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Luxury Rovos Rail from Cape Town to Dar Es Salaam

22-day luxury Rovos Rail trip: Cape Town to Dar es Salaam

Illustration of Luxury Rovos Rail from Cape Town to Dar Es Salaam

Railbookers operates this 22-day, 21-night luxury rail journey across five countries, from Cape Town to Dar es Salaam, built around 12 nights in a Pullman Suite aboard Rovos Rail. After four nights in Cape Town, the train departs through the Karoo desert, stopping at Matjiesfontein, Kimberley's Big Hole, and Pretoria, before a two-night break for four game drives at Madikwe Game Reserve. The train continues through Botswana and Zimbabwe to Victoria Falls, where a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River is included, then on into Zambia and Tanzania, crossing the TAZARA railway line and the switchback curves of the Udzungwa Mountains. A stop at Chisimba Falls offers a walk down to the rock pools before the final approach to the coast at Dar es Salaam, where two nights include a private city tour. The operator classifies the trip as an independent rail vacation, though private guides, game drives, and transfers run throughout, suiting travelers who want an extended, fully catered journey across a continent.

What to know before you look closer

  • The Dar es Salaam hotel is listed as 'Johari Rotana Hotel or similar,' so your confirmed hotel may differ from the one named.
  • The included-items list describes the 12 nights onboard as running from Cape Town to Pretoria, though the day-by-day itinerary continues the rail journey well beyond Pretoria to Dar es Salaam. Confirm the exact routing with Railbookers before booking.
  • A selection of off-board experiences is available at additional cost, booked once onboard, and is not included in the package price.
  • The itinerary provided lists 21 numbered days, one fewer than the trip's stated total of 22 days; confirm the exact day count with Railbookers.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Cape Town

    Your Journey Begins in Cape Town

    Welcome to South Africa! On arrival at the airport, you will be met by our representatives and transferred to your luxury hotel for a four-night stay. (Overnight Cape Town)

  2. Day 2overnight: Cape Town

    Cape Town

    Today enjoy a private half-day city tour, passing iconic landmarks and sites such as the Castle of Good Hope, St. George's Cathedral, the Company Gardens, and the vibrant Bo-Kaap neighborhood. Continue to join a sparkling tour, and witness the art of diamond cutting and the careful craftsmanship of jewelry manufacturing by skilled experts. Discover the history of the Diamond and Gold Trade in South Africa. You will be offered the option of continuing to Table Mountain, where you can ascend to the top, weather permitting by the revolving cable car. (Overnight Cape Town)

    Meals: B

  3. Day 3railovernight: onboard

    Overnight Onboard Rovos Rail

    Check-in at the Rovos Rail Lounge in Cape Town this afternoon and meet your fellow travelers for the next two weeks. Once boarded, settle into the luxurious surroundings of your spacious Pullman Suite and familiarize yourself with the onboard facilities and observation cars. The train departs at 6 p.m., heading towards the Hex River Valley. (Overnight onboard)

    Meals: B, L, D

  4. Day 4railovernight: onboard

    Overnight Onboard Rovos Rail: Matjiesfontein

    Following breakfast onboard, take a tour of the well-preserved Victorian railway village of Matiesfontein. From here the train continues through the Karoo - a vast desert that was once an enormous inland sea. Afternoon tea is served in the lounge as observation cars, and in the evening an elegant dinner is served in the dining cars. (Overnight onboard)

    Meals: B, L, D

  5. Day 5railovernight: onboard

    Overnight Onboard Rovos Rail: Kimberly

    Breakfast and Lunch are served onboard, before pulling into Kimberly. Hop off for a tour including a visit to the Diamond Mine Museum, and the monumental Big Hole, then it's back onboard for tea, and dinner en route to Klerksdorop. (Overnight onboard)

    Meals: B, L, D

  6. Day 6railovernight: onboard

    Overnight Onboard Rovos Rail: Pretoria

    Enjoy a leisurely breakfast onboard this morning, then a city tour of Pretoria, and a wonderful lunch served on the Rovos Rail Station platform. Following a tour of the locomotive workshop, the train departs for Zeerust, and dinner is enjoyed onboard. (Overnight onboard)

