Travel Type
Rail itineraries
Duration
4 Days/3 Nights
Country
South Africa
This meander is a perfect illustration of South Africa as a world in one country. Travel the grasslands of the gold-rich Highveld to the haunting barrenness of the Great Karoo; trundle through the spectacular mountain ranges and scenic winelands of the Cape. Journey’s end is Cape Town, the Mother City of South Africa, cradled by the imposing bulk of Table Mountain, Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head. Highlights of the north- and southbound routes include a visit to the historic village of Matjiesfontein, an authentically preserved Victorian Village founded as a refreshment stop in 1890, which also boasts an impressive museum on the platform. Another stop is made in Kimberley to visit the Diamond Mine Museum and the world’s largest man-made excavation, the Big Hole. Available in reverse.
HIGHLIGHTS:
• Cape Town
• Journey through the Cape Winelands
• Traverse the Karoo
• Kimberley Diamond Mine Museum tour
• Matjiesfontein visit
• Pretoria
Inclusions
3-night accommodation in selected suites on board of the Rovos Rail
All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
All beverage (except of international sparkling wines)
Room service
Limited laundry
Excursions with a qualified guide (where applicable)
Entrance fees as per itinerary
Government tax
Exclusions
International airfare – Transfers from/to airport or to/from the hotel – Pre and post tours – International sparkling wines – Gratuities to personnel & guides – Personal expenses – Visa if required – Travel insurance
Additional Information
Note
• Excursions may be changed according to the schedule achieved. Times are approximate and cannot be guaranteed.
• Meals on board (unless adjusted): Breakfast 07:00-10:00 • Lunch 13:00 • Tea 16:30 • Dinner 19:30.
• Please check-in a minimum of one hour before departure. Should you wish to visit the Rovos Rail Museum or do a site tour at Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria, we suggest arriving two hours prior to departure. If Pretoria is your arrival point, we suggest delaying your pick-up so you can enjoy the site tour.
• Passports are required at check-in. No vouchers are required. Luggage will be tagged and placed in your suite on board the train where you will find a full itinerary pack.
1
DAY 1 CAPE TOWN
16:00 Depart from Cape Town Station. Trundle through the winelands of the Western Cape towards Worcester.
16:30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. The train climbs ±750m up the face of the escarpment. Dress: Formal.
Around midnight, the train arrives at the first of four tunnels on the pass. The last tunnel is 13.5km long so guests are to be careful if walking through the train.
16:30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. The train climbs ±750m up the face of the escarpment. Dress: Formal.
Around midnight, the train arrives at the first of four tunnels on the pass. The last tunnel is 13.5km long so guests are to be careful if walking through the train.
Meals : Dinner
Accommodation : Selected suites – Rovos Rail for 3 nights
2
DAY 2 MATJIESFONTEIN
07:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00.
08:00 Disembark at Matjiesfontein for an opportunity to stroll through the historic village. Of special interest is the museum on the platform and a collection of historic cars and railway carriages to the right of the Lord Milner Hotel.
10:00 The train travels through the Karoo, a vast semi-desert region that was once an enormous inland sea. Over millions of years, volcanic matter was ground down and deposited as silt upon the seabed to form what geologists call the Karoo system.
13:00 Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16:30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Overnight on board. Dress: formal.
08:00 Disembark at Matjiesfontein for an opportunity to stroll through the historic village. Of special interest is the museum on the platform and a collection of historic cars and railway carriages to the right of the Lord Milner Hotel.
10:00 The train travels through the Karoo, a vast semi-desert region that was once an enormous inland sea. Over millions of years, volcanic matter was ground down and deposited as silt upon the seabed to form what geologists call the Karoo system.
13:00 Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16:30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Overnight on board. Dress: formal.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
3
DAY 3 KIMBERLEY
06:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 08:30.
08:30 Enjoy a tour of Kimberley’s Diamond Mine Museum and the Big Hole. Capital of the Northern Cape, Kimberley is well known for the discovery of diamonds that led to its establishment in 1871.
12:00 Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train travels northeast towards the broad grassland plains of the Highveld.
16:30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Overnight on board. Dress: Formal.
