How much does it cost?

From CHF 11,692 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $14,341 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes. Eight nights aboard the African Explorer special train are included, along with all meals on board, lectures, and entertainment.

What trains does this tour use?

The African Explorer, a special charter train running between Cape Town and Windhoek over nearly 3,600 kilometers.

Is this escorted or independent?

Escorted. A German-speaking tour guide accompanies groups of up to 25 guests for the entire journey, and a doctor travels on board.

Which hotels and lodges are included?

One night in a comfort hotel in Cape Town, two nights in a lodge in the Namib Desert, one night in a safari lodge at Etosha, and one night in a city hotel in Windhoek.

When does this tour run?

Departures are scheduled for March, October, November, and December 2026, and February 2027.

What is not included?

International flights, optional game drives and scenic flights, tips, personal expenses, drinks beyond meals, and travel insurance.

railtour suisse · Escorted tour

Jewel of the desert

16-day rail journey Cape Town to Windhoek on African Explorer train

Railtour Suisse operates this 16-day escorted journey aboard the African Explorer, traveling nearly 3,600 kilometers from Cape Town to Windhoek through the heart of southern Africa. The route weaves through the Great Karoo, the Fish River Canyon (the world's second-largest), the Namib Desert with its Sossusvlei dunes, and Etosha National Park, where wildlife congregates at waterholes. You spend eight nights in a sleeper compartment on the train, with meals, onboard lectures, and excursions included. Four additional nights are in lodges: one in Cape Town, two in the Namib Desert, one near Etosha, and one in Windhoek. A German-speaking guide leads groups of up to 25 guests, and a doctor travels on board. Days combine train time with coach excursions to national parks, canyons, and the Atlantic coast town of Swakopmund. This trip suits repeat train travelers seeking all-inclusive comfort, couples wanting a long, leisurely escape, and photographers drawn to desert landscapes and African wildlife.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen CHF 1,082 since 4 Jul, to CHF 11,692.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 2 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

International flights to Cape Town and return from Windhoek are not included; book separately.
Single occupancy in Cabin Elephant costs CHF 15,435, significantly more than half the double-occupancy price of CHF 10,610.
Game drives in Etosha National Park and a scenic flight from Swakopmund to the coast are optional and charged separately.

Day by day

Day 1
Departure from Switzerland in the evening
Day 2overnight: Cape Town
Cape Town
You will arrive in Cape Town in the morning, where you will be greeted by your tour guide at the airport and accompanied to your hotel. The afternoon is at your leisure before you get to know your fellow travelers at the welcome dinner in the evening.
Day 3railovernight: On board the African Explorer
Start of the journey with the African Explorer
After a city tour, it's time to board the train at Cape Town station! Make yourself comfortable in your compartment and enjoy the view of the passing landscape. After your train has passed through the tunnels of the Hexriver Mountains, the scenery changes to the fascinating mountain world of the Great Karoo and you pass the Victorian town of Matjiesfontein. After dinner in the on-board restaurant, you can round off the evening with a glass of South African red wine or a beer in the bar car.
Day 4
From the coast to the hinterland
Day 5
Augrabies Falls National Park
Day 6
Namibia's lonely south - Fish River Canyon
Day 7
Namib Desert
Day 8
The highest dunes in the world
Day 9
Swakopmund
Day 10
Catamaran cruise
Day 11
Spitzkoppe, the Matterhorn of Namibia
Day 12
Etosha National Park
Day 13
On safari
Day 14overnight: Windhoek
Windhoek
Day 15
Return flight from Africa
Day 16
Arrival in Switzerland

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Depart Cape Town station and pass through the Hexriver Mountains tunnels into the Great Karoo, with dinner in the on-board restaurant.
Day 5Visit Augrabies Falls National Park to see the 56-meter waterfall and spot klipspringers, antelopes, and black rhinos along the Orange River.
Day 6At Holoog station, transfer to buses for the Fish River Canyon, a 500-meter-deep and 160-kilometer-long gorge, with optional hiking along its edge.
Day 8Early morning drive in off-road vehicles to Sossusvlei, climbing the highest dunes in the world and enjoying sunset across the Namib Sand Sea.
Day 10Catamaran cruise from Walvis Bay with brunch on board, watching for sea lions, pelicans, seals, and flamingos.

Included

8 nights on the African Explorer special train in the booked sleeping compartment
1 overnight stay in a comfort hotel in Cape Town
2 nights in a lodge in the Namib Desert
1 overnight stay in a spacious safari lodge at the gateway to Etosha National Park
1 overnight stay in a city hotel in Windhoek
Meals according to itinerary (F=breakfast, M=lunch, A=dinner)
Specialty dinner and biltong tasting
German-speaking tour guide for max. 25 guests each from Windhoek to Cape Town or v.v.
German-speaking doctor on board
All excursions and sightseeing including entrance fees according to the itinerary (without additionally bookable excursion program)
Excursions and transfers in air-conditioned coaches
Porter service from/to Windhoek / Cape Town airport
Entertaining short lectures on board
Detailed travel documents

Not included

Flights: air travel to Cape Town and return from Windhoek, or vice versa
Optional excursion package
Tips and personal expenses
Drinks and meals not mentioned
Travel insurance and cancellation insurance

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From CHF 11,692 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $14,341 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes. Eight nights aboard the African Explorer special train are included, along with all meals on board, lectures, and entertainment.
What trains does this tour use?: The African Explorer, a special charter train running between Cape Town and Windhoek over nearly 3,600 kilometers.
Is this escorted or independent?: Escorted. A German-speaking tour guide accompanies groups of up to 25 guests for the entire journey, and a doctor travels on board.
Which hotels and lodges are included?: One night in a comfort hotel in Cape Town, two nights in a lodge in the Namib Desert, one night in a safari lodge at Etosha, and one night in a city hotel in Windhoek.
When does this tour run?: Departures are scheduled for March, October, November, and December 2026, and February 2027.
What is not included?: International flights, optional game drives and scenic flights, tips, personal expenses, drinks beyond meals, and travel insurance.