Cape Town to Durban and Rovos Rail Safari – Seven Days

Overview

Countries visited: South Africa

This seven-day journey begins in Cape Town and ends in Durban.

Travel through the spectacular mountain ranges and scenic winelands of the Cape to the haunting barrenness of the Great Karoo. Visit the historic village of Matjiesfontein. Next stop is Kimberley for a city tour and a visit to the world’s largest man-made excavation, the Big Hole, and its Diamond Mine Museum.

Arrive in Pretoria and transfer to your hotel for the night. Enjoy the day at leisure or tour the city, Soweto, Johannesburg, Constitution Hill and the Apartheid Museum. The train departs the following morning on the Durban Safari. Experience the Nambiti Conservancy – a Big Five private retreat set on 20 000 acres of malaria-free bushveld in KwaZulu-Natal. It has an incredible biodiversity including savannah, grasslands, thornveld and tall acacia trees.

Situated on an expansive game farm, Spionkop Lodge – which adjoins an 11 000-acre nature reserve – is the perfect base for exploring the mountains, bush, birds and battlefields of the region. Ardmore Ceramics is a story about the Zulu people whose sense of rhythm, colour, dance and song, as well as the spirit of the African imagination, is exerting its influence on the other continents of the world. Visit this charming centre in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands before travelling the Valley of a Thousand Hills to Durban. Available in reverse.

This tour is ideal for couples, groups of friends, romantic getaways, wildlife and photographic enthusiasts.

Itinerary

Day 1: Depart Cape Town

Depart from Platform 23 at Cape Town Station with an en-route visit to the historic village of Matjiesfontein.

Day 2: Kimberley Highlights

On your arrival in Kimberley you will board a bus for the tour of the Big Hole and the Diamond Mine Museum.

Depart Kimberley and traverse the Highveld.

Day 3 & 4: Journey through South African history

Arrive at the Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria. Transfer to your hotel for two nights. Following day at leisure or tour the city, Soweto, Johannesburg, Constitution Hill and the Apartheid Museum. Overnight at hotel.

Day 5: Battlefields route

Depart Rovos Rail Station for Elandslaagte where the famous battle of between the British and the Boers took place during the Second Boer War in 1899.

Day 6: Visit to a KwaZulu-Natal Private Game reserve 

On arrival at the Nambiti Private Game Reserve you will embark on a Game drive.

A little later on in the day you have the option of joining a game drive in the Spionkop Reserve or a tour of the Spionkop battlefields.

Day 7: Journey’s End

Enjoy a visit to Ardmore Ceramics which includes an equestrian display.

Arrive at journey’s end at Durban Station.

Accommodation

Three types of accommodation options available

Pullman Suite

The Pullman Suites (±7 sq metres/±76 sq feet) are equipped with a comfortable sofa-seat during the day with a conversion to double or twin beds for the evening, and also have an en-suite bathroom with shower. The wood-panelled rebuilt sleeper coaches, remodelled and refurbished to mint condition, offer every modern convenience and comfort. In the en-suite bathrooms, original fittings combine with the modern technology of hot showers, hair dryers and shaver plugs.

The spacious suites offer passengers the opportunity to travel in privacy, comfort and luxury, with fittings and facilities that are of the highest standard. All are equipped with a writing surface and a personal safe for valuables. There is also a bar fridge filled with beverages of the passengers’ choice and room service is available 24 hours a day.

Deluxe Suite

The Deluxe Suites (±10 sq metres/±118 sq feet) accommodate two passengers in either twin or double beds and have a lounge area and en-suite bathroom with shower. The wood-panelled rebuilt sleeper coaches, remodelled and refurbished to mint condition, offer every modern convenience and comfort.

In the en-suite bathrooms, original fittings combine with the modern technology of hot showers, hair dryers and shaver plugs. The spacious suites offer passengers the opportunity to travel in privacy, comfort and luxury, with fittings and facilities that are of the highest standard. All are equipped with a writing surface and a personal safe for valuables. There is also a bar fridge filled with beverages of the passengers’ choice and room service is available 24 hours a day.

Royal Suites

The Royal Suites, each of which take up half a carriage, are spacious and elegant measuring ±16 sq metres in size. Each has its own private lounge area and full bathroom with Victorian bath and separate shower. The epitome of luxury with handsome wood panelling and period Edwardian features, the air-conditioned suites accommodate two people offering the option of side-by-side twin or spacious double beds. In the en-suite bathrooms, original fittings combine with the modern technology of hot showers, hair dryers and shaver plugs.

The very spacious suites offer passengers the opportunity to travel in privacy, comfort and luxury, with fittings and facilities that are of the highest standard. All are equipped with a writing surface and a personal safe for valuables. There is also a bar fridge filled with beverages of the passengers’ choice and room service is available 24 hours a day.

More Info

MEALS ON THE TRAIN  Breakfast 07h00-10h00 • Lunch 13h00 • Tea 16h30 • Dinner 19h30.

DEPARTURE DATES ARE SPECIFIC. Excursions may be changed according to schedule achieved.

Price includes: accommodation, meals, all alcoholic and other beverages, 24-hour full room service and limited laundry while on board the train, as well as excursions accompanied by a qualified tour guide (where applicable) and government tax PLUS a 2-NIGHT STAY in PRETORIA on B&B basis with a full-day tour

TRAVEL & CANCELLATION INSURANCE ARE COMPULSORY We offer insurance to South African residents. For international guests we suggest you contact your local travel agent or credit card service provider for assistance.

Children
Please be sensitive to the adult nature and atmosphere of the train by keeping your children respectful and quiet. Long
journeys are not recommended for under 13s. There are no child-minding facilities or activities for children on board.