Rovos Rail African Collage

This morning, the train travels the spectacular Garden Route  — sometimes high above the Indian Ocean, at other times practically at sea level. We recommend finding a spot in the observation car to take in the scenery.

Disembark in George for the scenic drive to Knysna for a ferry ride on the lagoon with lunch. The Knysna Heads – two sandstone cliffs guarding the mouth of the lagoon connecting the estuary with the sea – is a dramatic viewpoint.

Return to George and opt to shuttle to the mall or railway museum. Dinner will be at Fancourt Hotel and Golf course.

Golfers’ Option: Transfer to Fancourt Golf Estate or Ernie Els’ Oubaai Course for tee off and lunch.  Join other guests at Fancourt for dinner. 

After breakfast we arrive at Oudtshoorn for an ostrich farm visit. Oudtshoorn is famous for feathering the world in the time of the boa and grand hats. The ostrich boom of the early 20th century turned out many millionaires who, in turn, created elaborate lifestyles in this remote part of Africa.

Return to the train for an afternoon at leisure with lunch, afternoon tea and dinner on board.

Golfers’ Option: Morning transfer to Fancourt Golf Estate or Ernie Els’ Oubaai Course for tee off and lunch.  

Disembark this morning for a city tour of Port Elizabeth. Return to the train and travel to Coerney with lunch on board. Afternoon game drive Addo Elephant Park. Addo is South Africa’s third largest national reserve, stretching from the semi-arid Karoo, over the Zuurberg Mountains and down through the Sundays River valley to the coast. The park is home to one of the densest African Elephant populations on earth – roughly 600. Return to the train for dinner.

Golfers’ Option: Afternoon transfer to Humewood Golf Course in Port Elizabeth for tee off and lunch. Enjoy the scenic drive over the Zuurberg Mountains to rejoin the train for dinner. 

Full day on board to enjoy the train’s amenities as it traverses the Karoo, a vast and beautiful semi-desert stretching across the great South African plateau inland from the Cape coast with scattered towns and villages. Ascend the Great Escarpment and cross the dry southeastern region with its variety of grasses, hardy shrubs, tumbleweeds and succulents.

Morning transfer to Spionkop Lodge to hear the historic tale of the Battle of Spionkop and walk in the footsteps of Churchill and Gandhi, followed by lunch at the lodge.  This afternoon, take a game drive in the 11,000-acre reserve or relax at the lodge.  Return to the train for dinner.

Golfers: Transfer to Champagne Sports Resort for 18 holes at this lovely course with the Drakensberg Mountains as a backdrop. Lunch at the resort. Return to the train for dinner.

Breakfast is served as the train traverses the Valley of a Thousand Hills. Disembark for a Durban city tour, including a visit to the botanical gardens and lunch at Umhlanga’s beachfront. Durban is the third largest city in South Africa and enjoys great importance due to its industry and very large port.

Return to the train as it travels north along the Indian Ocean coastline.

Golfer’s Option: Morning tee-off at Durban Country Club or Beachwood or Zimbali. Rejoin the train for afternoon tea and dinner.

Early morning game drive in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park. As the oldest proclaimed reserve in Africa, Hluhluwe consists of 370 square miles (960km²) of hilly topography in central Zululand. It has all the Big Five game animals and is also a prime birding destination. Due to conservation efforts, the park now has the largest population of white rhino in the world.

Return to the train for lunch as border formalities take place at eSwatini (formerly Swaziland).

The tiny Kingdom of eSwatini (Swaziland) covers only 6,700 square miles (17,000 km²), most of which is mountainous. For such a small country, it is surprising that it sustains two capital cities: Mbabane is the administrative capital and Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital. In April 2018, Swaziland changed its name to the Kingdom of eSwatini (meaning “place of the Swazi”) and is an absolute monarchy.

Transfer to Swazi Candles and Mantenga Cultural Village for a visit with lunch. Return to the train for dinner as we re-enter South Africa.

Golfers: Transfer to Nkonyeni for tee off and lunch. 

We’ll have an early wake-up call this morning for a game drive in Kruger Park in open vehicles. Look for Africa’s “Big Five” and enjoy lunch at the Park. Return to the train for afternoon tea served while traveling west across the Drakensberg Mountains. A special 1920s-themed dinner on board tonight.

Golfers’ Option: Tee off and lunch at Leopard Creek or White River or Nelspruit. Return to the train for afternoon tea and dinner. 

Breakfast is served as the train climbs the spectacular escarpment. Lunch is served before arrival into Capital Park, Rovos Rail’s private station, around 5 p.m.