Luxury Rail Travel, South Africa
Rovos Rail

An English Country Club on Wheels
Travel through South Africa’s epic landscapes in the romantic refinement of the Edwardian era and five-star luxury of today.
You cannot see such breath-taking terrains in as much high comfort and style as Rovos Rail travel. Now with a fleet of four trains restored to their 1920s and 1930s glamour, with mahogany panelling, white-cloth-and-crystal dining cars, silver service, observatory cars, and sumptuous lounges and elegant suites. There are several weekly to annual journeys across South Africa (some to Namibia and Zambia) from which to choose:
The weekly route between Pretoria and Cape Town sees you journey over 1,600 kilometres of scenic wonders. This journey takes 55-hours as you travel slowly and make stops and off-train excursions in Kimberley and Matjiesfontein.
There is the iconic 4 day journey between Pretoria and Victoria Falls, one of ten Wonders of The Natural World. Journeying between Pretoria and Durban, with game drives in the Nambiti Conservancy and Spionkop Nature Reserve and an excursion to Ardmore Ceramics near Pietermaritzburg. The Golf Safari Train calls at some of South Africa’s most beautiful golf courses in between game viewing and sightseeing.
For some really extraordinary African locomotive adventures there are annual and tri-annual journeys from Cape Town to Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) for fourteen days (6100km) with off-train excursions along the way. There’s also the annual 3400km journey to Swakopmund in Namibia in May for nine days.
Highlights
23 suites accommodate 42 passengers
Lounge car
Two dining cars
Observation car
24 hour room sevice
Private and chartered routes available
Trip inspiration
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Places to combine Rovos Rail with

Cape Town
The Grand Dame, heritage property of Cape Town, Mount Nelson comes with bags of history and is widely considered one of the best hotels in South Africa. Located directly at the foot of Table Mountain, it’s set within expansive grounds with a collection of smaller buildings dotted throughout the gardens.
Most rooms have been refurbished with a contemporary refresh, adding comfort and modern touches to the historic décor. The bar and restaurant have had a similar treatment making them a popular place to visit for Capetonians (a great sign for any hotel restaurant, particularly in the fickle and competitive Cape Town restaurant scene).
With a vermiculture project, on-site beehives and locally produced organic vegetables, the hotel places strong emphasis on supporting the environment and local community.
Mount Nelson is very much a location in itself. The large grounds sit just a short stroll away from downtown and also the Kloof Street Area, which is famous among locals for excellent new restaurants and boutiques. We especially recommend experiencing Afternoon Tea at Nelson (or Nellie, as it’s affectionately known), a Cape Town institution that’s very much worth trying.


