    Meals: B, L, D

  7. Day 7railovernight: Madikwe Game Reserve

    Rovos Rail to Madikwe Game Reserve

    Following a relaxing morning onboard, the train stops, and you will be transferred to the fabulous Madikwe game lodge for a two-night stay on Terra-firma. Following lunch head out on the first of your four game drives and be amazed at the sheer volume of species and wildlife, all accessible in their natural habitat. This is prime Big 5 territory, so make sure your cameras are fully charged! (Overnight Madikwe Game Reserve)

    Meals: B, L, D

  8. Day 8overnight: Madikwe Game Reserve

    Madikwe Game Reserve

    Today is all about the wildlife and get out nice and early today for a morning game drive (approx. 3hrs). Breakfast and lunch are both served back at the lodge and then yet another game drive before a casual dinner. (Overnight Madikwe Game Reserve)

    Meals: B, L, D

  9. Day 9railovernight: Onboard

    Overnight Onboard Rovos Rail: Botswana

    One final game drive this morning, before a transfer to the train at Gaborone in Botswana. After the formal border crossing lunch is enjoyed as the train crosses the Tropic of Capricorn and skirts the cast Kalahari Basin. the views from the observation cars here are wonderful, and in the evening enjoy a formal dinner onboard. (Overnight Onboard)

    Meals: B, L, D

  10. Day 10railovernight: onboard

    Overnight Onboard Rovos Rail: Zimbabwe

    A day of leisure onboard today, as the train meanders its way through Botswana. Lectures will take place throughout the day's journey, and make sure you book any activities you might choose to book for Victoria Falls, by lunch. This afternoon the train will pass through Gwaai and Dete, and travel along one of Africa's longest stretches of straight railway line. 114km of no bends, along the eastern edge of the Hwange National Park. (Overnight onboard)

    Meals: B, L, D

  11. Day 11railovernight: Victoria Falls

    Rovos Rail to Victoria Falls

    Around lunchtime today the train pulls into Victoria Falls, and you will be escorted to the wonderful Victoria Falls Hotel. Once checked in there will be a welcome address on the beautiful lawn, then lunch at Jungle Junction. In the afternoon take to the water for a breathtaking cruise along the river as the sun goes down, then it's back to the hotel for a relaxed dinner. (Overnight Victoria Falls)

    Meals: B, L, D

  12. Day 12railovernight: onboard

    Overnight Onboard Rovos Rail: Zambia

    This morning is yours to explore the majesty of the Falls, then following lunch, it's back onboard for departure to Zambia. Be sure to be in the observation car as the train crosses the Victoria Falls Bridge, then border formalities will take place before dinner. (Overnight onboard)

    Meals: B, L, D

  13. Day 13railovernight: onboard

    Overnight Onboard Rovos Rail: Zambia

    A relaxing day onboard today as the train. Highlights include the vast Kafue Railway Bridge, and passing through Zambia's vibrant capital, Lusaka. Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Kapiri Mposhi. (Overnight onboard)

    Meals: B, L, D

  14. Day 14railovernight: onboard

    Overnight Onboard Rovos Rail: Zambia

    Today the train travels along the TAZARA railway line, an amazing piece of engineering and one of Africa's best-kept secrets as it passes through remote territory. (Overnight onboard)

    Meals: B, L, D

  15. Day 15railovernight: onboard

    Overnight Onboard Rovos Rail: Chisimba Falls

    Some fresh air this morning, as all guests can enjoy a visit to Chisimba Falls and a pleasant walk down to the rock pools from where the views are amazing. Back onboard, the train climbs up to the border with Tanzania, and to what is almost the midpoint between Africa's two great Rift Vallet lakes. Border formalities take place following lunch, and during dinner, the train passes through beautiful Baobab forests, before descending the Rift Valley towards Mbeya. (Overnight onboard)

    Meals: B, L, D

  16. Day 16railovernight: Onboard Rovos Rail

    Rovos Rail

    Enjoy a relaxing day onboard today as the train traversestraverses the Rift Valley. Lunch is served as the line enters the Southern Highlands of Tanzania and the Miobmo woodland. This area dominates the lower elevations, while higher mountains feature Afromontane evergreen forests, grasslands, and shrublands. These areas are part of the Southern Rift montane forest-grassland mosaic that extends into Malawi and Zambia. (Overnight Onboard Rovos Rail)

