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Cape Town Rovos Rail Journey
Authentic Big Five Safari Experience
This meander serves as the ideal example of how South Africa is a world unto itself. Explore the vast grasslands of the gold-rich Highveld, the eerie desolation of the Great Karoo, and the picturesque winelands and mountain ranges of the Cape. The Mother City of South Africa, Cape Town, is at the end of the journey, nestled between the massive peaks of Table Mountain, Devil's Peak, and Lion's Head. Highlights of both the north and southbound itineraries include a visit to Matjiesfontein, a historically significant Victorian hamlet that was established in 1890 as a rest station and has an attractive museum on the platform. The Big Hole, the biggest artificial excavation in the world, and the Diamond Mine Museum are visited on a second visit to Kimberley. Also available in reverse.
Rovos Rail Reviews
Sabisandlodges has been amazing in creating a dream holiday!!! They were attentive, quick to respond and arranged everything for us
Sabisandlodges has been amazing in creating a dream holiday!!! They were attentive, quick to respond and arranged everything for us in great detail!!
Thank you so much for arranging all our travel - Ulusaba, amazing. The pick ups were great - through vumba tours!!
The La Rochelle tours were fantastic too. Drivers were helpful, friendly and professional.
Really enjoyed our experiences and everyone involved made it even better!!!!
Our experience with Max from Sabi Sands Lodges was brilliant. His recommendation and attention to details were excellent. We highly
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Our experience with Max from Sabi Sands Lodges was brilliant. His recommendation and attention to details were excellent. We highly recommend booking with Sabi Sands Lodges as it saved us time & effort. Experience counts and Max's knowledge was invaluable.
We’ve have just come back from a 3 night stay at earth lodge. One word incredible. We got to see
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We’ve have just come back from a 3 night stay at earth lodge. One word incredible. We got to see the big 5 and a lot more animals. The game drives were amazing. The Knowledge of the tracker (Donald) and our guide (Helen) was exceptional and they ensured we were able to see everything. We seen leopards, cheetahs and lions. You stop for a morning coffee out in the bush and sundowners in the evening, this was also excellently organised. The rooms are absolutely stunning with the biggest mini bar I’ve ever seen. The drink options are fantastic. Super comfortable rooms and luxurious. Food was superb. Each evening there was a different location for dinner excellently curated by the team at the hotel, with food prepared to a very high standard. We also used the gym facilities which were great. The service and operational standards at this hotel are exceptional. I would 100% stay at this lodge again it was such an incredible experience
Recommendations were great and all the arrangements worked smoothly. Andy was always reachable and receptive to requests and modification. 100%
...read moreRecommendations were great and all the arrangements worked smoothly. Andy was always reachable and receptive to requests and modification. 100% recommended.
What a memorable stay.
Our experience was perfect from start to finish. Booking the experience through Andy set the tone
What a memorable stay.
Our experience was perfect from start to finish. Booking the experience through Andy set the tone for the stress-free bush experience.
From the vanilla scented towels, to the delicious food, exciting game drives and phenomenal staff, our stay at Shiduli was magical from the second we arrived and lives in our hearts long after we left.
Your helpful staff greeted us as we arrived and and were with us every step of the way... literally. We were escorted to our private villa by Gary, who my children absolutely adored. Richard, in the bar was on form and Gogo Dorris had faith that we would see lions... which we did.
Thandy and Karen were friendly, professional and made us feel like old friends. We will definitely be back and will bring our friends and family so they can share in this beautiful gem.
Journey Itinerary
Pretoria to Cape Town
Day 1: Pretoria
Please arrive at least one hour in advance of your departure. If you would like to take a site tour at Rovos Rail Station or visit our museum, we recommend coming two hours before departure.
10:00am Leave the Pretoria Rovos Rail Station. Cross the wide grassland plains of the Highveld and the goldfields of the Witwatersrand. Before meeting up with other travellers in the lounge and observation carriages, guests can freshen themselves in their suites.
13:00pm The dining cars are used for serving lunch.
16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to provide dinner while travelling to Klerksdorp. Spend the night on board. Formal attire.
Day 2: Kimberley
07:00am On the way to Kimberley, breakfast is provided in the dining carriages until 10:00.
12:30pm The dining cars are used for serving lunch.
Take a tour of the Big Hole and the Diamond Mine Museum in Kimberley. The Northern Cape's capital, Kimberley, is well-known for the diamond finding that prompted the town's founding in 1871.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Spend the night on board. Formal attire.
Day 3: Matjiesfontein
07:00am The dining cars provide breakfast till 10:00. The railroad passes through the immense semi-desert Karoo, which was formerly home to a massive inland sea. The Karoo system was formed by the deposition of silt on the seafloor caused by the grinding down of volcanic materials over millions of years.
13:00pm The dining cars are used for serving lunch. Guests have the option to get off the train at Whitehill Siding and walk the 5 km into Matjiesfontein after lunch. The group will be accompanied by a staff member.
Get down in Matjiesfontein so you may have a leisurely walk around the ancient village. The museum situated on the platform and the assortment of vintage automobiles and train carriages situated to the right of the Lord Milner Hotel are particularly noteworthy.
16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge.
The train reaches the first of the pass's four tunnels approximately one hour after leaving Matjiesfontein. Because the first tunnel is 13.5 kilometres long, visitors should use caution when crossing the train and may want to turn on any essential lights.
19:30pm As the train descends the escarpment into Worcester, it serves dinner while climbing 750 meters. Formal attire.
Day 4: Cape Town
07:00am The dining cars serve breakfast until 09:30. Through the valley of the Hex River, the train passes.
