The Luxury South African Rail Journey

Upon your arrival to Cape Town’s airport, your private driver will transfer you to your accommodation in the city. After taking time to get settled in, take a half-day tour to learn about its history and culture. Explore the lively Bo-Kaap district, home to the Cape Malay Community, ride the rotating cable car for 360-degree views on the ride to the summit of Table Mountain and see the 17^th-century Castle of Good Hope, the oldest building in South Africa. Afterwards, relax in your hotel and enjoy dinner there or find a perfect spot to dine among the many outstanding restaurants Cape Town offers.

Meet our local guide this morning for a walking tour that focuses on life during apartheid and Cape Town’s history. You’ll visit areas of the city dating back to Dutch and British colonial times, witnessing a number of notable historic buildings before hopping on a ferry to Robben Island this afternoon to tour the former prison where Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years. You’ll get a glimpse of what he experienced with a former inmate leading the tour, providing firsthand accounts about what it was like to be imprisoned here while learning more about the country’s turbulent political history too.

Your private/driver guide will take you on a full day tour of the Cape Peninsula this morning. Enjoy the scenic drive along the Atlantic coast, through Chapman’s Peak and travelling to Cape Point at the southwestern tip of the African continent. Along the way you’ll stop to enjoy some of the unspoiled beaches, and on your return, you’ll make a stop at famous Boulders Beach to watch the resident African penguins waddle around. Your last visit brings you on a stroll through one of Africa’s largest botanical gardens, Kirstenbosch Gardens which covers five of South Africa’s six different biomes.

Explore the Cape Winelands, just an hour outside of Cape Town with your private driver/guide. Enjoy the picturesque drive through vine-covered hills, lush valleys, farms and wine estates. Your tour is tailored to your specific wine tastes and you can visit estates in Franschhoek, Paarl and Stellenbosch with their rich Dutch colonial history and outstanding gourmet food scene. Afterward, you’ll return to your Cape Town hotel for a final night in the city.

After checking out of your Cape Town accommodation, you’ll take private transfer to the train station, boarding the luxury Rovos Rail. Relax in one of the wood-panelled coaches, travelling through the Winelands to Matjiesfontein in Central Karoo, a historic railway village. You’ll be able to hop off the train for a tour, exploring this former Victorian wellness retreat town, a National Heritage Site with many of its magnificent 19^th-century buildings still standing. Once back on board, continue your rail adventure, enjoying a formal dinner complemented with South African wines in the elegant Victorian-style dining car as you roll.

Travel through the semi-arid desert regions of the Great Karoo and Klein Karoo, tucked between the imposing Swartberg Mountains in the north and the Langeberge and Outeniqua mountains in the south. Stopping in Kimberley, you’ll have time to explore, taking an electric tram into the city center to visit the open-air Kimberley Diamond Museum. Learn about this region’s diamond mining history, view some of the treasures that have been uncovered here, tour a recreated mine shaft and visit the site of the diamond excavations known as the Big Hole. Back on the train continue eastward, feasting on another mouthwatering dinner this evening.

Continuing to Pretoria, upon your arrival, a private driver will transfer you to your Johannesburg accommodation where you’ll have the remainder of the day at your leisure. Relax in your hotel or go exploring, perhaps learning about the turbulent history of South Africa’s largest city at the Apartheid Museum which focuses on the achievements of Nelson Mandela as well as the impacts of the regime on the country’s black population.

Your private driver will transfer you to the airport in Johannesburg for the short flight to the Sabi Sands, a private reserve adjacent to the world-renowned Kruger National Park. A ranger will meet you at the airport for the drive to your lodge. Once you’ve settled into your room, you’ll take an afternoon game drive to watch for the Big Five: lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and African buffalo, along with other wildlife. Stop for sunset cocktails in the bush and then look forward to relaxing with a delicious fine dining meal under the stars back at camp.

The wildlife sightings will be worth the early wakeup call. Enjoy a light breakfast and then head out on your first morning safari to take advantage of this time when the animals will be at their most active. Before the heat of the day, predators are often seen returning from nighttime hunts. After returning to the lodge, enjoy an extensive brunch and then relax or take a nap when temperatures are at their hottest. The late afternoon brings another game drive searching for more wildlife, with opportunities to stop animals after dark too, with sightings of nocturnal species like owls, porcupines and African wildcats.

Your last safari day, and final full day of your trip, starts with an informative bush walk. Follow your guide for another perspective of the reserve, soaking up the atmosphere on foot, listening to the calls of the birds, searching for animal tracks and learning about the various uses of different plants while discovering the unique flora and fauna. Return to the lodge afterwards for a siesta and then enjoy one last game drive, perhaps searching for animals you haven’t seen yet. This evening, mingle with your fellow guests, swapping stories about what you’ve seen on your adventure under the dark night’s sky.

After 10 nights in South Africa, your thrilling adventure comes to an end, with your private driver taking you back to the airport to catch your flight to Johannesburg. From there, you’ll take an international flight home. While you’ve experienced many of the highlights here, if you’d like more, contact our travel experts who can create a bespoke addition to your itinerary, perhaps a visit to Victoria Falls?