Rovos Rail

Exploring Southern Africa made Easy!

‘The Pride of Africa’, Rovos Rail recaptures the charm and ambiance of yesteryear. and lavishes its guests in comfort, luxury and personal service.

Rovos Rail Pride

Enjoy old-world luxury in Rovos Rail’s wood-panelled coaches:

The train consists of:

  • The locomotive, generator car, staff car.

  • Guest sleepers.

  • Non-smoking lounge car which can accommodate 26 guests.

  • Two non-smoking dining cars.

  • A smoking lounge car.

  • And the observation car with ample space for 32 guests at the end of the train.

  • In keeping with traditional train travel from yesteryear, there are no televisions or radios on board.

  • As a curtesy to fellow travellers, the use of electronic devices which may be bothersome are restricted to suites only.

  • Smoking is only allowed in the privacy of your suite or in the designated club lounge.

Rovos Rail

Luxury Rail Travel

Rovos Rail Pride operates through some of the most historical and scenic areas of Southern Africa. Since its inaugural trip in 1989, Rovos Rail has earned the reputation of being ‘the most luxurious train in the world’. Also known as ‘The Pride of Africa’, Rovos Rail recaptures the charm and ambiance of yesteryear. and lavishes its guests in comfort, luxury and personal service.

For three decades, South African entrepreneur Rohan Vos, owner of Rovos Rail, has painstakingly acquired railway locomotives and coaches from the old Rhodesian and South African Railways, foreign rail operators, private owners and auctions. Each has been carefully chosen, restored and assigned to duty and make up one of the biggest private collections in the world.

There’s no grander way to experience the delights of steam than on Rovos Rail. The use of steam has become increasingly difficult over the years. The water and coaling facilities have been scrapped more and more. Rovos Rail makes use of diesel engines these days. But wherever possible, original steam locomotives draw the charmingly restored sleeper coaches, sumptuous dining car and period observation car in and around the area of Rovos Rail Station.

Rovos Rail – Accommodation & Dining

Your accommodation on Rovos Rail is in air-conditioned suites, for a maximum of 72 guests.

There’s a range of suites to choose from:

  • Pullman Suites sleep 2 persons; have a sofa during the day which converts to a bed in the evening

  • Deluxe Suites sleep 2 persons, are much larger with a permanent bed, small lounge area, and en suite shower room

  • Royal Suites sleep 2 persons, are larger still and have full en suite bathrooms with Victorian bath as well as a shower.

All suites on Rovos Rail Pride of Africa are equipped with: 

  • A writing desk

  • Personal safe

  • A minibar filled with the drinks of your choice

  • The bathrooms combine original fittings with the modern technology of hot showers, hairdryers, and shaver plugs

  • 24-hour room service is available throughout the Rovos Rail train.

Each dining car can seat 42 guests and meals are served in one sitting only, accompanied by only the finest selection of South African wines. On-board chefs prepare their specialty of traditional dishes using only the finest local ingredients.

Services & Attire:

  • Breakfast is served between 07:00 and 10:00.

  • Lunch is served at 13:00.

  • Tea is served at 16:30.

  • In the evening, dress in your finest wear for the formal dinner served at 19:30. Men are required to dress in a jacket and tie at the minimum and ladies in cocktail or evening dresses.

  • Remember warm clothes for the fresh African mornings and cooler evenings.

Routes & Distances

Rovos Rail offers various journeys across the sub-continent of Africa:

  • Cape Town & Pretoria: 3 nights / 4 days | 1,600km / 995miles

  • Pretoria & Durban: 2 nights / 3 days | 800km / 500miles

  • Pretoria & Victoria Falls: 3/4 nights / 4/5 days | 1,400km / 870miles

  • Pretoria & Namibia: 9 nights / 10 days | 3,400km / 2,113miles

  • African Golf Collage (Pretoria, Kruger Park, Durban, Cape Town): ► 8/9 nights / 9/10 days |3,700km / 2,300miles

ROUTE: Cape Town – Pretoria or Pretoria – Cape Town

3-Nights / 4-Days ● 1,600km | 995 miles

Travel the grasslands of the gold-rich Highveld to the haunting barrenness of the Great Karoo; trundle through the spectacular mountain ranges and scenic winelands of the Cape. Journey’s end is Cape Town, the Mother City of South Africa, cradled by the imposing bulk of Table Mountain (available in reverse, Pretoria – Cape Town).

Included: Accommodation; all meals; all beverages on board; room service; limited laundry service; excursions accompanied by a qualified guide (where applicable); entrance fees as per itinerary; government tax.

Excluded: Off-train beverages; international/French Champagne; gratuities; personal expenses; visas; travel insurance; pre- and post-tour accommodation, flights and transfers.

ROUTE: Pretoria – Durban or Durban – Pretoria

3-Days/2-Nights ● 800km | 500miles

This safari between Pretoria and Durban departs during the summer months and includes game drives, a battlefield tale with a world-class historian and a look at unusual African ceramics (available in reverse, Durban to Pretoria).

ROUTE: Pretoria – Victoria Falls or Victoria Falls – Pretoria

4-Days/3-Nights ● 1,400km | 870miles

This adventure begins with the train’s departure from Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria. Travel north through Warmbaths (Bela-Bela), pass the edge of the escarpment and cross the Tropic of Capricorn towards Bulawayo, the second city of Zimbabwe, capital of Matabeleland and industrial capital of the country. Travel along with one of the world’s longest stretches of the straight railway line – 114km – before traversing Hwange National Park, a rich and diverse wildlife sanctuary where a game drive excursion is enjoyed. Arrive at the incomparable Victoria Falls on the mighty Zambezi River where this sojourn ends (available in reverse, Victoria Falls to Pretoria).

Rates, Departure Dates & Availability of Journeys

Please enquire with us for rates, departure dates & availability on the Rovos journeys; we will together with Rovos Rail incorporate a suitable Rovos Rail journey into your itinerary, in the best and most logical way possible.