Zambezi Steam Express
aboard Rovos Rail's Pride of Africa
April 13-27, 2008
Itinerary
Sunday 13th April
Fly to Johannesburg
We check in at London Heathrow Airport
for an evening British Airways flight direct
to Johannesburg.
Monday 14th April
Grand steam up at Rovos Rail
After our morning arrival in Johannesburg we
check into the Sheraton Hotel Pretoria with its
marvellous views of the Union Buildings. Later we
go to Capital Park where the Rovos Rail head
office, locomotive depot and museum are located.
We will be treated to unlimited champagne and a
buffet lunch. A 6th class 4-6-0 locomotive will
take us on a tour of the site and two 19Ds and
two 25NCs will also be in steam. We return to the
Sheraton Hotel for dinner. (B L D)
Tuesday 15th April
Steam to Mafeking
Our Rovos Rail luxury train will be waiting for us
at Capital Park with two class 25NC 4-8-4s on
the front. Champagne will be served on the patio
before we board the train. The stewards that will
look after us will show us personally to our
cabins. Soon we set off on our exciting steam
adventure to Victoria Falls. The 25NCs were the
pinnacle of steam locomotive developed in South
Africa. We steam on through Magaliesburg to
Mafeking. (B L D)
Wednesday 16th April
Botswana and Cape to Cairo Railway
After border and customs formalities at Mafeking
we head northwards on the Cape to Cairo
Railway into Botswana. Rhodes wanted to
construct a railway that linked the south coast of
Africa with the north coast but failed. Soon we
are skirting the Kalahari Desert before we arrive
at the vibrant and colourful capital city,
Gaborone, in the early evening for our overnight
stay. We enjoy a Boma dinner, a traditional
barbecue meal of the area. (B L D)
Thursday 17th April
The Bechuanaland Railway
We leave Gaborone around 08:00 as breakfast is
served in the restaurant cars. Our locomotive
takes coal and water at Mahalapye before
continuing northwards to Seruli where our train
will stay overnight. (B L D)
Friday 18th April
Steam at Selebi-Phikwe Mine
After an early breakfast there will be an optional
visit to the Selebi-Phikwe Mine Railway. This line
is unusual as it is still using steam locomotives of
the 14th class Garratts and 19Ds. We will be able
to photograph steam hauled mine trains (subject
to confirmation) and visit the locomotive depot.
Or it is possible to stay on the luxurious Rovos
train and relax if you wish. We return to Seruli by
coach so our train can depart at lunchtime still
hauled by our two 25NCs. We call at Francistown,
the site of southern Africa’s first gold rush, to take
photographs in its famous station. After border
formalities we arrive in Zimbabwe, at Plumtree,
where we stay overnight. (B L D)
Saturday 19th April
Bulawayo, the “Last Great Steam Shed
in Africa”
We depart Plumtree around 08:00 for Bulawayo.
We will stop to photograph our train in action at
Marula and Figtree. We visit the steam shed at
Bulawayo, Africa’s last working steam shed. For
many this will be the highlight of the trip as we
can watch Garratts being serviced and shunting.
There will also be a visit to the railway museum.
Opened in 1972, the museum displays a wealth of
small exhibits and models as well as steam and
diesel electric locomotives, many having been
built in the north-west of England. We return to
the train for dinner. (B L D)
Sunday 20th April
Matopos National Park
After breakfast we enjoy a short tour of Bulawayo before our coaches transfer us to the Matopos
National Park. We visit the grave of Cecil Rhodes
and go on a game safari and hopefully catch sight
of some rare white rhinos. (B L D)
Monday 21st April
Walking with Lions
Our train departs hauled by a Zimbabwe (NRZ) 16A class Garratt through Heany Junction and
Somabhula to Dabuka. Hopefully we will have
several photographic sessions on this stretch of
line to film our train in action. At Dabuka we visit
Antelope Park, where apart from elephant riding
it is possible to walk with, and stroke, lions.
