Pretoria - Maputo - Hluhluwe - Durban - Graaf Reinet - Oudtshoorn - Knysna - Cape Town

Rovos Rail has introduced a new annual journey, starting 31^st May 2001. This perfect 8-day sojourn commences at the gracious Rovos Rail Station Capital Park in Pretoria. The first leg of the journey takes our passengers through Witbank and Middleburg and then traverses the majestic Drakensberg escarpment en route to Mpumalanga and the Lowveld. A new day takes the Pride of Africa slowly through the bush to Maputo and after a short visit the train winds its way southwards through Swaziland to the famous game reserve of Hluhluwe in KwaZulu Natal. Following the early morning game drive, our passengers have the opportunity of visiting the historically famous area of St Lucia and Shakaskraal. 

The Train, after an evening in Durban, steadily ascends the scenic escarpment through Pietermaritzburg and The Valley of a Thousand Hills en route to Ladysmith and Bethlehem. This route takes our Train past Lesotho and the highest mountains in the Drakensberg range at 3,482 metres (11 425 feet). During the night we pass through Bloemfontein, the Freestate capital, and amble southwards reaching Graaff-Reinet in the late afternoon. This historic village was established in 1786 and is famous for its architectural heritage. 

Early morning departure from Willowmore takes the Pride of Africa into Oudtshoorn for a visit to the Highgate Ostrich farm followed by another spectacular rail descent down the Outeniqua pass into George. A morning visit to Knysna and the surrounding attractions will complete the visit to this natural Paradise. The Train sets off at midday from George travelling along the scenic Garden Route through Mossel Bay and Riversdale. The next morning, after a short visit to the KWV Brandy Distillery in Worcester, the Pride of Africa ends its magnificent collage in the Mother City of Cape Town.

Another noteworthy annual safari undertaken by the Pride of Africa, is the journey to Swakopmund in Namibia. Once known as (German) South West Africa, in 1990 Namibia became independent of South Africa. With a population of 1,6 Million, Namibia is a country of two deserts - the Kalahari and the Namib. Only the occasional dry, dusty town interrupts the stark desert beauty with its exquisite sunrises and sunsets.

Swakopmund is a gem. It is a perfectly preserved nineteenth century German Hansa town, picked up from the Baltic and set down in the desert of Africa. A truly remarkable sight.

 En route, the Pride of Africa will pass through Kimberley, the City of Diamonds and Head Office of De Beers. This will allow the guests the opportunity of visiting the 'Big Hole' and experiencing at first hand the atmosphere of the diamond diggings in the 1870's. Another town of note is Upington, where the train will cross the fine broad railway bridge (1067m) which spans the Orange River and from where one can see the palm trees (believed planted as seeds by the British soldiers during the Anglo-Boer War, 1899-1902) standing in long rows like soldiers. A frontier oasis known for its intense heat and as the refuge of outlaws in the old days, Upington today is a rich agricultural area based upon extensive irrigation from the Orange River. From here the passengers will disembark for a visit to the Augrabies Falls. Considered one of the six great waterfalls in the world, every minute 400 Million litres of water forces its way through a narrow gorge dropping 256 metres.

The most frequently traveled of Rovos Rail's routes  travels the intriguing and varied 1600 kms though the heart of the country to Cape Town. The South-African landscape changes dramatically from vast grasslands and the arid bush of the Karoo to majestic mountains and vineyards.

Travel overnight from Pretoria to Kimberley. Visit the "Big Hole", the diamond museum and enjoy a tram ride. Breakfast is Served the next day in Matjiesfontein at the historic Lord Milner Hotel, afterwards one could even take a stroll around this interesting Victorian village. Proceed on to Cape Town with its landmark., Table Mountain, an entertaining and lively city, with a tradition of diverse cultures and peoples.

