South Africa|Safaris in South Africa
Rovos Rail - Dar es Salaam to Cape Town in Style
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Fast Facts
Travelling to:
Dar es Salaam, Pretoria and Cape Town
duration:
17 Days - 16 Nights
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This epic 15-day train journey travels through South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania and is one of the most famous in the world.
Highlights include Cape Town, Matjiesfontein, the diamond town of Kimberley, capital city of Pretoria for short tours, two nights in the Madikwe Game Reserve (or Pilanesberg National Park), Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Highlights
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Cape Town
Cape Town is one of the world’s most beautiful cities and a top international destination. Large numbers of tourists flock to this unique city with its fascinating history, interesting culture, natural beauty, award winning wines and laidback lifestyle.
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Madikwe Game Reserve
The Madikwe Game Reserve is the newest of South Africa’s prime safari destinations. A public-private partnership resulted in the creation of this Big Five game reserve on almost worthless cattle farms and today it is home to 66 mammal species.
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Selous Game Reserve
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1982, Selous Game Reserve has long been noted for its importance of wildlife diversity and undisturbed nature. A huge range species are resident and a variety of habitats make it a must visit in southern Tanzania.
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Victoria Falls
Resting on the southern banks of the mighty Zambezi river at the western end of the eponymous falls of the same name, the popular tourist town of Victoria Falls is compact enough to walk around and makes and ideal base for travellers exploring the seventh wonder of the world.
Outline Itinerary
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Day 1 - Arrival
Welcome to Tanzania! After arranging your visa, you will be met in the arrivals hall for your transfer to your hotel. The remaining afternoon is at leisure.
Day 2 - Rovos Rail
12h00 The Pride of Africa departs Dar es Salaam and travels the TAZARA line.
During the late afternoon the train passes through the Selous Game Reserve – the largest in Africa at 55 000km². For a few hours wild animals can be seen from the train. Overnight on board at Mlimba. (Breakfast 07h00-10h00 • Lunch 13h00 • Tea 16h30 • Dinner 19h30)
Day 3 - Rovos Rail
Game visit in the Selous Reserve (time permitting). Descend into the Udzungwa Mountains and Rift Valley.
The Selous Game Reserve is Africa's largest game reserve, covering 50,000 square kilometres. It is rich in wildlife and makes for very exciting game drives. You can expect to see elephants, the rare black rhino, giraffe, buffalo, hippo and crocodile just to name a few. Safari in the Selous Game Reserve is great all year round but the best time to visit is in the dry season - June to November.
Day 4 - Rovos Rail
The train travels the Rift Valley to Makambako.
09h00 Guests may enjoy a stroll through the town of Makambako – time permitting.
Day at leisure on board. Lectures will be given during the course of the morning and/or afternoon by the on-board historian as the train travels via Mbeya to Tunduma for the overnight stop.
Day 5 - Rovos Rail
Tanzanian and Zambian border formalities take place.
14h30 Disembark at Kasama for an excursion to Chisimba Falls.
18h00 Return to train and depart Kasama. Overnight on board at Mununga.
Day 6 - Rovos Rail
Enjoy a day at leisure on the train. Lectures will be given by the on-board historian.
The train passes through Kapiri Mposhi to Ngwerere for the overnight stop.
Day 7 - Rovos Rail
The train travels through Lusaka, capital of Zambia and crosses the Kafue railway bridge – a 477-metre long steel girder truss bridge of 13 spans each at 33 metres supported on concrete piers. Lectures will be given by the on-board historian as the train makes its way to Zimbabwe and overnights at Makoli.
Day 8 - Rovos Rail
10h00 Arrive at Livingstone then cross the bridge and arrive at Zimbabwean border for passport formalities.
11h00 Arrive at the incomparable Victoria Falls. Disembark and walk across to the hotel. Enjoy lunch.
16h00 Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi River. Buffet dinner at Jungle Junction. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 - Rovos Rail
Day at leisure in the Victoria Falls with activities (tour of Falls, helicopter over Falls, elephant-back safari, walk with lions, whitewater rafting, bungee-jumping, golf, etc).
16h00 Meet on the platform and depart Victoria Falls. Travel southeast along the edge of Hwange Park towards Bulawayo.
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Day 10 - Rovos Rail
Enjoy a day at leisure on the train. Lectures will be given by the on-board historian. The train heads southwards through Francistown and Serule, crosses the Tropic of Capricorn and continues via Mahalapye to Gaborone.
Day 11 - Rovos Rail
10h00 Disembark at Gaborone and transfer by coach to Madikwe Reserve for a two-night stay at TAU Lodge. Border formalities will take place en route and guests are required to present themselves to the officials. Lunch is served upon arrival at the lodge. Afternoon game drive (approximately 3 hours). Dinner and overnight at lodge. The Madikwe Game Reserve borders Botswana and the wildlife is very impressive. If you are very lucky you may see a pack of wild dog.
Day 12 - Rovos Rail
Enjoy an early morning game drive, afternoon game drive and other guest activities. Overnight at the lodge.
Day 13 - Rovos Rail
Early morning game drive (approximately 2 hours) followed by breakfast until 09h30.
11h00 Depart the lodge and transfer to the train at Zeerust. The train traverses the Magaliesberg Mountains – a range of low hills stretching 120 kilometres due east-west from Pretoria to Rustenberg. Dinner and overnight on board.
Day 14 - Rovos Rail
10h00 Arrive at Rovos Rail’s private station in Pretoria. Disembark for city tour.
13h00 Lunch on the platform followed by a walking tour of the station and the locomotive workshops (weather permitting).
15h00 Depart Pretoria and travel south towards Kimberley. Dinner and overnight on the train.
Day 15 - Rovos Rail
10h00 The train arrives in Kimberley. Passengers visit the Big Hole and the Diamond Mine Museum.
12h30 Depart Kimberley and proceed overnight via De Aar and Beaufort West to Matjiesfontein.
Day 16 - Cape Town
08h30 Enjoy a visit to the historic village of Matjiesfontein.
10h30 The train departs for Cape Town via Touws River and Worcester.
18h00 Arrive at Cape Town Station’s Platform 24.
A transfer is provided to take you to your hotel.
Day 17 - Departure
This afternoon you will be transferred to the airport for your flight.