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Rovos Rail Luxury Train: Victoria Falls to Cape Town, South Africa

Rovos Rail: Victoria Falls to Cape Town
9ZYC15V

15 NIGHTS

FROM $4,543

Per person sharing

Flights quoted separately

Rovos Rail Luxury Train Victoria Falls to Cape Town South Africa

This Rovos Rail luxury train journeys from the stunning Victoria Falls to Cape Town in South Africa. After viewing the 'Smoke that Thunders', embark on this 'double journey' that involves two incredible train trips. Highlights include a safari in Hwange Game Reserve, Voortrekker Mounument in Pretoria & Big Hole in Kimberley, before disembarking in beautiful Cape Town (Pullman, Deluxe or Royal cabin).

▲

• Rovos Rail Luxury Train	• Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe	• Zambezi River Cruise	• Hwange Game Reserve
• Voortrekker Monument, Pretoria	• Kimberley	• Cape Town, South Africa	• Table Mountain
• Stellenbosch Winelands	• Victoria Falls to Cape Town

▲

• Rovos Rail Luxury Train	• Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe	• Zambezi River Cruise
• Hwange Game Reserve	• Voortrekker Monument, Pretoria	• Kimberley
• Cape Town, South Africa	• Table Mountain	• Stellenbosch Winelands
• Victoria Falls to Cape Town

Day 1

You will be met at Victoria Falls Airport and transferred to your hotel near the mighty Zambezi River.

Located in the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), where the borders of five African countries converge, the sheer scale of this vast international conservation project is difficult to comprehend. It encompasses a bewildering range of experiences, ranging from the mighty Victoria Falls to the lifeforce of the region, the Zambezi and Chobe Rivers.

Check in, settle in and relax whilst you catch your first glimpses of the magnificent Smoke That Thunders first discovered by Dr. David Livingstone and still one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. The flow of water over the Victoria Falls is greatest from February to June following the summer rains, but they are a magnificent sight at any time of year.

Day 2

Today enjoy a shared tour exploring on foot the mighty Victoria Falls and its rainforests, which offer magnificent views.

Afterwards you may wish to visit Elephants Walk, a small crafts complex across the road from The Kingdom hotel, where you can see talented local artists and sculptors at work and support them by buying one of their items. Alternatively you can participate in various optional activities, such as a helicopter flight over the falls.

In the late afternoon enjoy an included cruise on the Zambezi River where you may see hippos, crocodiles and abundant birdlife.

Day 3

At leisure to explore the town of Victoria Falls on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River.

Many optional activities are available in this small town, where adrenalin seekers come to participate in adventure activities such as canoeing down the Zambezi River, white water rafting in the turbulent gorge below the falls (grade 5), abseiling and bungee jumping from Victoria Falls Bridge.

Day 4

After a morning at leisure, in the afternoon transfer to Victoria Falls Station arriving by 16.00, in good time to board the luxury Rovos Rail Pride of Africa departing 17.00 for Pretoria.

Relax and enjoy the elegance of luxury 5-star train travel of a bygone age as you settle in to your wood-panelled coach for your 4-night rail journey, enjoying fine cuisine and outstanding personal service as you travel nearly 1,000 miles through Zimbabwe to South Africa.

Dinner is served as we travel southwards towards Malindi.

Note: Dress code on the train during the day is smart casual, with comfortable walking shoes for the off-train excursion. Evenings are generally more formal, with most guests enjoying the opportunity to dress up (gentlemen are asked to wear a collar & tie, but jackets are optional).

Day 5

An early wake-up call this morning, as we disembark for an open-top game drive in Hwange Game Reserve, the most famous national park in Zimbabwe, with its huge herds of elephants and many predators.

Afterwards we continue our journey southwards, travelling along one of Africa's longest stretches of straight railway line between Dete and Gwaai (114 km) and along the eastern edge of Hwange.

We pass Bulawayo, the second largest city in Zimbabwe and the capital of Matabeleland. Enjoy the spectacle of an African sunset and dinner, as the train heads towards Mbalabala.

Note: The train may be re-routed via Botswana, in the event of any problems along the line.

Day 6

Enjoy a full day of luxury train travel today as we head southwards past Bulawayo, the second largest city in Zimbabwe and the capital of Matabeleland.

We will stop at Gwanda, where you can leave the train and stroll through the village, before continuing through baobab country towards Beit Bridge for border formalties.

