Table Mountain (weather dependent), to enjoy panoramic views of the city. The steep cliffs and rocky outcrops are home to a number of different animals and plants. Complimenting the vast array of flora is a stunning range of fauna, some of which, like the Table Mountain Ghost Frog, are found in no other place in the world.

Following some free time for lunch, this afternoon we then descend as we take a ferry across Table Bay for a guided tour of Robben Island (weather dependent) where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years between 1964 and 1982. Afterward, we visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed attraction to Kirstenbosch, where we enjoy a guided tour of the botanical gardens, nestled at the foot of table mountain.

Overnight Cape Town.

Day 16 – Stunning views at Cape Point

Today we journey to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope via the stunning Chapman's Peak coastal drive. At Cape Point we take the Flying Dutchman funicular railroad up to a vantage point, where we enjoy inspiring views.

Overnight Cape Town.

Day 17 - Home

Our tour concludes after breakfast and you can make your own way to the airport for your onward journey home.

Additional information

Recommended Airport

We recommend that for this tour you arrange flights to O.R.Tambo International Airport, approximately 34 miles from your base in Pretoria. Our recommended departure airport is the Cape Town International Airport, approximately 14 miles from your final base in Cape Town.

Airport transfers are not included.

Please note

Depending on the date of departure, this tour may run in reverse, with passengers flying into Cape Town and travelling to Pretoria on the Pride of Africa. Please call for more details.

Departure times

Departure times vary based on selected rail vacation. This information will be provided in your final documents. For more information please speak with your rail specialist.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular vacation with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Courtyard Arcadia

Courtyard Arcadia, Pretoria

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Southern Sun The Cullinan, Cape Town

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Train

The Pride of Africa

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Ed Lackey

5 stars

Submitted 14 Nov 2023

Trip of a lifetime !!

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