Special Packages
DURBAN TO VICTORIA FALLS including Fairmont Zimbali and the Victoria Falls Hotel – 10 days
Embark on this adventure with a two-night stay the Fairmont Zimbali, one of South Africa’s premier resorts on KwaZulu-Natal’s Dolphin Coast. Board the Pride of Africa in Durban then visit the famous Ardmore Ceramics Gallery and learn about the Zulu people whose sense of rhythm, colour, dance and song manifests in a fascinating ceramic collection. Experience the expansive Spionkop Lodge, which adjoins an 11 000-acre nature reserve and is the perfect base for exploring the mountains, bush, birds and battlefields of the region. Enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Nambiti Conservancy, a Big Five private bush retreat set on 20 000 acres of malaria-free bushveld in KwaZulu-Natal. Arrive in Pretoria the following afternoon for an introduction to our beautifully appointed station before spending the night at your hotel. The next day the train slowly meanders westwards into Botswana then north, crossing the Tropic of Capricorn just after Gaborone. After border formalities with Zimbabwe, the journey continues in a northwesterly direction passing Bulawayo and heads towards Hwange Game Reserve where animals can be spotted from the train. Arrive at the incomparable Victoria Falls on the mighty Zambezi River and enjoy a two-night stay at the colonial-style Victoria Falls Hotel. Explore the surrounding areas that offer travellers many recreational opportunities including cruises, whitewater rafting and superb game viewing and photo safaris. * Please note that depending upon the railway’s capacity this journey could be routed northwards through Beitbridge and Zimbabwe. See itinerary and PDF below…
CAPE TOWN and DURBAN SAFARI Package – 7 days
This seven-day journey begins in Cape Town and ends in Durban. Travel through the spectacular mountain ranges and scenic winelands of the Cape to the haunting barrenness of the Great Karoo. Visit the historic village of Matjiesfontein. Next stop is Kimberley for a city tour and a visit to the world’s largest man-made excavation, the Big Hole, and its Diamond Mine Museum. Arrive in Pretoria and transfer to your hotel for the night. Enjoy the day at leisure or tour the city, Soweto, Johannesburg, Constitution Hill and the Apartheid Museum. The train departs the following morning on the Durban Safari. Experience the Nambiti Conservancy – a Big Five bush retreat set on 20 000 acres of malaria-free bushveld in KwaZulu-Natal. It has an incredible biodiversity including savannah, grasslands, thornveld and tall acacia trees. Situated on an expansive game farm, Spionkop Lodge, adjoining an 11 000-acre nature reserve, is the perfect base for exploring the mountains, bush, birds and battlefields of the region. Ardmore Ceramics is a story about the Zulu people whose sense of rhythm, colour, dance and song, as well as the spirit of the African imagination, is exerting its influence on the other continents of the world. Pay a morning visit to this charming centre in the rolling hills before the train makes its way to Durban. (These journeys can also be combined with own arrangements in Pretoria.)
CONSIDER COMBINING SOME OF OUR JOURNEYS…
• Cape Town or Durban can be combined with Victoria Falls:
The six-day journey commences in either Cape Town OR Durban with a night in Pretoria and ends at the majestic Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. See PDF downloads bar below…
• The Namibia Safari (Swakopmund-Pretoria) can be combined with the African Golf Collage (PTA-CT):
The nine-day Namibia Safari takes the train from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the savannahs of the Highveld in the east. Enjoy a few days in Gauteng before joining the African Golf Collage – the nine-day panoramic sojourn commences at Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria and winds its way to journey’s end in Cape Town. See Journeys pages…
OUR GUESTHOUSES IN CAPE TOWN…
Before or after a journey on the Pride of Africa, guests can stay at one of our five-star seaside retreats in St James, Cape Town.
www.stjamesguesthouses.com
Special Itinerary
Transfer from King Shaka Airport (north of Durban) to the Fairmont Zimbali Resort for a two-night stay on a Bed & Breakfast basis.
Day at leisure at the Fairmont Zimbali Resort on a Bed & Breakfast basis.
Depart the hotel and board the train at Durban Station for a 10h00 departure. Lunch is served in the dining car/s
at 13h00 en route to Lions River Station. Enjoy an afternoon excursion to the famous Ardmore Ceramics Gallery.
Dinner is served on board at 19h30. Overnight on the train.
A 06h30 wake-up call for a choice of excursions… Option 1: Game drive in Spionkop Game Reserve.
Option 2: Spionkop battlefields escorted tour. Disembark at Elandslaagte for an afternoon game drive at 15h00 in the Nambiti Private Game Reserve.
Arrive at Rovos Rail Station in Capital Park, Pretoria. Transfer to hotel for an overnight stay.
The train departs from the Rovos Rail Station at 09h30. Enjoy lunch and dinner on board en route to Zeerust and then on to Mafikeng for border formalities.
Enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner on board en route to Plumtree for border formalities.
Breakfast and lunch are served on the train with a 17h00 arrival in the Victoria Falls. Walk from the platform to the imposing entrance of the Victoria Hotel for a two-night stay on a Bed & Breakfast basis.
Day at leisure at the Victoria Falls Hotel on a Bed & Breakfast basis. Optional activities arranged on request:
tour the Falls, a golf game, a helicopter ride, walk with lions, river rafting, etc.
Transfer to the Victoria Falls or Livingstone Airport for your flight home OR you may wish to extend your stay with your own additional arrangements.
Special Itinerary (available in reverse ~ see downloads)
Depart Cape Town Station at 11h00 on the Pride of Africa. Arrive in Matjiesfontein at 18h00 and explore the quaint village. Dinner and overnight on the train. (Breakfast 07h00-10h00 • Lunch 13h00 • High Tea 16h00 • Dinner 19h30)
Arrive in Kimberley at 14h00 for a tour of the Big Hole and Diamond Mine Museum.
After departing at 16h00, the train passes a shallow lake with tremendous flocks of Lesser Flamingos.
Arrive at Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria and transfer to the hotel for a two-night stay on a B&B basis.
Enjoy a day at leisure or a tour of the city, Soweto, Johannesburg, Constitution Hill and the Apartheid Museum with lunch en route. Overnight at the hotel.
Transfer to Rovos Rail Station and depart at 10h00. Lunch is served as the train passes through Heidelberg (1 903m).
At 18h15 the train departs Vooruitsig and climbs to 2 146m as it traverses Majuba Hill.
Arrive at Elandslaagte at 22h30 for overnight stop.
After a 06h00 wake-up call, enjoy tea, coffee, juices and pastries in the dining car/s before embarking on a game drive in the Nambiti Private Game Reserve. Return to the train for brunch at 11h00 and head for Estcourt.
Disembark at 14h00 for a 40-minute drive to Spionkop Lodge where a choice of two excursions is available: an escorted tour of the battlefields or a game drive in the Spionkop Game Reserve. Return to the train for dinner.
The train departs Estcourt and descends the escarpment en route to Lions River Station. Disembark at 10h00
for a visit to the famous Ardmore Ceramics Gallery including an equestrian display and tea overlooking the river.
After a 12h00 departure, lunch is served as the train traverses the spectacular Valley of a Thousand Hills.
Arrive at journey’s end in Durban at 16h00.