Also known as the Edwardian Safari, this 12 day 6100 km epic journey takes us through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania, and is destined to become the most famous train journey in the world. We take in the attractions of Kimberley, Pretoria, the Kruger Park, Bulawayo, Victoria Falls, Lusaka, the Luangwa Valley and the incredible Tanzam railway into the historical city of Dar Es Salaam.

En - route excursions include:
 
 

• Kimberley - Lunch at the Kimberley club and a visit to the "Big Hole".
• Pretoria - Lunch at the Victoria Hotel and a city tour.
• Hoedspruit - Game drive and overnight at 5 star Ngala Game Lodge. Visit to the Cheetah Project
• Victoria Falls - Sunset cruise on the Zambesi, African Spectacular Show followed by dinner and overnight at the Victoria Falls Hotel.
• Lusaka - Lunch at Lilayi Game Lodge

This journey travels in the footsteps of such illustrious adventurers as Livingstone, Speke, Stanley, Burton, Selous, Lord Delamere, Blixen and Finch-Hatten. Rovos Rail has designed this safari for travellers who wish to re-live true adventure in utter luxury, comfort and security.

The Edwardian Safari departs annually in July.

This exciting 1600km journey takes us through the Zimbabwe border to Bulawayo, for an outing. Then through Hwange, and onto Victoria Falls, one of the 7 wonders of the world. Here one might enjoy the sightseeing, the walks, the nature or indulge in more daring pursuits such as white water rafting.

The 620 kilometre railway route between Cape Town and Knysna must surely rank as the most beautiful in the world. After leaving the Mother City our train passes through the fabled Hottentots Holland mountains and winds its way through the rolling wheat lands to Robertson and Ashton where the famous wines of the area will be sampled.

We travel overnight to Mosselbay from where the line is in constant touch with the coast. After arrival in George we transfer to special lounge cars and the train meanders its way down a beautiful lush valley emerging suddenly onto a cliff face overlooking the Indian Ocean. The next spectacular feature is the highly photographed bridge over the Kaaimans River. The great attraction of the area - the lake district - begins just after the village of Wilderness. Here rivers, lakes, lagoons and interconnecting channels form a network of wetlands with the dramatic Outeniqua mountains in the background. Crossing the Goukama valley which evokes images of the English countryside rather than of Africa, the train descends through the peaceful lagoon to glide slowly into this timber famous town. One of the most beautiful sights, at this our final destination, is the Knysna head, two sturdy sandstone promontories which guard the mouth of the Knysna estuary. From this centre one can investigate the treasures of the area which include the Oudshoorn ostrich farms, the Cango Caves, the Tsitsikama forests and other scenic attractions too numerous to list here.

Rovos Rail operates two trains of twenty painstakingly restored coaches, half of which date back to the twenties and thirties. Each train can accommodate up to 72 passengers.

Accommodation on board the train is of the highest standard. The coaches have been lovingly restored to their former glory with fine attention to detail, and are the last word in comfort and style. Use of traditional furnishings and period decor, with exquisite craftsmanship evident in fine wood panelling has ensured that the atmosphere of elegance and grandeur far exceeds the original. With the option of twin or double beds, each suite accommodates two people and also has a private lounge area. In the en-suite bathrooms original fittings are combined with the modern technology of hot showers, hair dryers and shaver plugs. Named after such colourful characters of the Victorian era in South Africa as Cecil John Rhodes, Barney Bernato and Alfred Beit, as well as Rohan Vos' wife Anthea, the Royal Suites are spacious and elegant and, in the Classic, are outfitted with Victorian claw-foot bathtubs. The Royal suites are of considerable size, (approximately 16 square metres - 172 square feet) and each takes up half a carriage.

The deluxe suites, restored with the same care and finesse as the Royal suites, also accommodate two passengers in either double or twin beds, and have en-suite bathrooms and lounge areas. Each suite occupies 11 square metres (118 square feet).

Rovos Rail also runs one of the world's oldest commercially working locomotives - Tiffany - built in 1893.

There are two exquisitely restored dining cars. The first and more formal, dating to 1911, boasts fluted teak pillars and arches