08:30 Enjoy a tour of Kimberley’s Diamond Mine Museum and the Big Hole. Capital of the Northern Cape, Kimberley is well known for the discovery of diamonds that led to its establishment in 1871.
12:00 Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train travels northeast towards the broad grassland plains of the Highveld.
16:30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Overnight on board. Dress: Formal.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
4
DAY 4 *PRETORIA
07:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09:30.
10:00 *Disembark at Kookrus Station (±100km south of Rovos Rail Station). An optional complimentary transfer (±90min) from Kookrus Station to Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria is available.
10:00 *Disembark at Kookrus Station (±100km south of Rovos Rail Station). An optional complimentary transfer (±90min) from Kookrus Station to Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria is available.
*Transnet is carrying out maintenance on the railway line into our station in Pretoria until further notice. Alternative arrangements have been made to disembark at Kookrus Station ±100km south of Pretoria. Please contact your travel consultant to book the complimentary transfer to Rovos Rail Station.
The above itinerary is available in reverse too (Pretoria to Cape Town).
Meals : Breakfast
ROVOS RAIL
Each train has accommodation carriages, dining cars (±42 seats), a lounge car (±26 seats), small gift shop, smoking lounge (±11 seats) and observation car (±32 seats) with open-air balcony. Maintaining the spirit of a bygone era, there are no radios or television sets on board. The three types of suites available – Pullman (7sqm), Deluxe (10sqm) and Royal (16sqm) – offer passengers privacy and comfort with double or twin beds and fittings and facilities that are of the highest standard. All have en-suites with shower, toilet, basin and bath (Royal only), tea facilities, safes, air conditioning, linen and amenities and are serviced daily. There is adequate storage and small cupboards with hangers and shelves.
The dining cars are made up of two-seaters and four-seaters where guests eat together or individually. The lounge and observation cars – with their big picture windows, sofas and booths – make for great mingling areas or quiet corners to while away the days.
Days on board are smart casual while evening attire is more formal. On long journeys you can enjoy themed evenings where guests can dress up accordingly or opt for smart casual.
An enthusiastic team of chefs is responsible for overseeing the very important task of ensuring guests’ every need is catered for. There’s an accent on fresh local ingredients and traditional dishes are a specialty. Meals are served in one sitting only in the dining cars and are complemented by a selection of fine South African wines. The bar menu is comprehensive although special items such as French Champagne would need to be requested in advance. Breakfast: 07:00-10:00 • Lunch: 13:00 • Tea: 16:30 • Formal Dinner: 19:30. Bar service is from 07:00-±01:00. All meals are served at these times unless otherwise stated in the itineraries.
PULLMAN SUITES
The Pullmans, used on the short journeys, accommodate one or two passengers and have an en-suite bathroom with shower, toilet and basin. During the day, the suites have a comfortable sofa-seat with a conversion to double or twin beds (side-by-side or upper and lower bunks) for the evening. A dedicated host/ess is available at all times and services the suites daily. Please note in the animation that we indicate a bar fridge, however, these have been removed from the Pullmans.
DELUXE SUITES
The Deluxe Suites accommodate one or two passengers in double or twin beds and have their own lounge area and en-suite bathroom with shower, toilet and basin. A dedicated host/ess is available at all times and services the suites daily. A bar fridge is filled with the on-board beverages of the passengers’ choice.
ROYAL SUITES
The Royal Suites each take up half a carriage with their own private lounge area and en-suite bathroom with Victorian bath, separate shower, toilet and basin. They accommodate one or two passengers in double or twin beds. A dedicated host/ess is available at all times and services the suites daily. A bar fridge is filled with the on-board beverages of the passengers’ choice.
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**Prices in this document are for information only; they were issued at press time, for the current year. Please note that due to exchange rates and temporary promotions, they can increase or decrease at any time. Contact your travel agent for the price and promotion of the moment. Prices include the contribution of customers to the Compensation Fund for clients of Quebec travel agents.
*** PLEASE CAREFULLY READ OUR TERMS & CONDITIONS. ***
Cape Town – Detailed itinerary
Cape Town – Detailed itinerary
