Rovos Rail Pride of Africa, Madikwe Game Reserve & Cape Town

Stepping aboard the beautifully-restored wood-panelled original 1920s Pullman carriages of Rovos Rail’s “Pride of Africa” feels like stepping back in time. The Rovos fleet is one of the biggest private collections of vintage coaches in the world. The carriages have been painstakingly restored using traditional methods and furnishings to create period décor that offers an unparalleled atmosphere of elegance from which you can enjoy the many routes and experiences that are on offer – the Pride of Africa criss-crosses the continent, travelling through South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia, Zimbabwe, DRC, Angola, Botswana, Zambia and Tanzania on various different trips - including safaris, golf, battlefields and the incredible sight of Victoria Falls to name but a few. There is no more comfortable way to enjoy the best of this remarkable continent, and the open-air Observation Car at the rear of the train allows you to fully immerse yourself in the passing scenery.

The flagship route travels between Pretoria and Cape Town; both cities have their own dedicated Rovos Rail terminal - the adventure starts in style with a reception with refreshments and sparkling wine before joining the train itself for your journey. En-route there are escorted visits to the Kimberley Diamond Mine (the world’s largest man-made excavation) and the perfectly-preserved Victorian village Matjiesfontein. We recommend travelling in a north-south direction, as undoubtedly the vistas get better and better as you traverse the winelands of the Cape before arriving into Cape Town in the shadow of the mighty Table Mountain. All departures are fully-inclusive of meals, drinks and excursions.

The sleeper cabins offer all the mod-cons and are available in three levels of comfort. Each en-suite cabin is finished to a high standard, with decorative wood panelling and Edwardian period features, and double or twin lower beds. Some cabins even have a bathtub to soak in for the ultimate in relaxation as you travel, gently rocked by the rhythm of the vintage carriages along the tracks.

For the real locomotive enthusiast, there is much reading material available surrounding the history of the train, and detailed information on the locomotives themselves, as well as the gorgeous accommodation and public areas of the train. There is even a museum located at the colonial-style Rovos Rail Pretoria station, where the team maintain the company’s rolling stock – you can investigate ahead of your journey on one of the world’s greatest trains.

To enquire about the many options available for this fantastic train, call our team of helpful specialists to build this train into your dream holiday.