How much does it cost?

From £19,225 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $25,969 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is all train travel included?

Yes, the package includes 16 nights aboard Rovos Rail in a Pullman Suite cabin, with all onboard meals, and international flights from London Heathrow to Dar Es Salaam and from Cape Town back to London.

What is the itinerary like?

The 23-day journey departs the UK on day 1, includes one night in Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania), 16 nights aboard Rovos Rail passing through Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, a two-night stop at Madikwe Lodge in Botswana, one night at Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe, and three nights in Cape Town (South Africa).

Which trains am I on?

You travel aboard Rovos Rail from Dar Es Salaam to Cape Town, covering stops including Nyerere National Park, Victoria Falls, the Kalahari Basin, Pretoria, and Kimberley in a Pullman Suite cabin.

What is included and not included?

Included: 16 nights on Rovos Rail, 4 nights' hotel accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, all rail and transfers, international flights from London Heathrow. Not included: cancellation and travel insurance.

When does this tour operate?

Great Rail Journeys does not publish a schedule of departures in the package information. Contact the operator directly to confirm available dates.

Great Rail Journeys · Luxury Rail Journey

Rovos Rail - Dar Es Salaam to Cape Town

Great Rail Journeys offers a 23-day luxury train journey aboard Rovos Rail, departing from Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania and arriving at Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa. This independent tour crosses five African nations, combining extended time on one of the world's most luxurious trains with carefully placed hotel stops and guided excursions. You spend 16 nights in a Pullman Suite cabin, where three-course meals and afternoon tea are served daily in the dining and observation cars. Off the train, you explore Nyerere National Park on game drives, visit the thundering Victoria Falls on a sunset cruise from the Zambezi River, experience a two-night stay at a game lodge in Madikwe for additional wildlife viewing, and tour Kimberley's diamond mines and the Goldfields. The final three days in Cape Town are yours to spend freely, with optional activities available. International flights from London Heathrow are included. This journey suits luxury seekers and repeat rail travellers who value comfort and substance over the pace of travel.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has held at £19,225 every time.

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 package price does not include cancellation and travel insurance; you must arrange these separately
The final Cape Town hotel is your choice from three five-star options; your preferred choice is subject to availability
Days 20 and 21 in Cape Town are unguided; most activities and excursions are optional and available at additional cost

