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Great Rail Journeys · Luxury Rail Journey

Rovos Rail to Victoria Falls

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.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £520 since 4 Jul, to £5,485.

£5,485£4,9654 Jul12 Sep

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

  • 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

    Outbound Travel - UK to Johannesburg

    Overnight flight from London to Johannesburg.

  2. Day 2overnight: Pretoria

    Pretoria

    On arrival, transfer to the Ivory Manor Boutique Hotel for the night, on a B&B basis.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3railovernight: Rovos Rail (onboard)

    Rovos Rail

    Transfer to the railway station in Pretoria to board Rovos Rail, welcomed onboard with a drink. Lunch served travelling through Warmbaths and Nylstroom; dinner in the dining car this evening.

    Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: Rovos Rail (onboard)

    Zimbabwe

    A day onboard travelling through Baobab country towards Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second city. Afternoon tea in the lounge car; dinner in the dining car.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  5. Day 5railovernight: Rovos Rail (onboard)

    Safari in Hwange National Park

    Breakfast and lunch onboard travelling between Gwaai and Dete on one of the world's longest stretches of straight railway track. Afternoon game drive at the Hide in Hwange National Park; dinner onboard with fine wines.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  6. Day 6railovernight: Victoria Falls

    Arrive Victoria Falls

    Breakfast onboard before disembarking Rovos Rail at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, and transferring to your chosen hotel (Insike Lodge, The Palm River Hotel, or The Wallow Lodge).

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7overnight: Victoria Falls

    Victoria Falls

    Tour the Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls through the misty rain forest, viewing the Main Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Rainbow Falls, the Boiling Pot, Cataract Island and Livingstone Island. A 2-hour Zambezi River cruise (morning, lunchtime or sunset options) aboard the 'Ra-Ikanes' mono-hull boats.

  8. Day 8overnight: Victoria Falls

    Victoria Falls

    Continued time at Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, with further sightseeing at leisure.

  9. Day 9overnight: In flight

    Inbound Travel - Victoria Falls to the UK

    Transfer from the hotel to the airport for the overnight flight back to London, via Cape Town (optional Cape Town stopover extension available).

  10. Day 10

    Arrival back in the UK

    Arrive back in the UK, concluding the tour.

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 your tour
  • Flights from London Heathrow to Johannesburg and back from Victoria Falls to London Heathrow, via Cape Town

Not included

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

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?
From £5,485 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $7,409 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
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.

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