Luxury South African & Namibia Rail Journey

Itinerary information

Depart from Pretoria's Capital Park Station in the late afternoon. Experience the excitement and atmosphere of luxury rail travel as this historic steam locomotive hauls the train through some of the most historic and scenic areas of Southern Africa. Enjoy a delicious 3-course dinner in the oak-paneled dining car. Dress for dinner is formal as the evening recreates the romance of a bygone era.

You will be travelling south towards the world-famous gold fields of the Witwatersrand.

Itinerary information

This morning, you will arrive in the famous diamond-mining town of Kimberley for a brief morning excursion to the Big Hole Diamond Mine. Head back to the train before lunch to continue your journey through the Karoo semi-desert to Upington.

Itinerary information

This morning stretch your legs with an optional walking tour of the South African town of Upington – a former mission station on the Orange River. Board the train again in the late morning and head towards the Namibian border.

After border formalities in Nakop, your journey continues to Holoog Siding near the famous Fish River Canyon. Enjoy an evening on the train before leaving the next morning for the awe-inspiring Fish River Canyon.

Itinerary information

This morning you will enjoy an excursion to the spectacular Fish River Canyon, the second-largest canyon in the world, where you will have the opportunity to stand on the edge and marvel at the sheer size of this dramatic geological feature.

This is followed by lunch before you return to the train to continue your journey to Windhoek via Keetmanshoop. Traversing the Kalahari Desert, you will visit Garas Park, which has two notable points: the Quiver Tree Forest and Giant’s Playground.

Itinerary information

Arrive in Windhoek where you head out for a city tour of this lively and cosmopolitan city with a strong German flavour.

Following the short tour of Namibia’s capital, you will board a light aircraft for a short flight to the famous Sossusvlei sand dunes. Enjoy a scenic drive in the afternoon to marvel at the rugged terrain and large mountains before savouring a bush dinner.

Wake up early to set out on excursion to view some of the world’s highest sand dunes in the Sossusvlei region and to enjoy breakfast.

Relish seeing this scenic region by air as you fly back to Windhoek to board the train and continue your journey north to Etosha National Park.

Itinerary information

After a delicious lunch served in the dining cars, you arrive at a stop where you’re transferred by road, approximately one hour, to a cheetah conservation project in Otjiwarongo. Founded in Namibia in 1990, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is dedicated to saving the cheetah in the wild from natural and manmade threats, such as the illegal pet trade and habitat loss.

After spending the afternoon spent learning about the cheetah conservation efforts, board the train once more and set off, enjoying yet another delectable multiple-course dinner aboard Rovos Rail.

Itinerary information

On arrival in the late morning, you will be transferred to your lodge in time for lunch in the game-rich Etosha National Park. You will then have some time to relax at the lodge and settle into your suite before being taken out on a game drive.

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You will start your day early with a game drive in Etosha before heading back to the train for lunch as the train makes its way to the Atlantic Ocean.

Itinerary information

Arrive in Walvis Bay – set between the dunes of the Namib Desert and the roaring Atlantic – where your elegant rail journey comes to an end.