Southern Cross Rovos Rail Journey

Cross the Drakensberg Mountains and continue on the Panorama Route to Kruger, where you may go game viewing. Visit Mozambique's main city of Maputo before venturing into the hilly Kingdom of eSwatini. Take pleasure in a game drive at Kapama and pay a visit to the Great Zimbabwe Monument and an endangered species centre. Visit the World Heritage Site of Matobo National Park and Antelope Park. After arriving in Victoria Falls for a walking tour of the settlement and the thunderous falls, continue to Hwange for game viewing. Take a Zambezi sunset sail to cap off your trip.

Day 1: Pretoria

Please arrive at least one hour in advance of your departure. If you would like to take a site tour or visit our museum at Rovos Rail Station, we recommend arriving two hours before departure.
10:00am Leave the Pretoria Rovos Rail Station. Before meeting up with other travellers in the lounge vehicles, guests can refresh up in their suites. The train follows the eastern route, passing through the rugged coal-mining region of eMalahleni and on to Middelburg, which is referred to as the "stainless steel capital of Africa." The eastern line between Pretoria and Lourenço Marques (Maputo) was constructed between 1893 and 1895 by the Dutch railway constructing firm, NZASM.

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. Formal attire.

Day 2: Panorama Route

07:00am The dining cars are used for serving breakfast.
09:00am Tour of Graskop, Pilgrim's Rest, and Bourke's Luck Potholes for the entire day, including lunch. The 600-meter trail winds through an indigenous forest with an interactive display, and wooden walkways and suspension bridges meander along it. The Graskop viewing lift (own account) lowers 51 meters down the face of the canyon into the forest below.
18:45pm Go back 140 miles to the train station in Mbombela. Make your way to Malelane.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Formal attire is required.

Day 3: Kruger National Park

05:00am The dining cars are used for serving breakfast.
07:00am a full day of lunch and game viewing in the Kruger Park.
16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge. Make your way to Mozambique's Maputo. There are procedures at borders.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Formal attire is required.

Day 4: Maputo, Mozambique

07:00am The dining cars are used for serving breakfast.
09:00am Lunch included on a guided tour of Maputo, Mozambique.
16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge. Proceed to eSwatini's Mpaka. There are procedures at borders.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Formal attire.

Day 5: Eswatini

07:00am The dining cars are used for serving breakfast.
08:30pm Get off at Mpaka. After lunch at Mantenga Lodge, transfer (about 90 minutes) to Swazi Candles and explore Mantenga Cultural Village.
13:45pm Go back to the train (around 75 minutes). Depart for Hoedspruit. There are procedures at borders.
16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Formal attire.

Day 6: KAPAMA RESERVE & HOEDSPRUIT ENDANGERED SPECIES CENTRE

05:00am In the dining cars, continental breakfast is available until 5:30.
05:30am After taking a game drive in the Kapama Game Reserve, stop by the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre.
12:00pm For lunch, head back to the train. Head towards Louis Trichardt and Tzaneen.
16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. "Africa" theme attire or smart casual.

Day 7: Limpopo Province

07:00am The dining cars provide breakfast till 10:00. Day spent aboard the ship heading for Rutenga, Zimbabwe.
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. Formal attire is required.

Day 8: SOSSUSVLEI & WINDHOEK

06:00am The dining cars are used for serving breakfast.
08:00am After lunch, make your way to the Great Zimbabwe Monument for a tour.
17:00pm Rejoin to the train at Oreti Siding. Make your way to Gweru.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Formal attire is required.

Day 9: Antelope Park 

06:00am The dining cars are used for serving breakfast.
08:00am After lunch, head to Antelope Park for the entire day. Canoeing, game drives, equestrian game viewing, bird watching cruises, elephant interaction, and many optional extras are available (see price list).
16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge. Head towards Bulawayo.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Formal attire is required.

Day 10: Matobo National Park

07:00am The dining cars are used for serving breakfast.
09:00am Lunch included on a full-day tour of Matobo National Park. See the rock-arted bushmen caves and Cecil John Rhodes's burial.
16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge. Head towards Kennedy.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Formal attire is required.

Day 11: Hwange National Park

05:00am The dining cars are used for serving breakfast.
06:30am A packed lunch and an entire day of game viewing in Hwange National Park.
16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Make your way to Thompson's Junction. Dress in smart casual or with a "1920s" theme.

