Cape Town to Pretoria with Rovos Rail
Experience the most luxurious train in all of Africa – Rovos Rail – the most rewarding way to travel from Cape town to Pretoria or vice versa.
Travelling on Rovos Rail means you’ll enjoy fine foods and wines and sleep in compartments fit for royalty. The sleeping compartments are reminiscent of some of the finer southern Africa hotels, such as the Cape Grace and Mount Nelson.
Rovos Rail offers several routes, including the 28-day Cape Town to Cairo option and the six-day Cape Town to Victoria Falls route, which goes via Pretoria. However, the most popular route is the three-day, two-night Cape Town to Pretoria (or vice versa) route. This journey takes roughly 28 hours and stretches over 1,500km’s of South Africa’s beautiful terrain.
The trip kicks off in Cape Town, heading out towards the famous Cape Winelands and then makes its way up to the Karoo and before long you’ll reach the colonial-style town of Matjiesfontein – the first of two long stops on the journey. Here you can enjoy a tour of the town and top up in the town’s local bar. If you have time to kill before the departure, take a stroll through the museum on the platform.
The best spot on the train is on the last coach, the Observation Car, which has an outside area. This is a relaxing environment where you can sit and watch the awesome terrain pass you by. Then there is the not-to-be-missed treat, High Tea, served at around 16:00 in the Observation Car or Midway Lounge Car.
Dinner is a grand jacket and tie affair and since Rovos Rail is a proudly South African institution, you’ll be served the best local cuisine, which includes venison and only the finest South African wines.
…the clickety-clack sound of steel wheels on tracks will have you drifting off to sleep in no time.
The second big stop is at the mining town of Kimberley. Here you will enjoy an interesting tour of one of the world’s largest man-made excavations – the Big Hole – and then the Diamond Mine Museum.
For a final treat – a few kilometers before The Rovos Rail station, the coaches are connected to and pulled in by an old steam engine, definitely a great way to end this classy, classic train ride.
Once the ride is over, you’ll want to remain on the train and head for Victoria Falls, only four days away from Pretoria.
Head Office
Paul Kruger St, Pretoria
Tel: +27 (0) 12 315 8242
Email
Cape Town Office
1 Adderley St, Cape Town
Tel: +27 (0) 21 421 4020
Email
Rovos Rail Station – Head office S 25° 43′ 06″, E 28° 11′ 20″
Rovos Rail Station – Cape Town office S 33° 55′ 14″, E 18° 25′ 34″
| More info on the area of Cape Town | More info on the Tshwane area |
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