South Africa by Rovos Rail

Rovos Rail can take you from the city suburbs of Cape Town into the wine estates of the Western Cape. From there you’ll witness lush green valleys and vineyards slowly transforming into the arid plains of the Karoo desert. This is where you might spy springboks and bat-eared jackals amongst low-lying shrubs and succulents. Continuing into the Northern Cape, you’ll encounter diamond mines in Kimberley as well as the vast Highveld grasslands on the outskirts of Klerksdorp. It’s the perfect prelude to Pretoria where you’ll find yourself immersed in purple flowering jacarandas on the banks of the Apies River.

Alternatively, you can travel in the other direction from Pretoria to Cape Town or head south on a three-night trip from Pretoria to Durban. Sitting on the shores of the Indian Ocean, Durban makes an exciting final destination for train travellers. And, what’s more, there’s an array of gold rush era towns, Drakensberg Mountain escarpments and First Boer War battlegrounds to experience along the way. Also, if you’re hoping to go on safari whilst in Kwa-Zulu Natal, the private Nambiti game reserve gives you every opportunity to do just that. There’s no better setting to seek out Africa’s Big Five amongst the sub-tropical bushveld and savannah plains before reboarding the train and heading down to Durban.

A slightly longer route takes you from Pretoria up to Victoria Falls – this is the route you’ll follow on 2025 departures of Tracks of Africa. Along the way, you’ll cross the Tropic of Capricorn and pass through groves of baobab trees, and stop off at two Zimbabwean national parks for safari game drives.