Rovos Rail: Cape Town to Pretoria (or v.v)
- Duration
- 4 Days
- Prices From:
- AU$ 2,636
DELUXE | RAIL: Departing from Cape Town or Pretoria, stopping en-route to view Kimberley's 'Big Hole' and the Mine and Diamond museums, while enjoying the stark beauty of the Northern Cape.
Rovos Rail has earned an international reputation for its truly world-class travel experiences. Step aboard the wood-panelled coaches - classics remodelled and refurbished to mint condition - and enjoy fine cuisine in five-star luxury as some of the most varied scenery imaginable unfolds beyond the windows. Recapture the romance and atmosphere of a by-gone era, when privileged travellers experienced the magic and mystery of Africa in a relaxed and elegant fashion.
For many visitors to South Africa, there is no finer way to see the country than on the popular 48-hour weekly journeys between Cape Town and Pretoria. This 1600-kilometre journey is a perfect illustration of South Africa as a world in one country. Depart Cape Town, the Mother City of South Africa, cradled by the imposing bulk of Table Mountain, Devil's Peak and Lions Head. Trundle through the spectacular mountain ranges and scenic wine lands. Travel the grasslands of the gold rich Highveld to the haunting barrenness of the Great Karoo and onto Pretoria.
Highlights include a visit to the historic village of Matjiesfontein. This authentic perfectly preserved Victorian Village, which was founded by Mr Logan as a refreshment stop in 1890, also boasts an impressive museum on the platform. A stop is also made in Kimberley providing an opportunity to enjoy a city tour and a visit to the Mine Museum and the world's largest man-made excavation, the Big Hole.
- Duration
- 4 Days
- Prices From:
- AU$ 2,636
Itinerary View Trip Map
Depart Cape Town
The "Pride of Africa" train departs from Platform 23 Cape Town Station at 04:00pm on its journey to Pretoria, covering with stately ease a 160 year old pioneering trail forged out of the African bushveld. Guests may freshen up in their suites before joining other guests in the midway Lounge car or the Observation carriage at the rear of the train.
From Paarl in the heart of the winelands, the train starts to gain altitude almost imperceptibly, and reaches the first mountain terrace and the town of Worcester. Dinner will be served in the dining cars at 7:30pm. Around midnight, you reach the first of four tunnels that will take you through the Hex River Pass. Be careful while walking through the train as it passes through a third tunnel, 13.5 km long. If you are in your suite, you may wish to turn on a light. For refreshments, the pub in the Lord Milner Hotel is recommended. At 7:00am, the train departs Matjiesfontein.
Cape Town, internationally known for the majestic beauty of Table Mountain, is the "Mother City" of South Africa, being the site of the first European landings and settlement in Southern Africa. The subtle interplay of sea and mountain that characterizes the Cape of Good Hope moved intrepid explorer Sir Francis Drake to call it "the fairest Cape in all the circumference of the globe", a description that settles quickly into the consciousness of all visitors.
| Meal Plan | Dinner |
|---|
Rovos Rail Suite Class
| Duration | 3 Nights |
|---|---|
| Accommodation |
Rovos Rail |
| Location | View map |
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Rovos Rail
The golden age of luxury train travel has been renewed in the heart of the African bush. These beautifully restored trains consist of up to 20 coaches that can be drawn by steam, diesel or electric locomotives operating at various stages of the journey. The …
The golden age of luxury train travel has been renewed in the heart of the African bush. These beautifully restored trains consist of up to 20 coaches that can be drawn by steam, diesel or electric locomotives operating at various stages of the journey. The sleeping cars as well as the observation and dining cars have been splendidly refurbished in the style of the period but with an eye for modern comfort. The train carries a maximum of 72 passengers who are attended by highly motivated members of staff, and provides a cuisine of superb standard. Rovos Rail offers unique rail safaris through some of the most spectacular scenery in Africa.
