South Africa by Train

You will be met on arrival in Johannesburg and transferred to the Residence to spend a night. If you arrive at the international airport in the morning, we can organize an excursion for you in the afternoon such as a museum tour or a visit to Soweto. Alternatively, relax in the beautiful property of the Residence and get ready to board the Rovos Rail the next morning.

Today you will be met by your driver who will transfer you to the Rovos Rail Station. You will then spend 3 nights on board the luxury train. Once you are on board and settled into your suite you can join your fellow travelers in the lounge car and observation car. The train reaches Worcester in the Hex River Valley before climbing 750m up the face of the escarpment. The train arrives at the first of four tunnels on the pass. Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars. You will 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. Dinner is served in the dining cars and the dress code is formal. On the second day, you will travel 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. Lunch is served in the dining cars before you disembark to 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. Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Klerksdorp and the dress code is formal.

You will arrive at Cape Town station and be met by a private driver to transfer you to your hotel. You will spend 3 nights in Ellerman House which is one of the most luxurious properties in Cape Town. Views from Ellerman House overlook the slopes and mountains of Lion’s Head, as well as the azure waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The hospitality, food, and service at Ellerman House is second-to-none, and you will be welcomed into the family from the moment you arrive. Ellerman House is famed for its extensive collection of art and wine, so make sure you take time to appreciate the gallery and the wine cellar. After three nights on Rovos Rail, this is the perfect place to finish your South Africa trip, enjoying this cosmopolitan city at your own pace.

You will enjoy your morning game drive and breakfast before checking out. Your driver will meet you and transfer you to the airport for your flight home.