Great Rail Journeys
Rovos Rail - Dar Es Salaam to Cape Town
23 daysfrom $25,675
Vacations By Rail · Independent rail tour
Rovos Rail Dar Es Salaam to Cape Town
Experience the golden age of travel aboard Rovos Rail, one of the most luxurious trains in the world, on this once-in-a-lifetime, epic journey. Beginning in Dar Es Salaam, travel through the incredible landscapes of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Pretoria and Cape Town.
Day by day
- Day 1overnight: Dar es Salaam
Arriving in Dar Es Salaam
Transferred to the Serena Hotel in Dar Es Salaam on a B&B basis. The afternoon is free to visit Coco Beach, local markets or museums.
- Day 2railovernight: Rovos Rail
Rovos Rail
An included transfer takes you to Tazara railway station to board Rovos Rail. Lunch is served in the dining car towards Selous, with afternoon tea in the lounge car and your first formal dinner onboard.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
- Day 3railovernight: Rovos Rail
Selous Game Reserve
An early breakfast before your first excursion into the largest game reserve in Africa. Lunch is served back onboard toward the Udzungwa Mountains, with afternoon tea and a formal dinner as the train passes through tunnels and over viaducts.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 4railovernight: Rovos Rail
The Rift Valley
A leisurely breakfast before arriving at Makambako for a town tour. Lunch is served back on the train past Baobab Forests and up the Rift Valley, with a formal dinner in the dining car this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 5overnight: Rovos Rail
Zambia and the Chisimba Falls
Breakfast as you cross the border into Zambia, lunch in the dining car, then an early-afternoon visit to Chisimba Falls, a series of three waterfalls. A themed dinner is served this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 6railovernight: Rovos Rail
A day to relax on Rovos Rail
A leisure day onboard, with lunch in the dining car as the train is turned at Kapiri Mposhi, afternoon tea in the lounge car, and a formal dinner this evening.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
- Day 7railovernight: Rovos Rail
Lusaka and the Kafue Railway Bridge
After breakfast, Rovos Rail crosses the nearly 100-year-old Kafue Railway Bridge en route toward Zimbabwe. Lunch is served in the dining car, afternoon tea in the lounge car, and another formal dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 8railovernight: Victoria Falls Hotel
Sunset cruise on the Zambezi River
A leisurely breakfast as the train crosses the Victoria Falls Bridge into Zimbabwe. Disembark with an overnight bag and walk to the Victoria Falls Hotel, then join a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River before returning to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 9railovernight: Rovos Rail
Victoria Falls
A relaxed breakfast in the hotel's restaurant, then a free day to explore Victoria Falls. Lunch is served back in the hotel's restaurant, before reboarding the train and enjoying dinner in the dining car this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 10railovernight: Rovos Rail
The Kalahari Basin
Breakfast in the dining car as Rovos Rail crosses into Botswana, lunch while crossing the Tropic of Capricorn, afternoon tea in the lounge car overlooking the Kalahari Basin, and a formal dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 11railovernight: Madikwi Lodge
Madikwi Lodge
After breakfast, transfer from the train to a lodge in Madikwi for a two-night stay. Lunch is served on arrival, followed by a three-hour game drive in this big-five wildlife reserve, then dinner at the lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 12overnight: Madikwi Lodge
Morning Big Five Game Drive
An early morning game drive of around three hours, then breakfast back at the lodge, free time, an afternoon tea and a second game drive, followed by dinner in the lodge's restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 13railovernight: Rovos Rail
Morning Big Five Game Drive and Rovos rail
A final early morning game drive of around two hours, then breakfast at the lodge before transferring back to the train. Lunch is served in the dining car, with a formal dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 14railovernight: Rovos Rail
The Goldfields & Pretoria
A leisurely breakfast through the Goldfields, then the journey pauses in Pretoria for a city tour. Lunch is served on the platform of the Rovos Rail Station, with dinner in the dining car this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 15railovernight: Rovos Rail
Kimberley Diamond Mine & The Big Hole
After a relaxed breakfast, the train arrives in Kimberley for a tour of the Diamond Mine Museum and The Big Hole. Lunch is served back onboard en route to the Karoo, with a formal dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Day 16railovernight: Rovos Rail
Matjiesfontein
Arriving in Matjiesfontein after breakfast, walk through the historic village and visit the museum of vintage cars and railway carriages. The train then travels through a series of tunnels and down the Hex River Valley, with a 1920s-themed dinner this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
- Day 17railovernight: Cape Town
Arrive Cape Town
Disembark Rovos Rail for the final time after breakfast. An included transfer takes you to your selected hotel, chosen between handpicked five-star hotels on a B&B basis.
Meals: Breakfast
- Day 18overnight: Cape Town
Exploring Cape Town
A half-day guided tour past the Parliament Buildings, City Hall, the Slave Lodge, the Company Gardens and the Bo-Kaap to Table Mountain.
- Day 19overnight: Cape Town
A free day in Cape Town
A full free day for museums, galleries, beaches, shopping or hiking, or a supplementary optional excursion such as the Walk to Freedom Tour or Peninsula cruise.
- Day 20
Tour conclusion
An included transfer takes you from your Cape Town hotel to the airport to board your overnight flight home.
Included
- 4 nights 5-Star hotel accommodation
- All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
- 15 nights on board the Rovos Rail in a Pullman Suite
Not included
- Cancellation & Travel Insurance
- Flights
