Holidays with Downtown

Rovos Rail - Cape Town/Dar es Salaam

Purpose:	Luxury, Relaxation, Nature, Discovery Culture
No. of days:	16 days - 15 nights
First & Last Cities:	Cape Town, Dar es Salaam
Other cities:	Matjiesfontein, Kimberley, Pretoria, Madikwe, Victoria Falls, Livingstone, Lusaka, Kapiri Mposhi, Kasama, Mbeya, Kisaki, Gwata
Starting cost:	$14,499

 

Day 1: Cape Town

After Immigration and Customs formalities at Cape Town airport you’ll meet your driver for your transfer to the hotel.

 

Day 2: Cape Town, Matjiesfontein [South Africa]

Depart from Platform 23 at Cape Town Station at 1:00 pm. Guests may freshen up in their suites before joining fellow travelers in the lounge car or observation car. Lunch is served in the dining cars. In the afternoon, the train reaches Worcester in the Hex River Valley before climbing 2,460 feet up the face of the escarpment to reach the first of four tunnels on the pass. The last tunnel is 8.5 miles long so guests are to be careful when walking through the train and may wish to turn on necessary lights. Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars before disembarking at Matjiesfontein for an opportunity to stroll through this historic little village. Depart Matjiesfontein. Dinner is served in the dining cars. Travel through the Karoo via De Aar towards Kimberley. [L/D]

 

Day 3: Matjiesfontein, Kimberley [South Africa]

Tour of Kimberley’s Big Hole and Diamond Mine Museum. Ten minutes after departing Kimberley a shallow lake appears on the left-hand side of the train where, on most occasions, there are spectacular flocks of Lesser Flamingos (approximately 23,000). Travel from the Karoo to the Highveld. Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Klerksdorp. Overnight on board. [B/L/D]

 

Day 4: Kimberley, Pretoria [South Africa]

Arrive at Rovos Rail Station in Capital Park, Pretoria. Enjoy a walking tour of the station and locomotive workshops (weather permitting) followed by lunch on the platform and a city tour of Pretoria. After the tour depart for Zeerust in the North West Province. Dinner and overnight on board.

Note:   Please pack a small overnight bag for the stay in Madikwe. Tog bags have been placed in your suite for your convenience. See Inclusions/Exclusions. Spa facilities available (own account). Payment in South African Rand or by credit card only. Times of meals and activities are seasonal and will be confirmed on arrival.

 

Day 5: Pretoria, Madikwe [South Africa]

Disembark at Zeerust and transfer by coach to Madikwe Reserve for a two-night stay at TAU Game Lodge. Lunch is served upon arrival at the lodge. Afternoon tea and game drive (approximately 3 hours). Dinner and overnight at the lodge. [B/L/D]

 

Day 6: Madikwe

Enjoy an early morning game drive, afternoon game drive and other guest activities. Overnight at the lodge. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight at the lodge. [B/L/D]

 

Day 7: Madikwe, Victoria Falls [Zimbabwe]

Early morning game drive followed by breakfast until 09h30. Transfer to the train at with border formalities en route to Gaborone, Botswana Lunch is served in the dining cars. Depart Gaborone and continuation to Plumtree for border formalities. Tea is served in the lounge car and observation car and dinner is served in the dining cars. Overnight on board. [B/L/D]

Note: Border formalities will take place en route and guests are required to present themselves to the border officials (luggage may be searched). Please ensure the Train Manager or Admin Host/Hostess is in possession of your passport and completed forms.

Note: It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the list of activities available in Victoria Falls: Tour of Falls; helicopter over Falls; walk with lions; whitewater rafting; bungee-jumping; golf. You may book these excursions yourself at the hotel or beforehand on the train with the on-board lecturer – today between 4:30 and 6:00 pm. Cash accepted.