Day 12: Victoria Falls

07:00am The dining cars serve breakfast until 09:30.
10:00am Reach the Victoria Falls Station. After disembarking from the train, proceed to the Victoria Falls Hotel on foot (your bags will be kept on board).
11:00am After lunch, get together for a walking tour of the village and the falls.
16:00pm For a Zambezi River sunset cruise, meet at the hotel.
18:30pm Return to the Victoria Falls Hotel by transfer. Tour concludes.

Day 1: Victoria Falls

10:30am Get together at the Victoria Falls Hotel. Staff from Shongololo will take bags to the train.
11:00am Take a lunchtime tour of the Victoria Falls.
16:00pm The Victoria Falls Hotel's reception.
17:00pm Train departure is made for Dete.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Formal attire is required.

Day 2: Hwange National Park

05:00am The dining cars are used for serving breakfast.
06:30am A packed lunch and a full day of game viewing in Hwange National Park.
16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Head towards Bulawayo. Formal attire.

Day 3: Matobo National Park

07:00am The dining cars are used for serving breakfast.
09:00am Lunch included on a full-day tour of Matobo National Park. See the rock-arted bushmen caves and Cecil John Rhodes's burial.
16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Make your way to Dabuka. Formal attire is required.

Day 4: Antelope Park

06:00am The dining cars are used for serving breakfast.
08:00am After lunch, head to Antelope Park for the entire day. Canoeing, game drives, equestrian game viewing, bird watching cruises, and elephant interaction are among the optional extras (pricing list).
15:00pm Go back to the rail car. Head towards Bannockburn.
16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Formal attire.

Day 5: Great Zimbabwe Monument

06:00am The dining cars are used for serving breakfast.
08:00am After lunch, make your way to the Great Zimbabwe Monument for a tour.
17:00pm Go back to the rail car. Proceed to Beitbridge in order to complete border procedures.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Formal attire is required.

Day 6: Limpopo Province

07:00am The dining cars provide breakfast till 10:00. Journey across Limpopo aboard the train during the day.
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. In the direction of Hoedspruit. "Africa" theme attire or smart casual.

Day 7: Kapama Reserve & HESC

05:00am In the dining cars, continental breakfast is available until 5:30.
05:30am After taking a game drive in the Kapama Game Reserve, stop by the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre.
12:00pm For lunch, head back to the train. Make your way to Mpaka.
16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Formal attire is required.

Day 8: Eswatini

07:00am The dining cars are used for serving breakfast.
08:30am Get off at Mpaka. After lunch at Mantenga Lodge, transfer (about 90 minutes) to Swazi Candles and explore Mantenga Cultural Village.
14:15pm Go back to the train (around 75 minutes). Make your way to Maputo.
16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Formal attire.

Day 9: Maputo, Mozambique

07:00am The dining cars are used for serving breakfast.
09:00am Lunch included on a guided tour of Maputo, Mozambique.
15:30pm Go back to the rail car. There are procedures at borders.
16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge.
19:30pm While travelling to Malelane, dinner is provided in the dining cars. Formal attire.

Day 10: Kruger National Park 

05:30am The dining cars are used for serving breakfast.
07:00am A full day of lunch and game viewing in the Kruger Park.
18:00pm Go back to the rail car. Head towards Mbombela.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Formal attire is required.

Day 11: Panorama Route

07:00am The dining cars are used for serving breakfast.
09:15am Tour of Graskop, Pilgrim's Rest, and Bourke's Luck Potholes for the entire day, including lunch. The Graskop observation lift transports guests 51 meters down the gorge's face and into the forest below, where 600 meters of trails wind through an indigenous forest with an interactive display and wooden walkways and suspension bridges (lift payable separately).
17:00pm Go back to the rail car. Head towards eMalahleni.
19:30pm The dining cars are used to serve dinner. Smart casual or a "1920s" theme for clothing.

Day 12: Pretoria

07:00am The dining cars are used for serving breakfast. The train follows the eastern route as it approaches the tough eMalahleni coal-mining region and Middelburg, dubbed the "stainless steel capital of Africa." The Dutch railway building company, NZASM, built the eastern line between Pretoria and Lourenço Marques (Maputo) from 1893 to 1895.
13:00pm The dining cars are used for serving lunch.
16:30pm Tea in the observation cars and lounge.
18:00pm Reach the finish of your adventure at the Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria.

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 Pullman Golds, which are mostly utilised on our lengthy trips, offer an en suite bathroom with a shower, toilet, and sink and can sleep one or two people in double or split twin beds. The ideal configuration between the Split Twin and Double Lengthways is the Split Twin, which will be demonstrated during check-in. 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 Facilities:

Double or twin beds - 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 - Room service