How much does it cost?

From £7,799 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $10,535 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager who accompanies the group from start to finish. The maximum group size is 22 travellers.

Which trains are featured?

The Pride of Africa, operated by Rovos Rail, carries the group from Pretoria to Durban over two nights in a Pullman Suite. All meals and drinks are included on board.

When does this tour depart?

Great Rail Journeys offers four departures: September 2026, January 2027, February 2027 and August 2027.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Victoria Falls, Cape Town & Botswana Safari

Southern Africa rail and safari: Victoria Falls, Botswana, Pride of Africa train, Cape Town

Great Rail Journeys' 16-day escorted tour explores southern Africa from Victoria Falls to Cape Town, departing London Heathrow and returning after two weeks of wildlife, scenic drives and urban discovery. The journey spans Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and Zambia with a UK Tour Manager guiding a small group throughout. Days blend safari experiences (morning game drives in Chobe National Park and Nambiti Reserve, a sunrise wildlife drive), river cruises (sunset on the Zambezi, sunset on the Chobe), and city exploration (Cape Town's Table Mountain cable car, the Cape Peninsula tour to meet African penguins at Boulders Bay). The centrepiece is a two-night journey aboard Rovos Rail's Pride of Africa in a Pullman Suite from Pretoria to Durban, with all meals and drinks included on the train. Most nights are spent in 4-star hotels; accommodation ranges from Victoria Falls and Kasane's safari lodges to Durban, Knysna and Cape Town. This tour suits repeat rail travellers, couples seeking guided and free time, photographers drawn to famous landscapes, and those comfortable with a mix of escorted activities and independent evenings.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £800 since 4 Jul, to £7,799.

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

The single supplement is GBP 2,000 above half the double-occupancy price (double from GBP 6,999, single from GBP 8,999), a significant uplift for solo travellers.
Several days involve independent dining; confirm restaurant options with Great Rail Journeys before booking, particularly in smaller towns.
The tour spans four countries across three weeks; ensure your passport has sufficient validity and check visa requirements for Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Zambia before departing.

Day by day

Day 1
London to Johannesburg
This extensive southern African discovery begins at London Heathrow as you meet the Tour Manager and the rest of the small group, before boarding an overnight flight to Johannesburg.
Day 2overnight: Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls & Zambezi sunset cruise
After an internal flight to Victoria Falls Airport, we transfer to our hotel on the banks of the Zambezi River and enjoy a welcome drink and a sunset river cruise.
Day 3overnight: Victoria Falls
The spectacular Victoria Falls
A morning tour of Victoria Falls, the UNESCO World Heritage site known as 'Mosi-oa-Tunya'. The afternoon is free at leisure, and in the evening we experience a traditional Boma dinner with African drummers and dancers.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4overnight: Kasane
Botswana and sunset cruise on the Chobe River
We travel by road to Kasane in Botswana's Chobe District, check in to a safari lodge on the Chobe River, and take a scenic sunset cruise to see elephants, giraffe, antelope and buffalo.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5overnight: Kasane
Wildlife viewing in the Chobe National Park
Early morning 4x4 game drive through Chobe National Park, home to the largest surviving elephant population in the world. The rest of the day is at leisure at the lodge.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6overnight: Pretoria
Flight to Johannesburg & overnight in Pretoria
A short transfer to Kasane Airport for a flight to Johannesburg, then transfer to our hotel in Pretoria, South Africa's administrative capital.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7railovernight: Aboard Pride of Africa (Rovos Rail)
The Pride of Africa train to Kwa-Zulu Natal
We board Rovos Rail's Pride of Africa at Pretoria's Capital Park for a two-night journey to Durban, crossing South Africa's Highveld in air-conditioned Pullman cabins with all meals included.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8railovernight: Aboard Pride of Africa (Rovos Rail)
Sunrise safari in Nambiti Reserve, plus a choice of excursions
An optional pre-breakfast wildlife drive through Nambiti Reserve, then brunch aboard the train before a choice of a Spionkop Battlefield tour or a Spionkop Reserve wildlife drive from Spionkop Lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner
Day 9overnight: Durban
Overnight in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal
Breakfast in the dining cars as we continue to Durban, stopping near Howick to visit the Ardmore Ceramics Gallery, before checking in to our central hotel on the Golden Mile.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 10overnight: Knysna
To Knysna via Nyosi Wildlife Reserve & the Garden Route
An internal flight to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha), then a scenic coach journey along the Garden Route with a safari drive at Nyosi Wildlife Reserve and a wine tasting, before reaching Knysna.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11overnight: Knysna
Cruising Knysna Lagoon to Featherbed Nature Reserve
A boat trip on Knysna Lagoon to the Featherbed Nature Reserve, including a nature walk and lunch beneath Milkwood trees, before free time in Knysna.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 12overnight: Cape Town
Oudtshoorn Ostrich Farm and on to Cape Town
A coach journey via the Outeniqua Mountains to Oudtshoorn for a guided tour of an ostrich farm and a South African braai lunch, before arriving in Cape Town for a three-night stay.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 13overnight: Cape Town
Cape Town orientation tour & free time to explore
A city orientation tour taking in the City Hall, Company's Gardens, the Castle of Good Hope and Bo-Kaap, followed by a cable car to Table Mountain and free time in the city.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 14overnight: Cape Town
Touring the Cape Peninsula & meeting African penguins
A full-day tour of the Cape Peninsula including the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Chapman's Peak, the Flying Dutchman funicular at Cape Point, Simon's Town, and the African penguins at Boulders Bay.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 15
Flight from Cape Town to London
A leisurely final day in Cape Town before transferring to the airport for an evening flight back to London.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 16
Homeward bound
Arrival in London Heathrow early this morning brings this epic tour of southern Africa to a close.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Sunset river cruise on the Zambezi River from the lodge banks at Victoria Falls, with refreshments and possible sightings of hippos, crocodiles and elephants.
Day 3Guided morning tour of Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage site on Zimbabwe's border with Zambia.
Day 7Boarding the Pride of Africa at Pretoria's Capital Park station for a two-night journey to Durban in a Pullman Suite, crossing the Highveld and Drakensberg mountains.
Day 8Sunrise wildlife drive through Nambiti Reserve, followed by a choice between a tour of Spionkop Battlefield or a wildlife drive in Spionkop Reserve.
Day 14Full-day Cape Peninsula tour including Chapman's Peak scenic coastal road, Cape Point funicular railway, and Boulders Bay to view a colony of African penguins.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
11 nights’ 4-Star hotel accommodation
2 nights in a Pullman Suite aboard Rovos Rail
Standard Class rail travel
Flights from London Heathrow to Victoria Falls via Johannesburg, Cape Town to London Heathrow
All internal flights
Breakfast each day, 5 lunches, 1 brunch, 3 dinners
Small Group: average group size of 22, enhanced excursions and exclusive experiences
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

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

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £7,799 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $10,535 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides a UK Tour Manager who accompanies the group from start to finish. The maximum group size is 22 travellers.
Which trains are featured?: The Pride of Africa, operated by Rovos Rail, carries the group from Pretoria to Durban over two nights in a Pullman Suite. All meals and drinks are included on board.
When does this tour depart?: Great Rail Journeys offers four departures: September 2026, January 2027, February 2027 and August 2027.