Cecil John Rhodes’ Cape to Cairo ambitions may have failed, but his efforts are remembered in a smattering of romantic luxury rail travel options available to southern African safari enthusiasts.
Luxury rail travel is an exceptional way to explore off-road during your travels to southern Africa. You can choose from old-world elegance, modern sophistication or soothing comfort when you book your passage. Here’s a selection of the best ways to get around by rail during your visit.
South Africa
The Blue Train and Rovos Rail both offer exceptional luxury rail travel to and from South Africa’s best-known cities. While rail travel may be slower than jetting around it offers unique experiences and exceptional services that simply cannot be duplicated in the air. ‘
The Blue Train travels from Pretoria to Cape Town or Hoedspruit and back again. It’s a wonderful way to start your exploration of the country, especially if you want time to unwind before you begin your whirlwind tour of the sights. This carrier also offers an incredible golfing adventure which includes accommodation at a top game lodge and the chance to play on some of the country’s top Garden Route golf courses.
When you travel with this luxury operator, everything is included in the cost. All meals and drinks on board are covered. You can expect to be wined and dined with five-star fare and sip on South Africa’s finest wines throughout your trip. You will enjoy high tea as you watch the world go by from the lounge car and can relax with a premium whisky and a Cuban cigar in the Club Car after dinner.
The accommodation on board is designed for maximum comfort with contemporary furnishings and the latest in space-saving technology.
Rovos Rail takes you back in time with trips that take in the expanses of the Highveld and Great Karoo, magical Cape Town, historic Kimberley and quaint Matjiesfontein. Rovos Rail regularly updates its schedule to include new and exciting destinations.
This train is the epitome of classic Victorian style in the dining room, observation car, club car and lounge. The accommodations are superbly plush ranging from Royal Suites that give you exclusive use of half a rail car to the smaller single-sleeper Pullman Suites.
Meals are exceptional with drinks to match.
Zimbabwe
The Stimela Star is Zimbabwe’s answer to luxury rail travel. This overnight sleeper train travels from Victoria Falls to Bulawayo, offering a supremely comfortable alternative to an ordinary train ticket. These luxury cars originated in the 1950s and have been lovingly restored to offer guests an intimate introduction to Zimbabwe’s attractions.
Plush accommodation, dinner, refreshments, after-dinner drinks and entertainment are all included in the price of your ticket on the Stimela Star.
Namibia
Although it’s a little lower key than the previous grand old ladies of luxury rail travel, The Desert Express offers a chance to watch Namibia’s fascinating landscapes whizz by. This line offers overnight trips from Windhoek to Swakopmund and Walvis Bay or a 7-day jaunt which adds Etosha National Park to the fray.
The Desert Express is elegantly outfitted in rich mahogany tones with animal accents and a modern design.
Get on Track
If you would like to add the romance of luxury rail travel to your exciting southern African safari itinerary, get in touch and we can arrange it all for you.
