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Rovos Rail - Dar es Salaam - Cape Town

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16 days From $13,600 per person
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Board Rovos Rail for the world-famous journey through Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa.

Travel on your own following a well-planned itinerary

2024 Tour code: RR-DSCS-24

About the tour

This epic 16-day rail journey aboard Rovos Rail travels through Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa and is one of the most famous train journeys in the world. Your sojourn begins in Dar es Salaam and travels into the Selous Game Reserve, the largest on the continent and a vision of timeless Africa. Descend into the Rift Valley and witness spectacular scenery as the train negotiates the tunnels, switchbacks and viaducts of the escarpment. After passing the Tanzania/Zambia border - almost the midpoint between Africa's two Great Rift Valley lakes - guests can enjoy a bush walk at Chisimba Falls before crossing the mighty Zambezi for an overnight stay at the colonial Victoria Falls Hotel. Continue south through Botswana to the Madikwe Game Reserve for two nights before crossing the border into South Africa. Enjoy tours of Pretoria, the diamond-mining town of Kimberley and the historic village of Matjiesfontein before traveling the winelands to your journey's end in Cape Town.

*Please note tour can be taken in reverse from Cape Town to Dar Es Salaam

Highlights

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Depart Tazara Station

12:00 pm The Pride of Africa departs Dar es Salaam and travels the Tazara line. During the late afternoon the train passes through the Selous Game Reserve - the largest in Africa at 55,000 square kilometers. For a few hours wild animals can be seen from the train. Overnight on board en route to Mimba. 

Includes
  • Lunch, Dinner
Day 2 - Selous Game Reserve

Visit the Selous Game Reserve, one of the world's largest game reserves. Later, descend into the Udzungwa Mountains and Rift Valley. Overnight train.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 - Makambako

The train travels the Rift Valley to Makambako. Enjoy a stroll in Makambako before the train travels via Mbeya to Tunduma by train. Overnight train.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 - Chisimba Falls

Descend from the highland valley of Mbeya to the Tanzanian and Zambian border. Disembark at Kasama for an afternoon excursion at Chisimba Falls. Chisimba Falls is believed to be a sacred place of power by the Bemba people. The nature spirit of Chisimba is said to live in the cave under the falls. Overnight train. 

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - Traverse Zambia by Train

Traverse Zambia en route through Kapiri Mposhi to Ngwerere. The day is at leisure on the train with optional lectures by the on-board historian. Overnight train. 

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 - Lusaka to Zimbabwe

Travel through Lusaka, one of the fastest growing cities in South Africa, to Zimbabwe via the Kafue Bridge. Take some time to relax in the lounge car. With its deep cushioned couches and wingback chairs, it's the perfect place to relax with your fellow travelers. Overnight train.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 - Victoria Falls

Arrive at Livingstone then cross the bridge to Victoria Falls and transfer to the Victoria Falls Hotel. This evening enjoy a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, the fourth longest river in Africa, followed by dinner. Overnight Victoria Falls.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 - Victoria Falls

Day at leisure for activities such as a tour of the Falls, a golf game, a helicopter ride, a walk with the lions or river rafting. Transfer to the rail station and depart at 4:00 pm, traveling southeast along the edge of Hwange National Park to Bulawayo. Overnight train.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 - Onboard Rovos Rail

Cross the Tropic of Capricorn en route to Gaborone, Botswana. Enjoy a leisurely day aboard the train. Overnight train.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 - Madikwe Game Reserve

Arrive in Gaborone at 10:00 am and transfer, with border formalities en route, to the Tau Lodge in the Madikwe Game Reserve for a full-board two-night stay. The Madikwe Reserve is home to what is known to the "Big Five," lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and cape buffalo. This afternoon enjoy your first game drive. Overnight Madikwe Game Reserve. 

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 - Madikwe

Begin the day with an early morning game drive and then proceed on another in the afternoon, along with other guest activities. Overnight Madikwe Game Reserve. 

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 - Magaliesberg

Embark on an early morning game drive. After breakfast transfer to the train at Zeerust and depart for Pretoria at 1:00 pm. Overnight Train. 

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13 - Pretoria

Arrive in Pretoria at 10:00 am and embark on a city tour followed by a platform lunch at the Rovos Rail Station. Depart at 3:00 pm for Kimberley. Overnight train. 

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14 - Kimberley

Arrive in Kimberley at 10:00 am and set off on a tour of the Big Hole and visit the Diamond Mine Museum. This unique museum is meant to take visitors back to Victorian Kimberley, with unique shops, taverns and a transport hall that houses displays of uncut diamonds, precious stones and jewelry. This afternoon, depart Kimberley and proceed overnight via De Aar and Beaufort West to Matjiesfontein. Overnight train.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15 - Matjiesfontein

Arrive in the historic Matjiesfontein at 8:30 am with time to explore this perfectly-preserved railway village. Continue your onward journey towards Cape Town with the train passing through four tunnels and descending around 750m down an escaprment to the Hex River Valley. Overnight train.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 16 - Arrival into Cape Town

Breakfast is served on board as you make your way into Cape Town station where your African adventure ends and you are free to carry on your journey.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Please note

This trip is also offered in reverse, with the post-train portion as a pre-train. Travel and cancellation insurance is compulsory. A valid passport is required for this trip. Visas may also be required. Please check with relevant embassies or consulates. Rate is subject to change.

Wait list available for sold out departures and additional departures. Speak with a rail specialist for details.

Pricing Plans

Pullman Suites
The Pullman Suites are equipped with a comfortable sofa-seat during the day with a conversion to double or twin beds for the evening, and also have an en-suite bathroom with shower. The wood-paneled rebuilt sleeper coaches, remodeled and refurbished to mint condition, offer every modern convenience and comfort. In the en-suite bathrooms, original fittings combine with the modern technology of hot showers, hair dryers and shaver plugs. The spacious suites offer passengers the opportunity to travel in privacy, comfort and luxury, with fittings and facilities that are of the highest standard. All are equipped with a writing surface and a personal safe for valuables. There is also a bar fridge filled with beverages of the passengers' choice and room service is available 24 hours a day.

Deluxe Suites
The Deluxe Suites accommodate two passengers in either twin or double beds and have a lounge area and en-suite bathroom with shower. The wood-paneled rebuilt sleeper coaches, remodeled and refurbished to mint condition, offer every modern convenience and comfort. In the en-suite bathrooms, original fittings combine with the modern technology of hot showers, hair dryers and shaver plugs. The spacious suites offer passengers the opportunity to travel in privacy, comfort and luxury, with fittings and facilities that are of the highest standard. All are equipped with a writing surface and a personal safe for valuables. There is also a bar fridge filled with beverages of the passengers' choice and room service is available 24 hours a day.

Royal Suites
The Royal Suites, each of which take up half a carriage. Each has its own private lounge area and full bathroom with Victorian bath and separate shower. The epitome of luxury with handsome wood paneling and period Edwardian features, the air-conditioned suites accommodate two people offering the option of side-by-side twin or spacious double beds. In the en-suite bathrooms, original fittings combine with the modern technology of hot showers, hair dryers and shaver plugs. The very spacious suites offer passengers the opportunity to travel in privacy, comfort and luxury, with fittings and facilities that are of the highest standard. All are equipped with a writing surface and a personal safe for valuables. There is also a bar fridge filled with beverages of the passengers' choice and room service is available 24 hours a day.

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.

Hotel

TAU Game Lodge, Madikwe Game Reserve

TAU Game Lodge, Madikwe Game Reserve

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Train

The Pride of Africa

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