Photo gallery
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Matjiesfontein
Breakfast will be served in the dining cars from 07:00 until 10:00am. Disembark at Matjiesfontein for an opportunity to stroll through the historic village of special interest is the museum
on the platform and a collection of historic cars and railway carriages to the right of the Lord Milner Hotel. The train travels through the Karoo, a vast semi-desert region that was once an enormous inland sea. Over millions of years, volcanic matter was ground down and deposited as silt upon the seabed to form what geologists call the Karoo system. At 01:00pm, lunch is served in the dining cars. Dinner is served in the dining cars at 7:00pm.
| Meal Plan | Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner |
|---|
Kimberley
Breakfast will be served in the dining cars from 06:00 until 08:30am. The train arrives in Kimberley at 8:30am. Here you will disembark and proceed by coach for a tour of the city, the "Big Hole" and the Mine Museum. Rejoin the train at Kimberley Station at 12:00, lunch is served as the train travels northeast towards Klerksdorp and the broad grassland plains of the Highveld. On most occasions, there is a spectacular display of flamingos (approximately 23 000). The "Pride of Africa" finally leaves the Northern Cape and the Free State as it crosses the Vaal River into Gauteng province, climbing steadily towards the skyscrapers of Johannesburg, the largest city in sub-Saharan Africa. It is on the heights of the Witwatersrand, some 1 800 m (6 000 feet) above sea level, that the greatest goldfields in history were discovered before the turn of the century. Tea in the lounge and observation cars and Dinner will be served in the dining cars at 7:30pm.
Kimberley was among those South African towns besieged by the Boers during the Anglo Boer War (1899). The British Army under Lord Methuen attempted to relieve the town but suffered two serious setbacks at the battle of Modder River (28 November 1899) and Magersfontein (11 December 1899). The famous Black Watch regiment suffered terribly during this campaign, exposed to the intense heat and unable to advance or retreat under withering Boer Mauser fire. Finally, they broke and fled, a humiliating defeat, which lead to the siege being maintained for another two months. Rhodes was among the town's citizens who lived through the siege.
| Meal Plan | Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner |
|---|
Arrive at Pretoria
Breakfast will be served in the dining cars from 07:00am until 09:30am. The train continues the journey towards Pretoria passing through the goldfields of the Witwatersrand. Arrive at Rovos Rail Station in Capital Park, Pretoria at 10:00am where your journey ends.
Pretoria, known as the "Jacaranda City" due to the thousands of Jacaranda trees that line the wide city streets, was founded in 1855 by Marthinus Wessels Pretorius, son of one of the original Voortrekkers, Andries Pretorius. The city and its vicinity provide a solid frieze, marking the progress of the Afrikaner people and their interaction with other cultures. Two structures that dominate the Pretoria skyline are the Union Buildings, designed by Sir Herbert Baker to serve as the Government's administrative headquarters, and the Voortrekker Monument, a massive granite shrine commemorating the Voortrekkers. Pretoria was named capital of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek in 1860 and became the Administrative Capital of the Union of South Africa in 1920. It maintained this status when South Africa became a Republic in 1961.
| Meal Plan | Breakfast |
|---|
Other Information
DEPARTURES:
Cape Town to Pretoria | | ||
Month | Day | Month | Day |
| January '23 | 23 | July '23 | 10, 24 |
| February '23 | 6, 11, 15, 20 | August '23 | 7, 21 |
| March '23 | 6, 20, 29 | September '23 | 4, 6, 18, 25 |
| April '23 | 10, 15, 24 | October '23 | 2, 9, 18, 23, 30 |
| May '23 | 8, 22 | November '23 | 6, 13, 27 |
| June '23 | 5, 26 | December '23 | 4, 16, 25 |
Cape Town to Pretoria | | ||
Month | Day | Month | Day |
| January '24 | 8 | July '24 | 8, 22, |
| February '24 | 5, 15, 17, 26 | August '24 | 5, 19 |
| March '24 | 4, 11, 18, 28 | September '24 | 2, 4, 16, 23, 30 |
| April '24 | 1, 15, 29 | October '24 | To Be Advised |
| May '24 | 7, 13, 25, 27 | November '24 | To Be Advised |
| June '24 | 10 | December '24 | To Be Advised |
* Please inquire for Pretoria to Cape Town Dates
PRICE INCLUDES:
- 3 nights accommodation
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- All beverages while on board the train
- Tours/sightseeing as indicated in the itinerary
- Limited laundry service
- 24-hour full room service
* Upgraded cabins also available. For pricing and reverse itinerary please enquire.
PRICE EXCLUDES:
- Travel insurance
- International and domestic airfare & airfare taxes
- Meals & beverages not explicitly listed as included
- Gratuities
- Optional excursions
- Items of a personal nature
- Visa fees if applicable
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
Prices are "from" per person based on twin/double share accommodation and for travel in low season. Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply. Limited seat/spaces and all pricing is subject to change and availability. Rates for single or triple travellers are available on request - please enquire.
18 Sep 2023
