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Great Rail Journeys · Luxury Rail Journey

Rovos Rail Cape Town to Pretoria

Luxury train from Cape Town to Johannesburg through South African winelands and Karoo

Illustration of Rovos Rail Cape Town to Pretoria

Great Rail Journeys operates this 10-day South African journey combining three nights aboard Rovos Rail with exploration of Cape Town and stays in five-star hotels. The tour departs London, arriving in Cape Town for two free days to walk the coast, visit breweries, or take optional excursions before boarding Rovos Rail on Day 5. The train travels overnight through the Western Cape winelands towards Worcester, stops at Matjiesfontein's heritage museum (Day 6), and reaches Kimberley's Diamond Mining Museum (Day 7), with formal dinners and South African wine pairings each evening. After disembarking in Pretoria on Day 8, travellers have time in the city before flying back to London. The journey suits luxury-seekers and repeat rail travellers seeking refined accommodation and fine dining while moving through South African countryside, desert, and historic sites. All flights, rail, and coach transfers are included; hotels and meals are chosen or combined from the options provided.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £690 since 4 Jul, to £4,595.

£4,595£3,9054 Jul12 Sep

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. 3 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

  • The from-price covers the package; flight costs are included rather than additional.
  • Days 3 and 4 in Cape Town are free; optional excursions (Winelands Tour, Cape Point Tour, Safari, Peninsula) are available at a supplement.
  • Hotel choice in Cape Town and Pretoria depends on availability of the named five-star properties.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: In flight

    Outbound Travel - UK to Cape Town

    British Airways flight from London, travelling overnight to Cape Town, South Africa.

  2. Day 2overnight: Cape Town

    Cape Town

    On arrival in Cape Town, transfer to your chosen hotel (The Taj Hotel, The Table Bay Hotel, or Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel), on a B&B basis.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3overnight: Cape Town

    Exploring Cape Town

    Free day in Cape Town, hike Table Mountain, relax on the beach, visit a brewery, or sample street food. Optional excursions available at a supplement: Cape Town City Tour (Half Day), Winelands Tour (Full Day), Cape Point Tour (Half Day).

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4overnight: Cape Town

    Discovering Cape Town

    A second free day in Cape Town, museums, art galleries, the coastline, shopping or food markets. Optional excursions available at a supplement: Safari (Full Day), Walk to Freedom Tour (Half Day), Peninsula (Full Day).

    Meals: Breakfast

  5. Day 5railovernight: Rovos Rail (onboard)

    Rovos Rail

    Transfer to Cape Town station to board Rovos Rail. Journey through the winelands of the Western Cape towards Worcester on the first afternoon, followed by a formal dinner onboard.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  6. Day 6railovernight: Rovos Rail (onboard)

    Matjiesfontein

    Stop at Matjiesfontein to visit a museum with classic cars and old railway carriages. Lunch onboard as the train travels through the Karoo; formal dinner served in the evening.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  7. Day 7overnight: Rovos Rail (onboard)

    Kimberley's Diamond Mines

    Disembark for a tour of Kimberley's Diamond Mining Museum and the Big Hole. Lunch onboard as the journey continues towards the Highveld, with a formal dinner featuring South African wine pairings.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  8. Day 8overnight: Pretoria

    Pretoria

    Final breakfast onboard before disembarking at Pretoria and transferring to your hotel (Ivory Manor Boutique Hotel), on a B&B basis.

    Meals: Breakfast

  9. Day 9overnight: In flight

    Inbound Travel - Pretoria to Johannesburg

    Free time to explore Pretoria before transferring to Johannesburg airport to catch the overnight flight back to London.

  10. Day 10

    Arrival back in the UK

    British Airways flight arrives back in the UK.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 5Board Rovos Rail at Cape Town station and journey through the winelands of the Western Cape towards Worcester, followed by a formal dinner onboard.
  • Day 6Stop at Matjiesfontein to visit a museum featuring classic cars and historic railway carriages; travel continues through the Karoo.
  • Day 7Tour Kimberley's Diamond Mining Museum and the Big Hole, then relax in the observation car with a formal dinner and South African wine pairings.

Included

  • 3 nights on board Rovos Rail in a Pullman Suite
  • 4 nights' hotel accommodation on a B&B basis
  • All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
  • Flight from London Heathrow to Cape Town and from Johannesburg to London Heathrow

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour

Also sold by

The same itinerary is listed on more than one site. Prices and inclusions can differ; compare before booking.

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?
From £4,595 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $6,207 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. Great Rail Journeys includes three nights aboard Rovos Rail in a Pullman Suite, all rail and coach travel, and flights from London Heathrow to Cape Town and Johannesburg back to London.
Which train is this?
Rovos Rail, travelling from Cape Town to Pretoria.
What meals are included?
Breakfast daily, plus lunch and dinner onboard Rovos Rail (Days 5, 6, 7). Formal dinners on Days 5, 6, and 7 include South African wine pairings.
What hotels are included?
Great Rail Journeys includes four nights in five-star hotels on a bed and breakfast basis: a choice of three properties in Cape Town (The Taj Hotel, The Table Bay Hotel, or Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel) and Ivory Manor Boutique Hotel in Pretoria.
Is this an escorted tour?
No, this is independent travel. Great Rail Journeys provides transfers, accommodation, and the train journey; Days 3 and 4 in Cape Town are unguided.

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