Is train travel included?

Yes. The package includes 15 nights aboard Rovos Rail in Pullman Suite cabins, plus all rail and coach transfers throughout the tour.

Rovos Rail, which operates from Dar es Salaam to Cape Town. Passengers travel in Pullman Suite accommodation.

Is this escorted or independent?

Independent. Vacations By Rail describes this as a self-guided journey on your own following a well-planned itinerary. Day 18 includes a half-day guided tour in Cape Town; other days offer free time or optional excursions.

Four nights in five-star hotels: Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam (1 night), Victoria Falls Hotel (1 night), Madikwi Lodge (2 nights), and a choice of three five-star properties in Cape Town (3 nights total: Taj Hotel, Table Bay Hotel, or Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel). All accommodations are on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

What meals are included?

All meals aboard Rovos Rail are included, typically breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Hotel breakfasts are included; other hotel meals are not.

What activities are included?

Game excursion at Selous Game Reserve (Day 3), visit to Chisimba Falls (Day 5), sunset cruise on the Zambezi River (Day 8), two full days of big-five game drives at Madikwi Lodge (Days 11-12), city tour in Pretoria (Day 14), Diamond Mine Museum tour in Kimberley (Day 15), historic village walk in Matjiesfontein (Day 16), and a half-day guided tour in Cape Town (Day 18). Days 9 and 19 are free; optional excursions like the Peninsula cruise are available for supplementary cost.

No longer offered

Vacations By Rail has withdrawn this trip from sale. We keep the page for reference and comparison. Live alternatives are under Similar journeys below.

Vacations By Rail · Independent rail tour

Rovos Rail Dar Es Salaam to Cape Town

Twenty-day luxury train journey from Tanzania to Cape Town on Rovos Rail

Vacations By Rail operates this 20-day independent luxury rail journey from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to Cape Town, South Africa, aboard Rovos Rail. The train travels through five countries over 15 nights, carrying passengers in Pullman Suite cabins across diverse African landscapes. Days 2-7 unfold primarily onboard, with formal meals in the dining car and excursions at key stops: an early morning game drive at Selous Game Reserve on Day 3, the Chisimba Falls in Zambia on Day 5, and the historic Kafue Railway Bridge crossing into Zimbabwe on Day 7. Day 8 includes a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls before an overnight at the Victoria Falls Hotel. From Day 9 onward, the route passes through Botswana's Kalahari Basin and continues to a two-night stay at Madikwi Lodge with morning and afternoon game drives for big-five wildlife viewing. The final days feature stops in Pretoria, Kimberley's Diamond Mine Museum, and the historic village of Matjiesfontein before arriving in Cape Town on Day 17 for three nights in a five-star hotel. The itinerary suits independent travellers seeking an extended, luxurious rail experience with wildlife encounters, scenic train travel, and substantial free time to explore major destinations.

What to know before you look closer

International flights are not included in the from-price and must be booked separately.
The final three nights in Cape Town are split among three different five-star hotel options depending on your choice; confirm which hotel will be assigned before finalizing payment.
Day 18 includes a half-day guided tour; Days 1, 8, 9, and 19 offer substantial free or unguided time if you prefer independent exploration.

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.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 3Early morning excursion into Selous Game Reserve, Africa's largest game reserve, followed by lunch and afternoon tea aboard the train as it climbs toward the Udzungwa Mountains.
Day 5Cross the border into Zambia and visit Chisimba Falls, a series of three waterfalls.
Day 7Rovos Rail crosses the nearly 100-year-old Kafue Railway Bridge en route to Zimbabwe.
Day 8Walk from the train to Victoria Falls Hotel, then join a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River before dinner.
Day 15Tour the Diamond Mine Museum and The Big Hole in Kimberley before the train travels through the Karoo toward Cape Town.

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

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?: Yes. The package includes 15 nights aboard Rovos Rail in Pullman Suite cabins, plus all rail and coach transfers throughout the tour.
Which train is used?: Rovos Rail, which operates from Dar es Salaam to Cape Town. Passengers travel in Pullman Suite accommodation.
Is this escorted or independent?: Independent. Vacations By Rail describes this as a self-guided journey on your own following a well-planned itinerary. Day 18 includes a half-day guided tour in Cape Town; other days offer free time or optional excursions.
What are the hotels?: Four nights in five-star hotels: Serena Hotel in Dar es Salaam (1 night), Victoria Falls Hotel (1 night), Madikwi Lodge (2 nights), and a choice of three five-star properties in Cape Town (3 nights total: Taj Hotel, Table Bay Hotel, or Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel). All accommodations are on a bed-and-breakfast basis.
What meals are included?: All meals aboard Rovos Rail are included, typically breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Hotel breakfasts are included; other hotel meals are not.
What activities are included?: Game excursion at Selous Game Reserve (Day 3), visit to Chisimba Falls (Day 5), sunset cruise on the Zambezi River (Day 8), two full days of big-five game drives at Madikwi Lodge (Days 11-12), city tour in Pretoria (Day 14), Diamond Mine Museum tour in Kimberley (Day 15), historic village walk in Matjiesfontein (Day 16), and a half-day guided tour in Cape Town (Day 18). Days 9 and 19 are free; optional excursions like the Peninsula cruise are available for supplementary cost.

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