Pretoria to Victoria Falls -Southern (Rovos Rail)

Day 1

Arrive Pretoria

Depart from Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria. Guest may freshen up in their suites before joining fellow travellers in the lounge cars. The train travels on the eastern line towards the harsh eMalahleni coal-mining area and Middelburg, known as the “stainless steel capital of Africa”. The Dutch railway building company, NZASM (Nederlandsche Zuid-Afrikaansche SpoorwegMaatschappij), built the eastern line between Pretoria and Lourenço Marques (Maputo) from 1893 to 1895.

Meals includes: Lunch/Dinner

Day 2

PANORAMA ROUTE

Full-day tour of historical areas Pilgrim’s Rest, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and Graskop with lunch. The Graskop viewing lift takes visitors 51m down the face of the gorge into the forest below where wooden walkways and suspension bridges meander along a 600m trail through the indigenous forest with an interactive exhibit (lift for own account). Return to the train in Mbombela (140km). Depart for Malelane

Meals: Breakfast/Dinner.

Day 3

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

Full-day game viewing in the Kruger Park with lunch. Depart for Maputo, Mozambique.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.

Day 4

MAPUTO, MOZAMBIQUE

City tour of Maputo, Mozambique, with lunch. Return to the train. Travel to Mpaka, eSwatini.

Capital of Mozambique, Maputo is a city of contrasts offering an exciting mix of cultures. Its architecture is a blend of African, Portuguese and early Colonial traditions with old Catholic churches side-by-side with mosques, fortresses, Victorian mansions and other buildings from a bygone era.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.

Day 5

ESWATINI

Disembark at Mpaka. Transfer (±90 min) to Swazi Candles and visit Mantenga Cultural Village with lunch at Mantenga Lodge.
The tiny Kingdom of eSwatini (Swaziland) covers only 17 000km2, most of which is mountainous. For such a small country, it is surprising that it sustains two capital cities: Mbabane is the administrative capital and Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital. In April 2018, Swaziland changed its name to the Kingdom of eSwatini (meaning “place of the Swazi”) and is an absolute monarchy.

Return to the train (±75 min). Depart for Hoedspruit.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.

Day 6

KAPAMA RESERVE & HOEDSPRUIT ENDANGERED SPECIES CENTRE

Game drive in Kapama Game Reserve followed by visit to the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre.
Return to the train for lunch. Depart for Tzaneen and Louis Trichardt.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.

Day 7

LIMPOPO PROVINCE

Day on board the train travelling to Rutenga in Zimbabwe. Limpopo Province is located in the far north of South Africa and shares borders with three neighbouring countries: Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.

Day 8

GREAT ZIMBABWE MONUMENT

Transfer to the Great Zimbabwe Monument for a tour with lunch.
Rejoin to the train at Oreti Siding. Depart for Gweru.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.

Day 9

 ANTELOPE PARK

Depart for a full day at Antelope Park with lunch. Optional extras include canoeing, game drives, horseback game viewing, elephant interaction, bird-watching cruises and so on.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.

Day 10

MATOBO NATIONAL PARK

Full-day tour of Matobo National Park with lunch. Visit the grave of Cecil John Rhodes as well as bushmen caves with rock art.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.

Day 11

HWANGE NATIONAL PARK

Full-day game viewing in Hwange National Park with a packed lunch.
Return to the train. Depart for Thompson’s Junction.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.

Day 12

VICTORIA FALLS

Arrive Victoria Falls Station. Meet for a walking tour of the village and the falls with lunch. Meet at the hotel for a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. Transfer back to hotel.

Meals: Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner.

Rovos Rail
LUXURY TRAIN