Search

Great Rail Journeys · Independent

Rovos Rail to Victoria Falls

Luxury train from Pretoria to Victoria Falls with safari and falls tour

Illustration of Rovos Rail to Victoria Falls

Great Rail Journeys offers a 10-day independent luxury journey combining Rovos Rail with a Victoria Falls tour. You depart London on an overnight flight, arriving in Johannesburg and transferring to one night in Pretoria at the five-star Ivory Manor Boutique Hotel. On day three you board Rovos Rail for four nights en route to Victoria Falls, traveling through South Africa and Zimbabwe. During the rail journey you pass through Baobab country and stop in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city. A day-long game drive at the Hide in Hwange National Park is included mid-journey. After reaching Victoria Falls on day six, you spend three nights in one of three hotel options, with included activities comprising a full tour of the Zimbabwean side of the falls (visiting the Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow Falls, and other viewpoints) and a two-hour cruise on the Zambezi River. The journey concludes with an overnight flight back to London via Cape Town. This itinerary suits luxury-focused travellers and repeat rail enthusiasts seeking a structured yet independent experience with five-star accommodation and world-class dining throughout.

What to know before you look closer

  • The package price from GBP 4,965 covers the rail journey, hotels, flights, transfers, and most meals, but does not include travel insurance or optional extras such as the helicopter ride above the falls
  • Three different hotel options are available in Victoria Falls (Insike Lodge, The Palm River Hotel, or The Wallow Lodge); your final choice depends on availability and tier selected
  • The journey includes an overnight flight each way from London, adding two full days of travel beyond the rail experience

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: In flight

    UK to Johannesburg

    Your epic journey begins today when you take your overnight flight from London to Johannesburg.

  2. Day 2overnight: Ivory Manor Boutique Hotel, Pretoria

    Pretoria

    On arrival in Pretoria you'll be transferred to your 5* hotel for the night, on a B&B basis.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3railovernight: Rovos Rail

    Rovos Rail

    Today you'll be transferred from your hotel to the railway station in Pretoria to board the indulgent Rovos Rail. One of the most luxurious trains in the world, the Rovos Rail takes you right back to the golden age of travel with formal dinners, fine china, opulent glass wear, and fine dining paired with exquisite wines. The Rovos Rail features soft sofas in the observatory car and the lounge car, and a cosy bar car for a cocktail or two. Accommodation is luxurious and vintage in its design and décor, with some suites featuring roll top baths. You'll be greeted onboard with a welcome drink this morning. Lunch is served in the dining car as you travel through Warmbaths and Nylstroom. Watch the scenery go by your window and relax in your cabin, or spend time in the lounge car, before dinner is served in the dining car this evening.

    Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  4. Day 4railovernight: Rovos Rail

    Zimbabwe

    You'll spend the day onboard Rovos Rail today, giving you the ideal opportunity to relax and feel at home on the train. You'll be travelling through Baobab country, and after lunch you'll make your way to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city and the industrial capital of the country. Watch these incredible landscapes pass by as you enjoy afternoon tea in the lounge car, cosy up in your cabin with a good book and while away the lazy hours before dinner is served in the dining car.

    Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  5. Day 5railovernight: Rovos Rail

    Safari in Hwange National Park

    Breakfast and lunch are served onboard today, which can be enjoyed at your own pace, while you travel between Gwaai and Dete on one of the world's longest stretches of straight railway track. In the afternoon you'll enjoy a game drive at the Hide in Hwange National Park. Dinner is served back onboard the train, paired with fine wines, after which you can enjoy a drink in the bar car or watch the scenery from the observation car.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  6. Day 6railovernight: Insike Lodge / The Palm River Hotel / The Wallow Lodge, Victoria Falls

    Arrive Victoria Falls

    Breakfast is served in the dining car this morning, before you reach the end of your journey aboard Rovos Rail at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. You are transferred to your chosen hotel in Zimbabwe. Choose between handpicked, unique accommodation options: Insike Lodge, The Palm River Hotel, or The Wallow Lodge.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7overnight: Insike Lodge / The Palm River Hotel / The Wallow Lodge, Victoria Falls

    Victoria Falls

    You'll see just why Victoria Falls is one of the seven natural wonders of the world when you tour the Zimbabwean side. As you walk through the permanent, misty rain forest which flanks the falls, you'll stop at various vantage points to see the falls cascade to the depths below. You'll see the Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow Falls, the Boiling Pot, Cataract Island and Livingstone Island. You'll experience the thunderous noise and the spray, as millions of litres of water tumble into a series of narrow gorges below. Next, you will enjoy a 2-hour cruise along the Zambezi River, with morning, lunchtime, and sunset experiences available. The mono-hull boats, the 'Ra-Ikanes' are styled after David Livingstone's exploration boat used in the 1850s.

    Meals: Breakfast

  8. Day 8overnight: Insike Lodge / The Palm River Hotel / The Wallow Lodge, Victoria Falls

    Victoria Falls

    Continue to enjoy Victoria Falls and its surroundings.

    Meals: Breakfast

  9. Day 9overnight: In flight

    Victoria Falls to the UK

    Your epic adventure comes to its close today as you're transferred from your hotel in Victoria Falls to the airport where you'll catch your overnight flight back to London, via Cape Town. You may wish to extend in Cape Town.

  10. Day 10

    Arrive UK

    You'll arrive back into the UK today, full of incredible, once-in-a-lifetime memories.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Boarding Rovos Rail in Pretoria to begin your journey through the golden age of travel aboard one of the world's most luxurious trains
  • Day 4Travelling through Baobab country on one of the world's longest stretches of straight railway track between Gwaai and Dete
  • Day 5Game drive at the Hide in Hwange National Park, then dinner aboard the train paired with fine wines
  • Day 7Walking tour of the Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls, stopping at the Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow Falls, the Boiling Pot, Cataract Island, and Livingstone Island

Included

  • 3 or 4 nights on board Rovos Rail in a Pullman Suite
  • 4 nights' hotel accommodation on a B&B basis
  • All rail and transfers throughout the tour
  • Flights from London Heathrow to Johannesburg and back from Victoria Falls to London Heathrow, via Cape Town
  • Game drive at the Hide in Hwange National Park
  • Tour of the Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls
  • 2-hour cruise along the Zambezi River

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The package includes four nights aboard Rovos Rail in a Pullman Suite, all rail transfers, and round-trip flights from London Heathrow to Johannesburg and back via Cape Town.
Which train is used?
Rovos Rail, one of the world's most luxurious trains, travelling from Pretoria to Victoria Falls in a Pullman Suite. The train features formal dining, fine wines, an observatory car, lounge car, and bar car.
What hotels are included?
One night in the Ivory Manor Boutique Hotel in Pretoria (5 stars). In Victoria Falls, you choose from Insike Lodge, The Palm River Hotel, or The Wallow Lodge for three nights, on a bed and breakfast basis.
What activities are included?
A game drive at the Hide in Hwange National Park, a tour of the Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls with stops at multiple vantage points, and a two-hour cruise along the Zambezi River.
What meals are included?
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served aboard Rovos Rail with wines paired at dinner. In Pretoria and Victoria Falls, bed and breakfast accommodation is provided.
Is this tour guided or independent?
This is an independent tour. You are transferred between locations and have set activities in Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park, but there is no escorted guide for the full journey.

Similar journeys