    Meals: B, L, D

  17. Day 17railovernight: Onboard Rovos Rail

    Rovos Rail –Makambako

    This morning allows you to enjoy a stroll through the town of Makambako. Following breakfast, the train travels towards the jungled Udzungwa Mountains and negotiates the dramatic switchbacks, viaducts, and tunnels of the escarpment. Lunch, Tea, and Dinner are all served onboard. (Overnight Onboard Rovos Rail )

    Meals: B, L, D

  18. Day 18rail

    Rovos Rail – Selous Game Reserve

    Your final full day onboard is spent crossing into the highlands and traversing the fertile lands of Tanzania. Following a brunch onboard, you embark on a ​​​game visit in the Selous Game Reserve – the largest in Africa no less. Later, your final dinner onboard is a celebration of all things 1920s. B,L,D

    Meals: B, L, D

  19. Day 19railovernight: Dar Es Salaam

    Dar Es Salaam

    Enjoy a final breakfast onboard as the train heads to the coast, and before lunch bid farewell to the staff and your fellow guests as you are escorted to your central 5* hotel (Johari Rotana Hotel or similar) for a two-night stay. (Overnight in Dar Es Salaam)

    Meals: B

  20. Day 20overnight: Dar Es Salaam

    Dar Es Salaam

    Today a private guide will show you all the major sights of this vibrant city. Pick up some final souvenirs at Kariakoo Market, learn the rich history of the region at the National Museum, and admire the beautiful Mnazi Mmoja. (Overnight in Dar Es Salaam)

    Meals: B

  21. Day 21

    Your Journey Ends in Dar Es Salaam

    A driver will escort you from your hotel to the airport in time for your onward journey. B

    Meals: B

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4The train passes through the Karoo, a vast desert that was once an enormous inland sea, after a morning tour of the well-preserved Victorian railway village of Matjiesfontein.
  • Day 8A full day at Madikwe Game Reserve includes a roughly three-hour morning game drive and another in the afternoon, in prime Big 5 territory.
  • Day 11The train pulls into Victoria Falls around lunchtime, followed by a welcome address on the lawn of the Victoria Falls Hotel and a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River.
  • Day 15All guests can join a walk down to the rock pools at Chisimba Falls, before the train climbs toward the border with Tanzania near the midpoint between Africa's two great Rift Valley lakes.
  • Day 17The train negotiates the dramatic switchbacks, viaducts, and tunnels of the escarpment through the jungled Udzungwa Mountains.

Included

  • 2 nights 5* hotel accommodation including breakfast in Cape Town 2 night’s stay at Madikwe Game Reserve 1 nights 5* hotel accommodation including breakfast in Victoria Falls 2 nights 5* hotel accommodation including breakfast in Dar Es Salaam 12 nights 5* in a Pullman Suite onboard Rovos Rail from Cape Town to Pretoria including: All meals and drinks All alcoholic and other beverages En suite facilities Services of a train host throughout Tours of Matjiesfontein, Kimberly, and Pretoria 4 Game drives in Madikwe Game Reserve Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi River Guided walk of Chisimba Falls A selection of Off-board experiences (at additional cost, and booked onboard) A private half-day city tour of Cape Town A private half-day city tour of Dar Es Salaam Private transfers throughout

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes 12 nights in a Pullman Suite aboard Rovos Rail, with all meals, all drinks, and the services of a train host included throughout.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
The operator classifies it as an independent rail vacation, though private guided city tours, game drives, and transfers are included throughout the fixed itinerary.
What hotels are used?
5-star hotels are included in Cape Town, Victoria Falls, and Dar es Salaam, plus two nights at Madikwe Game Reserve. The Dar es Salaam hotel is listed as Johari Rotana Hotel or similar.
What wildlife viewing is included?
Four game drives at Madikwe Game Reserve, described as prime Big 5 territory, plus a game visit in the Selous Game Reserve, described as the largest in Africa, on Day 18.
Are all meals included?
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are listed for nearly every day, including all meals and drinks onboard Rovos Rail.
Are there extra costs beyond the package price?
Yes. A selection of off-board experiences is available at additional cost, booked once onboard.

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