 

Day 8: En-route to Victoria Falls [Zimbabwe]

Day at leisure on board. Lectures will be given during the course of the morning and/or afternoon by the on-board historian. The train passes Gwaai and Dete along one of Africa’s longest stretches of straight railway line – 71 miles – and along the eastern edge of the Hwange National Park where occasional sightings of animals can occur. The train heads for Thompson’s Junction, near Victoria Falls for the overnight stop. [B/L/D]

 

Day 9: Victoria Falls

Welcome address on the lawn followed by lunch at Jungle Junction. Luggage will be delivered to the rooms. In the afternoon meet in the hotel foyer before departure for the Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi. Dinner is served at the Livingstone Room, Victoria Falls Hotel.  [B/L/D]

Note: Please pack a small overnight bag for the stay at Victoria Falls Hotel. Meals are taken at the Victoria Falls Hotel. Currency exchange available at hotel (passports not required); there is a

business center and Wi-Fi available throughout. If you are crossing the border into Zambia during your stay, please obtain your passport from the Train Manager or Administration Host/Hostess.

 

Day 10: Victoria Falls, Livingstone [Zambia]

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). Breakfast and lunch are served at the Jungle Junction restaurant. In mid afternoon meet on station platform for departure to Zambia. Depart Victoria Falls and cross the bridge to Livingstone. Tea is served in the lounge or observation cars. Enjoy the ride until dinner served in the dining cars. [B/L/D]

Note: Check-out time is normally at 10:00 am. If you have organized morning activities, please ensure you have checked out. Complimentary luggage storage at reception until afternoon departure.

Please ensure the Train Manager or Administration Host/Hostess has your passport for border formalities.

 

Day 11: Livingstone, Lusaka, Kapiri Mposhi [Zambia]

Lectures in morning and/or afternoon in the lounge car. Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00. After breakfast, the train travels across the Kafue railway bridge – a 1,565-foot long steel girder truss bridge of 13 spans each at 108 feet supported by concrete piers.  Enjoy a day at leisure on the train as it travels through Zambia. Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train passes through the country’s capital, Lusaka. Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars. Dinner en route to Kapiri Mposhi and the start of the TAZARA railway line. [B/L/D]

 

Day 12: Kapiri Mposhi, Kasama [Zambia]

Enjoy a day at leisure on the train with lectures in the morning and afternoon in the lounge car. Breakfast is served until 10:00. The train passes through Serenje and Mpika en route to Kasama.

Lunch, tea and dinner served on board. [B/L/D]

 

Day 13: Kasama, Mbeya [Tanzania]

Disembark at Kasama for a morning excursion to Chisimba Falls. Depart from Kasama and travel towards the Tanzanian border. Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train passes Chozi and arrives in Nakonde for Zambian border formalities. Continue to Tunduma on the Tanzanian border. Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Mbeya. [B/L/D]

 

Day 14: Mbeya, Kisaki [Tanzania]

Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00. Lectures in the morning and afternoon in the lounge car by the on-board historian. Arrive at Makambako and enjoy an optional stroll through the town – time permitting. Depart and travel towards Mlimba. The train descends into the Rift Valley and through the Udzungwa Mountains as it negotiates the tunnels, switchbacks and viaducts of the escarpment towards the Selous. Lunch, tea and dinner served en route to Kisaki. [B/L/D]

 

Day 15: Kisaki, Gwata [Tanzania]

Continental breakfast is served in the lounge and observation cars until 08.00. Lectures in the morning and afternoon in the lounge car.  The train descends into the highlands and traverses the fertile lands of Tanzania towards Dar es Salaam. Brunch is served in the dining cars until 12.00. Time permitting, game visit in the Selous Game Reserve, the largest in Africa (13,590,795 acres). Rejoin the train for departure to Gwata with dinner served en route. [B/L/D]

Note: Please ensure that you have obtained your passport from the Train Manager or Admin Host/Hostess.

 

Day 16: Gwata, Dar es Salaam [Tanzania]

Depart Gwata in and travel towards the east coast. Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 9:30 am. Arrive around 10:00 am in Dar es Salaam. At this point you have the option to add a stay in Dar es Salam or to be transferred to the airport to board your flight back home. [B]

 

[B] = Breakfast | [L/D] = Lunch and Dinner | [B/L/D] = Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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