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Durban Safari: Durban to Pretoria
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Rovos Rail
Rovos Rail Sunset
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Drakensberg Mountains
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Rovos Rail
Durban Hills View
Rovos Rail Desert Evening View
South Africa

Durban Safari: Durban to Pretoria (Tour code: 12528)

Starts and Ends
Durban to
Pretoria
Travel Periods
Jan - Dec 2025
Experience
Travel Style
Rail Journeys
A safari including game drives, a battlefield tale with a world-class historian and a look at eclectic African ceramics.

Highlights

Ardmore Ceramics Gallery Visit

Drakensberg Mountains

Hear the historic tale of  the battle of Spionkop

Nambiti Reserve Game Drive

Spionkop Reserve Game Drive

Trundle through the Valley of a 1000 Hills

3 days
From
AUD 2,972
per person, twin share
Travelling with kids? Read more 
All services are subject to availability.

Overview

This safari between Durban and Pretoria departs during the summer months and includes game drives, a battlefield tale with a world-class historian and a look at unusual African ceramics.

Experience the Nambiti Conservancy – a Big Five private retreat set on 20,000 acres of malaria-free bushveld in KwaZulu-Natal. It has an incredible biodiversity including savannah, grasslands, thornveld and tall acacia trees.

Situated on an expansive game farm, Spionkop Lodge – which adjoins an 11 000-acre nature reserve – is the perfect base for exploring the mountains, bush, birds and battlefields of the region. Ardmore Ceramics is a story about the Zulu people whose sense of rhythm, colour, dance and song, as well as the spirit of the African imagination, is exerting its influence on the other continents of the world. Visit this charming centre in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands before travelling the Valley of a Thousand Hills to Durban. 

Inclusions

Two nights Accommodation onboard Rovos Rail in a Pullman Suite
Breakfast, lunch and dinner served onboard
All beverages except champagne
24-Hour full room service and bar facilities
Off-Train excursions and entrance fees as per itinerary

Intro Map

 

Durban Safari - Durban to Pretoria

Map

Day 1 Depart Durban and visit Ardmore Ceramics Gallery

10:00      Depart Durban Station onboard Rovos Rail
Visit several museums and cultural sights, the beautiful botanical gardens and the superb shark-protected beaches are but a few of the city’s many charms. The train traverses the spectacular Valley of a Thousand Hills. Guests may freshen up in their suites before joining fellow travellers in the lounge car and observation car.

13:00     Lunch is served in the dining cars
After lunch, visit the famous Ardmore Ceramics Gallery. Here, artists are encouraged to express their imagination based on nature and Zulu folklore and tradition.

19:30     Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Ladysmith (Dress: Formal, jacket and tie)
Shortly after Frere, on the left of the track, stands a memorial to Winston Churchill who was captured here in November 1899 while trying to free an armoured train trapped by a Boer ambush.

Overnight on board Rovos Rail

Lunch, Dinner
Depart Durban and visit Ardmore Ceramics Gallery
Ardmore Ceramics

Day 2 Spionkop & Nambiti

06:30     Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure.
Transfer (±30 min) to Spionkop Lodge for the morning. A choice of two excursions are available: Hear the historic tale of the Battle of Spionkop OR Enjoy a game drive in the 11,000-acre reserve.

13:00     Lunch is served in the dining cars.
The Drakensberg Mountains were first named by the Voortrekkers who thought the unbroken chain of heavily weathered peaks reminded them of the spines on a dragon’s back, hence the name ‘Dragon Mountain’ or Drakensberg in Afrikaans. Enjoy a game drive in the Nambiti Reserve, a private Big Five bush retreat set on 20,000 acres of malaria-free bushveld with incredible biodiversity including savannah, grasslands, thornveld and tall acacia trees.

19:30     Dinner is served in the dining cars en-route to Vooruitsig (Dress: Formal, jacket and tie)
Pass Glencoe –site of the first battle of the Anglo Boer War and now the centre of the province’s coalfields – then Newcastle, which has what is reputed to be the largest cella-dome Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere. From here, the train descends from Majuba Hill, site of the decisive battle that ended the First Anglo Boer War.

Overnight on board.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Spionkop & Nambiti
Kudu in Nambiti

Day 3 Arrival into Pretoria

07:00     Breakfast is served until 10:00.
Travel northwest across and the goldfields of the Witwatersrand and the Highveld towards Balfour, a small mining town in Mpumalanga, and Heidelberg, site of the first Rand gold strike.

13:00     Lunch is served in the dining cars.

16:00     Arrive at journey’s end at Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria.

Breakfast, Lunch
Arrival into Pretoria
Rovos Rail Lounge Area

Accommodation

Rovos Rail

Upgrade available

Enjoy 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.

Pullman night-time double
  • 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 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. 
Suite configurations are subject to availability. Suite layouts may differ from images.

Deluxe Suite

Prices are dynamic based on travel dates. Please proceed to Book Now or Contact Us for details.

Royal Suites

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.

Royal Suites

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:

  • November 18
  • December (no departures)

2025 Departure dates:

  • January 27
  • February 17
  • March 10
  • April 14
  • May - July (no departures)
  • August 18
  • September 22
  • October 20
  • November 17
  • December (no departures)

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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