This is an unbelievable experience. Our train stays
overnight in Damuka. (B L D)
Tuesday 22nd April
Game Viewing
We leave the train for an African bush breakfast
when we will see animals and birds. Afterwards
our train departs with an NRZ 15 class Garratt
and returns us to Bulawayo. On arrival at
Bulawayo we welcome back our 25NCs and
depart northward towards Victoria Falls. We stay
overnight at Sawmills. (B L D)
Wednesday 23rd April
Game Drive in Hwange
We have an early morning departure, our train heading north once again, hauled by our two
25NCs, this time to Kennedy Siding where we
arrive at around 12:00. From Kennedy Siding we
have arranged a lunch at a hide followed by a
game drive into the famous Hwange National
Park. This park is not crowded with minibuses and
tour buses, therefore offering a fine wildlife
experience. The big five may be sighted and herds
of antelope, zebra, buffalo and elephant are
common. We return to our train at Kennedy Siding
at about 18:00 and depart for Thompson
Junction. We will be able to view game from the
train as we head north running alongside
Hawange Game Park. Our train will stop
overnight, probably at Dete. (B L D)
Thursday 24th April
To Victoria Falls
Our train departs early morning from Dete. Again there will be photographic opportunities at
Lukozi before we arrive at Thompson Junction for
our locomotives to take water. We continue
northwards, occasionally seeing animals from the
train, arriving at Victoria Falls after lunch has
been served in the dining car. We stay in the
historic Victoria Falls Hotel. This is by far the most
famous hotel in Zimbabwe and will remind you of
its colonial past as it still maintains its old world
charm. In the afternoon we can relax in the
beautiful grounds of this old hotel or join an
optional guided walk to view the falls. Dinner is at
the Victoria Falls Hotel. (B L D)
Friday 25th April
Victoria Falls Safari Express
After breakfast we join the steam hauled Victoria Falls Safari Express with a 14A class Garratt. We
cross the famous Victoria Falls Bridge and enter
Zambia. The first station is Livingstone, and from
here we follow the tracks of the old Zambezi
Sawmills Railway to visit the Zambian Railway
Museum. A number of steam locomotives are
arranged in an open air display, many are British
built survivors from the colonial age. Our train
continues a little further along the Zambezi
Sawmills Railway before reversing back to
Livingstone where the locomotive is turned before
returning to Zimbabwe. Later this afternoon we
have a Sundowner Cruise on the Zambezi where
wild life will be visible perhaps including
crocodiles, hippos, giraffes and elephants. Dinner
and overnight accommodation is again at the
Victoria Falls Hotel. (B L D)
Saturday 26th April
Returning Home
We breakfast in the hotel with its views over the gorge and the bridge. There will be a guided tour
around the area, seeing Victoria Falls from
different angles, before transferring to the local
airport for our flight back to Johannesburg.
Our flight leaves at around 14:00 and we change
in Johannesburg for London. (B)
Sunday 27th April
Arrive London
We arrive London Heathrow at 09:00.
| Accommodations | Double | Single |
| Pullman Suite | £3,995 | £4,990 |
| Deluxe Suite | £4,650 | £6,300 |
Pricing listed in British pounds; payment accepted in U.S. dollars depending on rate of exchange at the time payment is due. Please call for an estimated rate.
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THE
TRAIN:
Rovos Rail's Pride of Africa
The Pride of Africa provides sumptuous, old-world elegance and luxury
of a type perhaps never equaled, even during the 1920s, the era the
train is supposed to evoke. Its two diners turn out meal after meal
of incredible perfection. Its lounge with bar and sitting area include
an open-air "patio" in the rear for wind-in-the-face viewing.
Please call us with questions, bookings:
The Society of International Railway Travelers
800-478-4881
or 502-454-0277Send us e-mail with comments or questions
2008 Society Tours
