Discovery Trains · Escorted rail journey

Rovos Rail : Le Cap - Pretoria

4-day luxury Rovos Rail journey, Cape Town to Pretoria via the Karoo

Rovos Rail : Le Cap - Pretoria, a rail journey with Discovery Trains

Discovery Trains runs Rovos Rail: Cape Town to Pretoria as a 4-day, 3-night escorted rail journey, with travelers staying aboard Rovos Rail for all three nights. On day 1 the train climbs the Worcester Pass and passes through the historic Hex River Pass tunnels, with views over Western Cape vineyards. Day 2 brings a stop at the Victorian village-museum of Matjiesfontein, complete with a railway museum, vintage cars and the Lord Milner Hotel, before the train crosses the semi-desert Karoo. On day 3, the train reaches Kimberley, capital of the Northern Cape, for a visit to the Diamond Mine Museum and the Big Hole, a former open-pit mine 215 meters deep first worked in 1871, before continuing on toward the Highveld. The trip ends on day 4 with a late-morning arrival in Pretoria, with the option to visit Rovos Rail's private station museum. A qualified English-speaking guide leads the excursions. It suits travelers who want a short, all-inclusive introduction to Rovos Rail's luxury travel and South Africa's mining and colonial history.

What to know before you look closer

  • Arrival in Pretoria may involve a transfer from Meyerton Station depending on railway construction progress; confirm current arrangements with the operator.
  • Arrival and departure transfers, and hotel accommodation before and after the 4-day journey, are not included; travelers need to arrange their own logistics into Cape Town and out of Pretoria.
  • Onboard drinks are included except champagne and international sparkling wine, which cost extra.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: À bord du train

    Le Cap

    Embarquement à la gare privée du Rovos Rail au Cap. Installation en suite, puis vue sur les vignobles du Western Cape depuis le salon ou la voiture panoramique. Le train gravit le col de Worcester (750m) puis traverse les tunnels historiques du Hex River Pass (plus de 13 km pour le dernier).

    Meals: dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: À bord du train

    Matjiesfontein

    Arrêt au village-musée victorien de Matjiesfontein (musée ferroviaire, voitures anciennes, Lord Milner Hotel). Le train traverse ensuite le Karoo, région semi-désertique née de l'assèchement d'une ancienne mer intérieure.

    Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

  3. Day 3railovernight: À bord du train

    Kimberley

    Découverte de Kimberley, capitale du Northern Cape et haut lieu de l'histoire minière : Diamond Mine Museum et le Big Hole, ancienne mine à ciel ouvert de 215m de profondeur exploitée dès 1871. Le train poursuit vers le Highveld.

    Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner

  4. Day 4rail

    Pretoria

    Arrivée à Pretoria en fin de matinée (transfert depuis Meyerton Station possible selon l'avancement des travaux ferroviaires). Possibilité de visiter la gare-musée privée du Rovos Rail.

    Meals: breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1The train climbs the Worcester Pass (750m) and passes through the historic Hex River Pass tunnels, one more than 13km long, with views of Western Cape vineyards.
  • Day 2A stop at the Victorian village-museum of Matjiesfontein, with its railway museum, vintage cars and the Lord Milner Hotel, before the train crosses the semi-desert Karoo.
  • Day 3A visit to Kimberley's Diamond Mine Museum and the Big Hole, a former open-pit mine 215 meters deep first worked in 1871.
  • Day 4Arrival in Pretoria in late morning, with the option to visit Rovos Rail's private station museum.

Included

  • Hébergement à bord du train pour toutes les nuits mentionnées, selon la catégorie de compartiment choisie
  • Tous les repas mentionnés (PDJ, DJ, DI)
  • Toutes les boissons à bord sauf le champagne ou vin pétillant international
  • Les excursions avec un guide qualifié anglophone
  • Les droits d'entrée sur les sites selon l'itinéraire
  • Un service léger de blanchisserie (limité)
  • Les taxes gouvernementales

Not included

  • Les vols internationaux
  • Les visas
  • Les assurances voyage
  • Les transferts arrivée/départ
  • L'hébergement en hôtel avant et après l'itinéraire
  • Les boissons à l'extérieur du train
  • Les pourboires
  • Les dépenses personnelles

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes, this all-aboard escorted rail journey travels aboard Rovos Rail from Cape Town to Pretoria via Matjiesfontein and Kimberley, with all three nights spent onboard.
Is it escorted or independent?
It's an escorted rail journey with a qualified English-speaking guide included for the excursions.
What accommodation is provided?
Suite Pullman (about 7m², shower/toilet/sink, double bed or bunk configuration) or Suite Deluxe (about 10m², seating area, private bathroom, three sleeping configurations); a Suite Royal class is also listed for the train.
When does it depart?
19 departures are listed, running monthly from June through December 2026.
What is not included?
International flights, visas, travel insurance, arrival and departure transfers, hotel accommodation before and after the trip, drinks outside the train, tips and personal expenses.
How much does it cost?
From €2,640 ($3,022 USD) per person for Suite Pullman, or from €3,800 for Suite Deluxe, about $756 per day.

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