With over two decades representing one of the world’s most iconic luxury train experiences, Carole O’Connor has become as much a part of the Rovos Rail story as the gleaming carriages themselves. As sales manager focussing on Australia, New Zealand, MICE, and charters, she brings not just strategy and experience to the team, but also a unique energy that blends worldliness with warmth.

“No two days are ever the same,” says Carole. “That’s what I love most about my job – meeting people from all over the globe and sharing my passion for Rovos Rail with them.”

Originally from Leeds, Yorkshire, Carole describes her education simply as the “University of Life,” and it’s clear that her experience speaks volumes. She has spent over 22 years contracted to Rovos Rail, after first reaching out to Rohan Vos following a BMW incentive trip aboard the train. From that moment, her journey with Rovos began.

Before joining Rovos Rail, Carole built a formidable background in travel and business development, holding positions with American Express Travel Services, Exclusive Air Charter, and Exclusive Getaways, before launching her own venture, African Dream Destinations CC, where she represented premier travel brands including Sabi Sabi Private Game Lodge and Grande Roche Hotel.

But what stands out most about Carole is her storytelling and her instinct for opportunity. One of her most memorable encounters happened at the Travel Indaba in Durban, where she initially mistook a dishevelled but charming guest at the Rovos hospitality tent for a “freeloader.” As it turned out, he wasn’t there for the food – or the banners. He was a renowned British photographer, owner of a stunning villa in Llandudno, and later a Hasselblad Award winner for his work Allee des Baobab. That conversation sparked a friendship and creative collaboration that lives on through the images he captured aboard the train – many now on display at the Chelsea Art Gallery in London. “I’ve always trusted my gut,” she says. “I’ve taken calculated risks, made bold choices – and they’ve always worked out. I’m proud of that.”

When asked about her favourite journey, Carole names the Durban Safari, one of Rovos Rail’s shorter itineraries, though she admits with a laugh she’s never taken one of the longer journeys herself.

Off the train and away from work, Carole is deeply grounded. She spends weekends hiking mountain trails in a quiet village with her two beloved Labradors. “I’m not one for crowds or loud music. I love nature, I prefer animals to people, and I’m truly at peace with my life,” she says.

As for the future? “I’ve achieved 99 per cent of my goals. Now, it’s time to enjoy the fruits of my labour.”

Three words to describe Carole? Self-made. Resilient. Passionate.

One thing she’s learned at Rovos Rail? “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”

Written by Linda Sparks

At Rovos Rail, the luxury train experience is crafted not just by the vintage carriages and five-star service, but by passionate people who pour heart and history into every journey. One such person is Eileen Dash, a dynamic force behind the scenes, currently serving as hardware store manager. With 25 years at Rovos Rail, Eileen’s journey is a story of resilience, adaptability, and some unexpected adventures.

Eileen’s career began high above the clouds. As a former cabin crew member for South African Airways, she spent a decade navigating local and international skies. When this aviation chapter started to close a conversation with a director led her to an up-and-coming train company in Pretoria. That company? Rovos Rail. “The rest,” Eileen laughs, “is history.”

Eileen’s path at Rovos Rail has been anything but linear. Starting out as part of the train crew, she worked across housekeeping, dining service, bar service, and eventually served as deputy manager before leaving temporarily to manage safari lodges and camps across southern Africa. Since returning in 2005, she’s taken on a more grounded role: hardware store manager. Here, she oversees everything from stock control for coach building, to cost management, supplier liaison, and logistics across a sprawling, ever-active site. “No two days are alike – Wednesday and Friday the site comes alive with the trains coming and going so it’s all hands-on deck,” she says.

Over the years, Eileen has completed a range of training, including business management, leadership, fire marshal, and SAGE systems, but she insists that the most valuable skills – agility, creativity, and problem-solving – were forged on the job. “Adaptability is a must here,” she explains. “There’s always a challenge to solve, a curveball to catch.”

She recalls one such memorable challenge: when Rovos Rail acquired the Shongololo Express, her team was given just a month to redo all plumbing and cabinetry. “I’ve never bought that many galvanized pipes and fittings in my life,” she laughs. “There was shouting, eye-rolling, and then… beers and laughter when the completed train finally pulled out and we could come together and appreciate the success of our efforts.”

Her most “mind-blowing” experience goes back to the 90s when a Russian client on a charter trip wanted caviar, salmon and vodka from his homeland. Needless to say, Rovos Rail made it happen – a few days later a chopper drop was made at a nearby field and the products arrived on the train to much laughter. A demonstration of how determined and agile the company is particularly when it comes to client delivery.