The train then leaves Zimbabwe and travels across the 'great grey-green, greasy Limpopo River, all set about with fever-trees' as described by Rudyard Kipling. After completing South African border formalities at Musina, we continue toward Louis Trichardt for overnight.

Day 7

This morning we leave Louis Trichardt and cross the Tropic of Capricorn as we head south towards Polokwane, where we disembark and visit Polokwane Nature Reserve.

Returning to the train for lunch, we travel past Nylstroom and Warmbaths, passing the edge of the escarpment where the Highveld drops precipitously. Enjoy the another African sunset, as the train continues winding southwards.

Day 8

After breakfast we arrive at the gracious colonial-style Capital Park Railway Station in Pretoria at 10.00.

Here you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Pretoria (now called Tshwane). This city is the administrative capital of South Africa and is renowned for its jacaranda trees that flower from September to November.

Day 9

This morning enjoy a half day tour of Pretoria, including lunch (beverages for own account).

We visit the Voortrekker Monument and historic Church Square, where we visit the home of Paul Kruger who was the president of the old Transvaal Republic at the time of the Anglo Boer War. We also drive past the City Hall and stop for photos at the beautiful Union Buildings - the official residence of the South African president, designed by Sir Herbert Baker. Here there is an impressive statue of Nelson Mandela.

Your afternoon is at leisure.

Day 10

This morning transfer back to Capital Park Station arriving in good time to board the luxury Rovos Rail Pride of Africa departing 11.00 for Cape Town.

Settle in to your wood-panelled coach for your 48-hour rail journey to Cape Town, enjoying fine cuisine and outstanding personal service as you travel over 1,000 miles through some of South Africa’s most spectacular scenery, continuing southwards through the farmlands of the Free State towards Kimberley.

Day 11

We travel past a lake that is home to a spectacular flock of flamingos (over 20,000), before arriving in the diamond town of Kimberley.

Here we disembark for a tour of the famous Big Hole and Open Mine Museum. With a surface area of over 40 acres and a perimeter of over 1 mile, this open-pit area was mined to a depth of over 3,000 feet at the height of the diamond rush – the largest hand-dug excavation in the world. At the Village Museum you can also view Eureka, the first recorded diamond discovered in South Africa.

We depart from Kimberley and continue through the northern Cape towards De Aar and Beauford West in the Great Karoo.

Day 12

This morning we arrive in Matjiesfontein, where you can disembark and visit this quaintly preserved Victorian village, founded in 1884 by an energetic Scottish railwayman called James Logan.

Once a fashionable Victorian spa, this town played a key role in the Anglo Boer War of 1899, as it was situated on the main railway line between Cape Town and Johannesburg. It was also the home of the famous author and anti-war campaigner, Olive Schreiner, who wrote 'The Story of an African Farm'. Of special interest is the museum on the station platform and a collection of historic cars and railway carriages to the right of the Lord Milner Hotel.

After leaving Matjiesfontein the train proceed through Touws River, before descending the Hex River Pass which consists of four tunnels, one of which is an impressive 13.5 km long. We continue through De Doorns and Worcester, travelling through the beautiful mountains and vineyards of the Cape Winelands.

Note: Wear comfortable walking shoes today.

Day 13

After passing through the Du Toits Kloof tunnel, view imposing Table Mountain as we arrive at Cape Town Station around 10.00.

Here you will be met and transferred to your hotel in this beautful city.

Day 14

Today is free for independent sightseeing in Cape Town.

To orientate yourself, we suggest you purchase a pass onboard the convenient Red Route Hop-Off Bus, which stops at all Cape Town’s key sights and attractions, including the Table Mountain cable car (discounted tickets are sold on the bus). Here you can ascend and enjoy one of the world's most famous views.

Continue to trendy Camps Bay beach and the many attractions of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront (pay all entrance fees locally).

Note: Don't let the colour of the bus confuse you. All buses are red, but they run two different routes - the Red City Route and the Blue Kirstenbosch Route.

Day 15

Today we recommend an optional full day shared tour to the beautiful Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, where you may see baboons, ostrich and perhaps even dolphins or whales in season (July/November).

Your tour travels through Hout Bay and along spectacular Chapman’s Peak Drive to the Cape Point peninsula, before returning via Simons Town and Fish Hoek. This is a scenic tour of the whole Cape Peninsula, with the optional opportunity of visiting the penguin colony at Boulders Beach.

Note: Lunch is for your own account today. Group size is minimum 2 / maximum 15.

Day 16

Transfer to Cape Town Airport for your flight home.

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