Durban Rovos Rail Journey

During the summer, this safari between Pretoria and Durban includes game drives, a look at unique African pottery, and a battlefield story told by a world-class historian. Discover the Nambiti Conservancy, a private Big Five getaway situated on 20,000 acres of malaria-free KwaZulu-Natal bushveld. Its remarkable biodiversity includes tall acacia trees, thornveld, grasslands, and savannah. Spionkop Lodge, which is located on a sizable game farm and borders an 11,000-acre nature reserve, is the ideal starting point for touring the area's mountains, bush, wildlife, and battlefields. The tale of the Zulu people, whose sense of rhythm, colour, dance, and song, along with the spirit of African imagination, is influencing other continents, is told in Ardmore Ceramics. See this quaint town in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal before continuing on to Durban via the Valley of a Thousand Hills. Reverse accessible.

Day 1: Pretoria

10:00am Leave the Pretoria Rovos Rail Station. Head southeast across the Highveld and the Witwatersrand goldfields to Heidelberg, the scene of the first Rand gold strike, and Balfour, a small Mpumalanga mining town. After changing in their suites, guests can head to the lounge car or observation car to meet up with other travellers.
13:00pm The dining cars are used for serving lunch. The Voortrekkers gave the Drakensberg Mountains its original name, Drakensberg in Afrikaans, because they believed the continuous chain of severely worn peaks resembled the spines on a dragon's back.

16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge. The train passes Newcastle, which is home to the largest cella-dome Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere, before climbing to Majuba Hill, the scene of the pivotal fight that put an end to the First Anglo Boer War.
19:30pm In the dining cars on the way to Elandslaagte, dinner is provided. Formal attire
Move on. Glencoe, the hub of the coalfields in the province, was the scene of the first Anglo-Boer War fight.

Day 2: Nambiti & Spionkop

05:45am Up to departure, breakfast is provided in the dining cars.
Savannah, grasslands, thornveld, and towering acacia trees are just a few of the amazing biodiversity-rich, malaria-free bushveld expanses that make up the Nambiti Reserve, a private Big Five bush refuge. Take a game drive there.
11:00am The dining vehicles are used for serving brunch.

For the afternoon, make the 30-minute transfer to Spionkop Lodge. There are two options for excursions:

1. Listen to the historical account of the Spionkop Battle. Alternatively, take a game drive across the 11,000-acre reserve.

19:30pm While travelling to Estcourt, dinner is provided in the dining carriages. Formal attire is required.

Winston Churchill is remembered by a memorial located on the right side of the rail just after Chieveley. He was arrested here in November 1899 while attempting to liberate an armoured train that was caught in a Boer ambush.

Day 3: Ardmore Ceramics

07:00am The dining cars provide breakfast till 10:00. To reach Lions River, the train descends the cliff.
Take a look at the renowned Ardmore Ceramic Gallery. Here, artists are encouraged to use nature and Zulu mythology and history as inspiration for their works.
13:00pm The dining cars are used for serving lunch. The breathtaking Valley of a Thousand Hills is traversed by the train.
16:00pm Reach Durban Station to mark the end of your voyage. The city has several attractions, including several museums and cultural sites, stunning botanical gardens, and excellent beaches that are shark-safe.

Day 1: Ardmore Ceramics

10:00am Leave the Durban Station. Numerous cultural landmarks and museums, the lovely botanical gardens, and the

Among the city's many attractions are its excellent beaches that are shark-safe. The breathtaking Valley of a Thousand Hills is passed through by the train. After changing in their suites, guests can head to the lounge car or observation car to meet up with other travellers.
13:00pm The dining cars are used for serving lunch.
Take a look at the renowned Ardmore Ceramic Gallery. Here, artists are encouraged to use nature and Zulu mythology and history as inspiration for their works.
19:30pm While travelling to Ladysmith, dinner is provided in the dining carriages. Formal attire.

Winston Churchill is remembered in a memorial located on the left side of the rail, shortly after Frere. He was arrested here in November 1899 while attempting to escape an armoured train that was caught in a Boer ambush.

Day 2: Matjiesfontein

06:30am Up to departure, breakfast is provided in the dining cars.
Head to Spionkop Lodge for the morning (about 30 minutes). There are two options for excursions:
1. Listen to the historical account of the Spionkop Battle. Alternatively, take a game drive across the 11,000-acre reserve.

13:00pm The dining cars are used for serving lunch. The Voortrekkers were the first to name the Drakensberg Mountains.

believed that the continuous series of severely worn peaks resembled the spines of a dragon, which is why

the Afrikaans term Drakensberg, which means "Dragon Mountain."

In the Nambiti Reserve, a private Big Five bush refuge situated on 20,000 acres of malaria-free land, have a wildlife drive.

bushveld including large acacia trees, thornveld, grasslands, and savannah with amazing biodiversity.

19:30pm While travelling to Vooruitsig, dinner is provided in the dining carriages. Clothes: Official Pass Next comes Newcastle, which is home to what is purported to be the biggest cella-dome Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere, followed by Glencoe, the scene of the first Anglo-Boer War combat and the hub of the province's coalfields.

The train next descends Majuba Hill, the location of the pivotal combat that brought an end to the First Anglo-Boer War.

Day 3: Pretoria

07:00am Breakfast is offered till ten o'clock. Head northwest across the Highveld and Witwatersrand goldfields towards Heidelberg, the site of the first Rand gold strike, and Balfour, a tiny mining town in Mpumalanga.
13:00pm The dining cars are used for serving lunch.

16:00pm Arrive at Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria to complete your journey.

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

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

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