Rovos Rail: Cape Town to Pretoria (Tour code: 12581)
Pretoria
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.
Begin your journey in 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 - Cape Town to Pretoria
Day 1 Cape Town
***Certain departure dates in 2025 will carry the new departure time; please discuss with our consultants for more information.***Lunch will be served on departure dates affected by the earlier departure time.
09:30/16:00 Depart from Cape Town Station.
Trundle through the winelands of the Western Cape towards Worcester.
16:30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars
As the train climbs ±750m up the face of the escarpment.
Dress: Formal, jacket and tie.
Around midnight, the train arrives at the first of four tunnels on the pass. The last tunnel is 13.5km long so guests are to be careful when walking through the train.
Day 2 Matjiesfontein
07:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00.
08:00 Disembark at Matjiesfontein
Fprr 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.
10:00 The train travels through the Karoo
A vast semi-desert region that was once an enormous inland sea. Over millions ofy ears, 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.
16:30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars.
Overnight on board. Dress: Formal, jacket and tie.
Day 3 Kimberley
06:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 08:30.
08:30 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.
12:00 Lunch is served
As the train travels northeast towards Klerksdorp and the broad grassland plains of the Highveld.
16:30: Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars.
Overnight on board. Dress: Formal, jacket and tie.
Day 4 Pretoria*
07:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09:30.
10:00 *Disembark at Kookrus Station (approx 100km south of Rovos Rail Station). An optional complimentary transfer (approx 90 mins) from Kookrus Station to Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria is available.
*Transnet is carrying out maintenance on the railway line into the Rovos station in Pretoria until further notice. Alternative arrangements have been made to disembark at Kookrus Station. Please contact us and our Rail consultants will request to book the complimentary transfer to Rovos Rail Station. /
***Certain departure dates in 2025 will carry a new arrival time into Pretoria at 15:00hrs; 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 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 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.
Prices are dynamic based on travel dates. Please proceed to Book Now or Contact Us for details.
Royal Suite
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 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.
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:
- August 5, 19
- September 2, 4*, 16, 23, 30
- October 7, 25, 28
- November 4, 11, 25
- December 9, 14, 23
2025 Departure dates:
- January 13
- February 3, 13*#, 17*#, 24
- March 4#, 17, 24, 27*#
- April 7, 15*#, 21
- May 5, 9*#, 19
- June 16, 30
- July 14, 29#
- August 4, 11, 26#
- September 8, 12*, 15, 29
- October 6, 13, 27, 28*#
- November 3, 10, 25#
- December 9#, 20*. 27#
#Certain dates in 2025 will carry new departure and arrival times as below (subject to change):
Depart Cape Town: 09:30hrs
Arrive Pretoria: 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
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