Shongololo Express

When the indigenous people of southern Africa first saw the trains snaking their way across the distant horizons, it looked and moved like a creature they called Shongololo – the millipede.

The Shongololo Express provides a unique way to explore the region in a timeless way. Up to 72 guests are accommodated in comfortable en-suite cabins with double or twin beds.

Two historically appointed dining cars set the scene for meals, which are taken in one sitting. Modern and traditional local cuisine is on offer with a selection of distinguished South African wines available. Guests can also relax in the bar car, small smoking lounge or the observation car with an open-air balcony situated at the back of the train.

Based at Rovos Rail’s station in Pretoria, there are three meandering journeys on offering, running both north and southbound. The 12-day ‘Southern Cross’ runs to Victoria Falls via the Kruger, Mozambique, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, combining varied cultures, some incredible safari and the Great Zimbabwe ruins en route to the famous falls. The ‘Dune Express’ again takes 12 days, this time heading up to the deserts of Namibia via Fish River Canyon, colonial Lüderitz and iconic Sossusvlei sands to Etosha National Park. The ‘Good Hope Golf’ 15-day adventure offer golfers and non-golfers alike a scenic trip from Cape Town, the Winelands along the Whale Coast and Garden Route, across mountains to the Battlefields, Duban, KwaZulu-Natal Coast, Swaziland and Kruger to Pretoria.