10:00am Arrive at Cape Town Station to complete your journey.
Cape Town to Pretoria
Day 1: Cape Town
16:00pm Leave the Cape Town Station behind. Stroll across the Western Cape's winelands in the direction of Worcester.
16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. The railroad ascends the escarpment's face ±750 meters. Formal attire.
The train arrives at the first of the pass's four tunnels at midnight. Because the last tunnel is 13.5 km long, visitors should use caution when crossing the train.
Day 2: Matjiesfontein
07:00am The dining cars provide breakfast till 10:00.
08:00am Get down in Matjiesfontein so you may have a leisurely walk around the ancient village. The museum situated on the platform and the assortment of vintage automobiles and train carriages situated to the right of the Lord Milner Hotel are particularly noteworthy.
10:00am The railroad passes through the immense semi-desert Karoo, which was formerly home to a massive inland sea. The ground-up volcanic material that accumulated over millions of years as silt on the seafloor gave rise to the structure known to geologists as the Karoo system.
13:00pm The dining cars are used for serving lunch.
16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Spend the night on board. Formal attire.
Day 3: Kimberley
06:00am The dining cars provide breakfast till 7:30 a.m.
08:30am Take a tour of the Big Hole and the Diamond Mine Museum in Kimberley. The Northern Cape's capital, Kimberley, is well known for the diamond finding that prompted the town's founding in 1871.
12:00pm The dining cars are used for serving lunch. The train heads northeast, towards the Highveld's vast grassland plains.
16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Spend the night on board. Formal attire.
Day 4: Pretoria
07:00am The dining cars serve breakfast until 9:30 a.m.
10:00am Get out at Kookrus Station, which is around 100 kilometres south of Rovos Rail Station. There's a free, 90-minute optional shuttle from Kookrus Station to Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria.
Includes:
Accommodation - all meals - all beverages - room service - limited laundry - excursions with a qualified guide (where applicable) - entrance fees as per itinerary - government tax.
Excludes:
International sparkling wine - gratuities - personal expenses - visas - travel insurance - pre- and post-tour transfers - accommodation and flights.
Cape Town with Rovos Rail - Video
Royal Suite
The immaculately renovated and updated wood-paneled sleeper coaches provide every contemporary comfort and convenience, along with the best amenities. With a private lounge space, a Victorian bath, a separate shower, a toilet, and a basin, each Royal Suite occupies half of a carriage. They have split twin or double beds that can fit one or two passengers. Every day, a committed host or hostess comes to the suites to provide everyday services. Configurations of the suite may not always be available. Suite arrangements may not match photos; refer to SUITES.
Suite Facilities:
Double or twin beds - En-suite with bath, shower, toilet and basin - Small lounge area - Writing desk - Luggage shelf - Cupboards - Safe - Air conditioning - Fridge - Tea facilities - Bespoke amenities - Robes and slippers - Hairdryer (fixed or plug-in) - Shaver plugs (2-pin) - USB ports - Safety glasses - Emergency torch - Fire extinguisher - Laundry bag - Shoe bag - Internal telephone system - Room service
Deluxe Suite
The immaculately renovated and updated wood-paneled sleeper coaches provide every contemporary comfort and convenience, along with the best amenities. The Deluxe Suites offer their own lounge space, en suite bathroom with shower, toilet and basin, and can sleep one or two people in double or twin beds. Every day, a committed host or hostess comes to the suites to provide everyday services. Configurations of the suite may not always be available. Suite arrangements may not match photos; refer to SUITES.
Suite Facilities:
Double or twin beds - En-suite with shower, toilet and basin - Small lounge area - Writing desk - Luggage shelf - Cupboards - Safe - Air conditioning - Fridge - Tea facilities - Bespoke amenities - Robes and slippers - Hairdryer (fixed or plug-in) - Shaver plugs (2-pin) - USB ports - Safety glasses - Emergency torch - Fire extinguisher - Laundry bag - Shoe bag - Internal telephone system - Room service
Pullman Suite
The immaculately renovated and updated wood-paneled sleeper coaches provide every contemporary comfort and convenience, along with the best amenities. The Pullmans, usually utilised on our short journeys, accommodate one or two passengers and offer an en-suite with shower, toilet and sink. The suites have a cosy sofa-seat that can be transformed into a double or twin bed (either side by side or with upper and lower bunks) at night. Every day, a committed host or hostess comes to the suites to provide everyday services. Configurations of the suite may not always be available. Suite arrangements may not match photos; refer to SUITES.
Suite Facilities:
Double or twin beds - Upper and/or lower bunk - Daytime sofa setting - En-suite with shower, toilet and basin - Fold-up writing desk - Luggage shelf - Cupboards - Safe - Air conditioning - Fridge - Tea facilities - Bespoke amenities - Robes and slippers - Hairdryer (fixed or plug-in) - Shaver plugs (2-pin) - USB ports - Safety glasses - Emergency torch - Fire extinguisher - Laundry bag - Shoe bag - Internal telephone system
Rates
Room Type: | 2024 Rate | 2025 Rate | 2026 Rate |
Royal | R66,200 | R72,000 | R86,400 |
Deluxe | R49,700 | R54,000 | R64,800 |
Pullman | R34,500 | R37,500 | R45,000 |
Single Supplement | + 50% | + 50% | + 50% |
Route Map
Rovos Rail Reviews
We had some great wildlife photo moments with our experienced guide. The food was one of the highlights at Elephant Plains. Great value for money and we are already planning our next visit to Elephant Plains.
Rovos Rail - Gallery