Eileen’s role has not only been about problem-solving – it’s also been deeply personal. One project holds a special place in her heart: the acquisition of dining coach 5274, affectionately known as “Rust Bucket.” Originally part of a conservation project, the coach was secured thanks in part to Eileen’s long-standing relationship with a former colleague in conservation. Today, the lovingly preserved oak pillars and panels stand as a tribute to that personal and professional bridge. “I still smile warmly whenever I walk through that coach,” she says.

Eileen explains that “Rovos Rail being a family-run business creates a very personal and proud sense of involvement to all that work here”.

Eileen’s favourite Rovos Rail destination is Cape Town, due to the Matjiesfontein walks, tunnels and valleys, as well as the Karoo night skies. “The brightest stars ever, once we stopped the train so guests could watch a meteor shower,” she recalls.

When she’s not managing hardware or overseeing her various onsite projects, Eileen enjoys spending time with her mother, tinkering at home, and reflecting on a life well-travelled. Her past hobbies include backyard beekeeping, family tree research, jogging, cycling and gardening.

Eileen is inspired by community and conservation initiatives – the latter being a longtime passion encouraged by her near-completion of a Nature Conservation Diploma. “I once dreamed of being an Eco Warrior,” she says with a smile, “and in some ways, maybe I still am.”

Peacemaker. Intuitive. Carer. That’s how Eileen describes herself – and that spirit echoes in everything she does at Rovos Rail. Whether she’s coordinating plumbing parts, immersing herself in paperwork, or guiding a team through a high-pressure refit, Eileen’s story is proof that the journey is always shaped by the people who walk it together.

Stay tuned for more behind the scenes stories from the people who make Rovos Rail a world-class luxury experience on rails.

Written by Linda Sparks

In celebration of Women’s Month in August, we are honouring four of our amazing female staff members.

Nestled in the heart of Cape Town’s travel scene is a woman whose journey with one of the world’s most luxurious trains began not on board, but behind a travel agent’s desk in Germany. Meet Heike Gerntholtz – passionate marketer, storyteller, and lifelong ambassador for Rovos Rail.

“I was the youngest, and probably the most clueless, at the agency,” she laughs, recalling the day a man walked in asking to “travel Africa by train.” Her colleagues, noting her African roots, nudged him in her direction. That single interaction sparked what would become the agency’s most legendary booking – four tickets aboard Rovos Rail from Cape Town to Dar es Salaam, with a Kenyan safari to follow.

The train was a mystery to Heike at the time. She had only heard of the Blue Train. But when those clients returned raving about their cross-continental journey – and the personal call they received from Rovos founder Rohan Vos – Heike was captivated. So much so that when she returned to South Africa as a 20-year-old, she didn’t buy a ticket, she applied for a job!

That was in 1997, and what began with two months on the train as a “rooming girl” soon evolved into a long-standing career, with a short stint in reservations and then in marketing and sales, today focusing on German-speaking Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Nordics.

“I love the product – the train, the journey, the people,” she says. “But what’s kept me here are the souls behind it. Some colleagues I’ve worked with for over 27 years. And I have a huge respect for Rohan.”

“I’m also grateful for the flexibility and the fact that I can work fairly independently in our Cape Town satellite office.”

Her love for Rovos Rail extends far beyond the office. One route in particular – Cape Town to Dar es Salaam – holds her heart. She’s done the trip three times: twice as a hostess and once as a guest with her children and parents for their 50th anniversary. The memories? Unforgettable.

“That journey showcases Africa in its rawest, most beautiful form,” she reflects. “It’s incredible, sometimes heartbreaking, but always profound. It makes you feel proud – and alive.”

While Heike’s days are now filled with emails, travel expos, and liaising with agents, she still finds time to roam the wild places of Africa. When not in the office, you’ll find her on a hiking trail in the Karoo or exploring parts of the continent she hasn’t yet discovered.

She calls herself “stubborn, positive, and straight-forward” – traits that have helped her carve a unique space within the travel industry. She speaks fluent German, though she’s quick to point out, with a grin, that she’s not actually German.

“I’ve grown with this company,” she says. “One of my proudest moments was realizing – ten years in – that I could make decisions confidently, even without Rohan around. That shift in mindset changed everything.”

Her goals for the future are simple: find more balance, travel more, and maybe – just maybe – cut back on those dangerously addictive Root Stock chips in the office.

Heike counts herself lucky every day – she does what she loves, works because she can, not because she has to, and wouldn’t have it any other way.

Written by Linda Sparks