Rovos Rail: Pretoria to Cape Town (Tour code: 12515)
Cape Town
Highlights
Traverse the Karoo
Kimberley Diamond Mine Museum Tour
Matjiesfontein visit
Overview
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 route includes 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.
Inclusions
Itinerary
Intro Map
Rovos Rail - Pretoria to Cape Town
Day 1 Rovos Rail: Pretoria
***Certain departure dates in 2025 will carry the new departure and arrival times; please discuss with our consultants for more information.***
Please check-in a minimum of one hour before departure. Should you wish to visit our museum or do a site tour at Rovos Rail Station, we suggest arriving two hours prior to departure.
10:00 Depart Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria at 10.00am.
Travel across the goldfields of the Witwatersrand and the broad grassland plains of the Highveld. Guests may freshen up in their suites before joining fellow travellers in the lounge and observation cars.
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 en route to Klerksdorp.
Overnight on board. Dress: Formal, jacket and tie.
Day 2 Kimberley
07:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00 en route to Kimberley.
12:30 Lunch is served in the dining cars.
After lunch, 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.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars.
Overnight on board. Dress: Formal, jacket and tie.
Day 3 Matjiesfontein
07:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 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.
After lunch, there is a chance for guests to disembark the train at Whitehill Siding and walk the 5km into Matjiesfontein. A member of staff will accompany the group. 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.
16:30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
About an hour after Matjiesfontein, the train arrives at the first of four tunnels on the pass. The first tunnel is 13.5km long so guests are to be careful when walking through the train and may wish to turn on necessary lights.
19:30 Dinner is served as the train climbs ±750m down the escarpment towards Worcester.
Dress: Formal, jacket and tie.
Day 4 Cape Town
07:00 Breakfast is served in the dining car.
Guests can enjoy breakfast in the dining cars until 09:30 as the train makes its way through the scenic Hex River Valley.
10:00/15:00 Your journey will come to an end when you arrive at Cape Town Station.
***Certain departure dates in 2025 will carry a new arrival time; Lunch will be served on departure dates affected by the later arrival. Please discuss with our consultants for more information.***
Accommodation
Rovos Rail
Upgrade availableEnjoy the extravagant elegance of rail travel on Rovos Rail, one of the most luxurious trains in the world, combining the opulence of pre-war travel with subtle modern innovations.
The wood-panelled sleeper coaches, remodelled and refurbished to mint condition, offer every modern convenience and comfort with fittings and facilities that are of the highest standard.
The Pullmans, used on our 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.
Suite configurations are subject to availability. Suite layouts may differ from images.
- 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
- 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
Room Upgrades
Deluxe Suite
The Deluxes acommodate 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.
Prices are dynamic based on travel dates. Please proceed to Book Now or Contact Us for details.
Royal Suite
The Royals 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 always available and services the suites daily.
Suite configurations are subject to availability. Suite layouts may differ from images.
Prices are dynamic based on travel dates. Please proceed to Book Now or Contact Us for details.
Additional information
Please dress accordingly for excursions/game drives: mornings can be cool then warm up considerably; afternoons can be warm then cool down considerably. Warm clothing, comfortable shoes, hats and sun protection are advised. Rain capes are available. Excursions may be changed according to schedule achieved. Times are approximate and cannot be guaranteed.
2024 Departure dates:
- October 4, 25
- November 1, 8, 14, 22
- December 6, 20
2025 Departure dates:
- January 6*, 10, 17*#, 31
- February 13*#, 18*#, 21, 28
- March 14, 21
- April 4, 18
- May 2, 16
- June 13, 27, 30*#
- July 11, 25#
- August 1, 8, 22#
- September 5, 19*#, 26
- October 3, 10, 24, 31
- November 7, 20*#, 21#
- December 5#, 23#
#Certain dates in 2025 will carry new departure and arrival times as below (subject to change):
Depart Pretoria: 10:00hrs
Arrive Cape Town: 15:00hrs
*These departures will have Pullman Gold onboard (offers a split twin or double beds for the evening).
Excluded
- Onboard: champagne, gratuities, personal expenses, pre & post tour transfers and accommodation
- International airfares and taxes
- Domestic airfares and taxes, unless otherwise specified in our holiday package
- Visa expenses, processing and issuance fees
- Meals other than as specified in our holiday package
- Travel Insurance or expenses of a personal nature (mini-bar, phone call, laundry, etc.),
- Tips or gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, hotel, restaurant or boat staff, etc.
- Or any other travel expense that has not been included in our holiday package
FAQs
What is included in the price?
All onboard accommodation, meals, all beverages except champagne, and off train excursions are included. Some items such a pre & post transfers, flights, gratuities, and personal expenses are not included.
Can someone with mobility limitations travel on the Rovos Rail?
Should you or your guests have any special requirements or mobility issues, please do let us know ahead of your luxury train journey. We can accommodate guests with walking difficulties although we recommend an able-bodied passenger accompany guests. We regret that the train is not suitable for wheelchair-bound passengers. Should you have mobility impairments/restrictions or special requirements, we urge you to inform your Agent at time of booking.
Are children permitted onboard?
We do accommodate children, but we kindly ask parents to be sensitive to the adult nature and atmosphere of the train. Long journeys are not recommended for under 13s. Children between 0-2 years old are not permitted to travel. There are no child-minding facilities or activities available for children on board.
Is there Wi-Fi onboard Rovos Rail?
To maintain the spirit of travel of a bygone era, the use of mobile phones, laptops and essentially anything that has the ability to disturb other passengers is confined to the privacy of suites only.
The signal strength may be weak while the train is in motion, so it is recommended to consult your phone service provider and verify the proper network settings are enabled – as there is no Wi-Fi onboard.
Can Rovos Rail accommodate special dietary preferences?
We cater for food allergies provided a detailed request has been made at that time of your reservation. If a special request has not been made, the chefs will endeavour to prepare suitable meals with the ingredients available on board. We regret we are unable to prepare meals requiring strict religious observance in the preparation.
Is there a dress code when onboard Rovos Rail?
Days on board are smart casual: Neat, conventional yet relatively informal in style combining casual and formal clothing pieces.
Dinner on board is formal: For gentlemen a jacket and tie is a minimum requirement (from 2024 only, a collar and tie will be mandatory, and a jacket will be optional). For ladies, we suggest cocktail/evening dresses or suits.
On long journeys we enjoy themed evenings where guests can dress up accordingly or opt for smart casual.
Off-train excursions: We recommend comfortable walking shoes, sun lotion and hats. If required, blankets and rain capes are available.
Game drives are on open vehicles so please dress accordingly: mornings can be cool then warm up considerably; afternoons can be warm then cool down considerably.
Can I smoke onboard?
The Club Car is used to host the smokers on the train in a public area and as an overflow facility adjoining the Observation Car. With a glass passage wall, guests can comfortably watch the scenery on both sides of the train.
Do I need to check-in prior to arrival?
Please check-in a minimum of one hour before departure. Should you wish to visit our 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.
Are there luggage restrictions?
It is possible to store luggage in your suite under the bed or above the door on a luggage rack, which provides ample space for storage. There are no luggage restrictions on board although we do not recommend more than two large suitcases. On selected long journeys, guests are provided with a Rovos Rail Tog bag that can be used for overnight trips or hand luggage on aircraft. A soft bag is preferable on plane transfers with a luggage weight restriction of 15kg.
Will I need travel insurance?
As with all holidays and trips abroad, we strongly recommend that you have travel insurance. Please consult with our agents at time of booking and we can assist you with this.
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