Africa's Leading Safari Company 2024 – World Travel Awards
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This extravagantly luxurious 7-day steam train rail journey begins in the bustling city of Cape Town, traverses a variety of diverse regions across South Africa, and ends in the wonderfully warm seaside city of Durban.
En route you will travel through the picturesque Cape Winelands, the spectacularly scenic semi-desert Great Karoo region, and the lush subtropical Valley of a Thousand Hills. Enjoy many stops along the way including a visit to the quaint historic village of Matjiesfontein; a tour of the world’s largest man-made excavation in Kimberley; and a leisurely one-night stop-over at an exclusive hotel in the city of Pretoria. Other highlights include a visit to the Ardmore Ceramics Centre in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains and a thrilling safari adventure in the Nambiti Conservancy, an impressive private game reserve, inhabited by the Big-Five as well as over forty other species of game. The journey ends in the seaside town of Durban, known for its sub-tropical climate, decadent cuisine, and stunning beaches.
Once you have settled into your private coach on the Pride of Africa, one of Rovos Rail’s classic luxury trains, you will begin your journey through the lush mountains and valleys of the famously scenic Cape Winelands region towards Worcester.
Accommodation: Rovos Rail
The train continues its journey to the strikingly beautiful Great Karoo desert. It is here that the train makes its first stop at the delightful little village of Matjiesfontein, known for its beautifully-restored Victorian architecture and its array of charming tourist sights. These attractions include the Transport Museum, showcasing an impressive array of vintage cars and the Marie Rawdon Museum, containing an astonishing collection of Victoriana, which provides a fascinating glimpse into life at this old colonial outpost in the late 1800s.
Accommodation: Rovos Rail
Arrive in Kimberley, a historic mining town renowned for being the site of the world’s largest man-made excavation known as ‘The Big Hole’. The train makes a stop here for guests to enjoy a tour of this enormous hole as well as the Kimberley Mine Museum, featuring a variety of large-scale dioramas and exhibits including a recreation of a nineteenth-century mine shaft and a large vault full of real diamonds. After departing from Kimberley, guests can take in the view of a shallow lake on the left-hand side, which is regularly inhabited by incredibly large flocks of up to 23,000 flamingos. You will then travel through the Highveld region on your way to South Africa’s administrative capital, the city of Pretoria.
Accommodation: Rovos Rail
Upon your arrival at the Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria, you will be transported to the Sheraton Hotel. Guests will be treated to a leisurely one-night stay in this luxurious hotel, which serves as an excellent base. Enjoy a tour of Pretoria with lunch included.
Accommodation: Sheraton Hotel
In the morning, guests will be transported back to the Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria, where the train will set off towards the breathtakingly beautiful Drakensberg Mountains. In the afternoon the train climbs Majuba Hill, the site of a battle in which the Boers of the Transvaal regained their independence from the British during the First Boer War. The train then heads to Elandslaagte a farming and coal-mining center, known as the scene of the Battle of Elandslaagte, one of the first battles of the Second Boer War in 1899.
Accommodation: Rovos Rail
The sixth day of your journey starts with an early wake-up call followed by some tea, coffee, juice and pastries served in the train’s dining car. Guests will then embark on an exhilarating game drive in the Nambiti Conservancy, a private game reserve set on 20,000 acres of malaria-free bushveld in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province. This impressive expanse of wilderness is inhabited by the ‘Big Five’ - elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and wildebeest - as well as over forty other species of game including cheetah, giraffe, hippo, hyena, impala, eland and zebra.
Accommodation: Rovos Rail
In the morning, the train descends the escarpment en route to Lions River, a tiny village in the center of KwaZulu-Natal’s extraordinarily scenic Midlands area. Upon arrival at the Lions River Station, guests will disembark and head for the Ardmore Ceramics Centre, a renowned pottery studio and gallery set on a beautiful farm in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains. You will then return to the train which will set off at noon to travel through the spectacular Valley of a Thousand Hills, before arriving at your journey’s end in the sunny seaside city of Durban.
On your arrival in Durban, you will connect with your onward travel arrangements.
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October 14, 2024
great website and Staff
great website Keith Chideme was extremely helpful and answered all my quickly and professionally
October 14, 2024
Safari
Keith was most pleasant and helpful. Planning a Safari can be overwhelming, Keith was insightful and patient. We look forward to sharing our experience upon our return from Africa. Thankyou 🐘
October 4, 2024
Keith was so helpful
Keith was so helpful, against many obstacles, he eventually managed to secure me a place on the train from Victoria Falls
Oct 23, 2024
Shann @ Safari.com is fantastic!
We worked with Shann Shaw and she was amazing! As someone who usually books my own travel I was a little bit skeptical at first... But safaris are not like a typical vacation and there are just SO many different options. Shann was incredibly patient in answering all of my questions, and eventually found the perfect safari lodge for me and my family. I really don't think I could have done it without her help. Highly recommend working with her!
Oct 23, 2024
Service was excellent
Service was excellent, and I was sent a reminder when the balance was due.
Oct 23, 2024
Booking with Leigh-Ann Croeser
Thank you for this fantastic booking experience. Leigh-Ann Croeser did everything to let my wishes become reality. I wasn’t an easy customer, but he never let me feel that. She answered very fast to all my questions and helped me with everything so that we have the most of our trip. Thank you very much for organizing our dream Safari. I can only recommend it.
Oct 23, 2024
Sara
Sara, bent over backwards to give us what we wanted as we changed our minds more than once
Oct 23, 2024
Very Responsive and Patient w/ Our Needs!
Anja has been great in making our travel reservations! She is very quick and responsive (at all hours, I'm not sure when she sleeps)! We went back and forth on 39 emails. Yes, 39 emails for a couple of weeks. She made several different itineraries in ranging prices, types of accommodations, and locations. She was patient through the whole process and provided so much information. We finally decided on our perfect trip!
Oct 21, 2024
Friendliness
Friendliness, quick response to my request and understanding of my needs It was only a pleasure dealing with Tanya Lomas.
Oct 21, 2024
Excellent, fast, helpful service
The service from Leigh-Ann has been exceptional. No matter the difference in time zone, her responses and suggestions are always fast and helpful. When we’ve asked for changes to the itinerary, there has never been a problem. Highly recommended.
Oct 18, 2024
Cannot recommend enough
Cannot recommend enough! Contacted at 6pm night before and Dorothy was helpful friendly and managed to book a safari trip with transport for 6 people! She was contactable on the day too and very very helpful!
Oct 17, 2024
Aquilia Safari trip
Re: Safari from Cape Town to Aquilia. Fadiel was very helpful and organised our trip for us. We were picked up by Joe, who was our driver for the day. Joe is born and raised in Cape Town. He was prompt and was very friendly and informative. There was a good choice of food at Aquilia and had choices for my husband too who is Coeliac.