Day by day

Day 1overnight: In flight
Outbound Travel - UK to Tanzania
Flight from London via Doha, Qatar, on to Dar Es Salaam.
Day 2overnight: Dar Es Salaam
Arrive Dar Es Salaam
Transfer to the Serena Hotel on a B&B basis. Free afternoon, Coco Beach, local markets or museums.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3railovernight: Rovos Rail (onboard)
Rovos Rail
Transfer to Tazara railway station to board Rovos Rail. Lunch onboard travelling towards Selous, afternoon tea in the lounge car, formal dinner in the dining car.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 4overnight: Rovos Rail (onboard)
Nyerere National Park
Early breakfast, then a game drive in Nyerere, Africa's largest National Park. Lunch onboard travelling to the Udzungwa Mountains; formal dinner in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5overnight: Rovos Rail (onboard)
The Rift Valley
Leisurely breakfast before arriving at Makambako for a town tour. Lunch onboard passing Baobab Forests up the Rift Valley; formal dinner in the dining car.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6railovernight: Rovos Rail (onboard)
Zambia
Cross the border into Zambia along the Tazara railway line; lunch and dinner served in the dining car.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7overnight: Rovos Rail (onboard)
Kundalila Falls
Visit to Kundalila Falls, a waterfall cascading into a tranquil pool amid Zambia's landscape, with walking, swimming and bird watching.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8railovernight: Rovos Rail (onboard)
Relax on board
Leisure day onboard the train, afternoon tea in the lounge car, relaxing in the observation car, formal dinner in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9railovernight: Rovos Rail (onboard)
Kafue Railway Bridge
Cross the Kafue Railway Bridge. Lunch onboard travelling on to Zimbabwe; afternoon tea and formal dinner served.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10railovernight: Victoria Falls Hotel
Sunset cruise on the Zambezi River
Cross the Victoria Falls Bridge into Zimbabwe. Leave the train with an overnight bag and walk to the Victoria Falls Hotel for a welcome, then a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. Dinner and overnight at the Victoria Falls Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11railovernight: Rovos Rail (onboard)
Victoria Falls
Breakfast at the hotel then a free day at Victoria Falls, the largest body of falling water in the world. Lunch at the hotel, free time, then board the train again; dinner served onboard.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12railovernight: Rovos Rail (onboard)
The Kalahari Basin
Cross the border into Botswana over breakfast; lunch as the train crosses the Tropic of Capricorn, then relax in the observation car watching the Kalahari basin go by. Afternoon tea and formal dinner served.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13railovernight: Madikwi Lodge
Madikwi Lodge
After breakfast, transfer from the train to a lodge in Madikwi for a two-night stay. Lunch on arrival, then a three-hour game drive in this Big Five wildlife reserve, followed by dinner at the lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14overnight: Madikwi Lodge
Morning Big Five Game Drive
Early morning three-hour game drive, then breakfast back at the lodge. Lunch at the lodge, afternoon tea, then an optional further game drive; dinner at the lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15railovernight: Rovos Rail (onboard)
Morning Big Five Game Drive and Rovos Rail
A further early morning game drive (around two hours), then breakfast before leaving the lodge and transferring back to the train. Lunch, afternoon tea and a formal dinner onboard.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 16railovernight: Rovos Rail (onboard)
The Goldfields & Pretoria
Travel through the Goldfields over breakfast, then leave the train in Pretoria for a city tour. Lunch on the platform of Rovos Rail Station and a station tour, returning to the train for afternoon tea and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 17overnight: Rovos Rail (onboard)
Kimberley Diamond Mine & The Big Hole
Arrive at Kimberley, capital of the Northern Cape, and tour the Diamond Mine Museum and the Big Hole. Lunch onboard travelling to the Karoo; formal dinner in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 18railovernight: Rovos Rail (onboard)
Matjiesfontein
Walk through the historic village of Matjiesfontein and visit the platform museum of vintage cars and railway carriages. Travel through four tunnels and the Hex River Valley; 1920s-themed dinner onboard.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 19railovernight: Cape Town
Arrive Cape Town
Disembark Rovos Rail after breakfast 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
Day 20overnight: Cape Town
Cape Town
Free day in Cape Town, hike Table Mountain, coffee shops, breweries or street food. Optional excursions at a supplement: Cape Town City Tour (Half Day), Winelands Tour (Full Day), Cape Point Tour (Half Day).
Meals: Breakfast
Day 21overnight: Cape Town
Explore Cape Town Further
Second free day in Cape Town, museums, art galleries, beach, shopping or food markets. Optional excursions at a supplement: Walk to Freedom Tour (Half Day), Peninsula (Full Day).
Meals: Breakfast
Day 22overnight: In flight
Inbound Travel - Cape Town to the UK
Transfer from the hotel to Cape Town airport for the overnight flight home.
Day 23
Arrival back in the UK
Land in the UK, concluding the epic African journey.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 4Game drive through Nyerere, Africa's largest national park, followed by travel through the Udzungwa Mountains via tunnels and viaducts
Day 7Visit to Kundalila Falls in Zambia, where you can swim in the tranquil pool or relax on rocks overlooking the Kaombe River valley
Day 9Crossing the Kafue Railway Bridge, a spectacular feat of engineering
Day 10Sunset cruise on the Zambezi River at Victoria Falls, one of the world's largest waterfalls
Day 17Tour of Kimberley's Diamond Mine Museum and The Big Hole, the world's deepest hand-dug excavation

Included

16 nights on board Rovos Rail in a Pullman Suite
4 nights' hotel accommodation on a B&B basis
All rail and transfers throughout your tour
Flight from London Heathrow to Dar Es Salaam and from Cape Town to London Heathrow

Not included

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

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £19,225 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $25,969 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is all train travel included?: Yes, the package includes 16 nights aboard Rovos Rail in a Pullman Suite cabin, with all onboard meals, and international flights from London Heathrow to Dar Es Salaam and from Cape Town back to London.
What is the itinerary like?: The 23-day journey departs the UK on day 1, includes one night in Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania), 16 nights aboard Rovos Rail passing through Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, a two-night stop at Madikwe Lodge in Botswana, one night at Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe, and three nights in Cape Town (South Africa).
Which trains am I on?: You travel aboard Rovos Rail from Dar Es Salaam to Cape Town, covering stops including Nyerere National Park, Victoria Falls, the Kalahari Basin, Pretoria, and Kimberley in a Pullman Suite cabin.
What is included and not included?: Included: 16 nights on Rovos Rail, 4 nights' hotel accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, all rail and transfers, international flights from London Heathrow. Not included: cancellation and travel insurance.
When does this tour operate?: Great Rail Journeys does not publish a schedule of departures in the package information. Contact the operator directly to confirm available dates.