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Price Guide
9 Nights - £6,995pp

Flight Inclusive Price from UK

Tour Info
  • International Flights
  • 9 nights accommodation
  • Luxury Rail Journey
  • Full Board on Rail & Safari
  • Breakfast in Swakopmund
  • Game drives
  • Park fees

Rovos Rail - Namibian Journey

Rail through the Namib

Rail through the Namib

Observation Carriage

Observation Carriage

Waterhole at Etosha

Waterhole at Etosha

Pullman Compartment

Pullman Compartment

Dunes at Sossusvlei

Dunes at Sossusvlei

 

This nine-day 3,400-kilometre bi-annual journey takes Rovos Rail from the savannahs of South Africa's Highveld to the Namibia's fog-shrouded Atlantic coast at the old German settlement of Swakopmund.

Departing from Pretoria, the first stop is Kimberley, centre of one of the world’s famous diamond rushes where there is an opportunity to savour the 1870's atmosphere of the Mine Museum village.

The train traverses the stark vistas of the Northern Cape to the Fish River Canyon – second in size only to the Grand Canyon and truly a spectacular sight.

Continue across the untamed beautyof the Kalahari Desert to Namibia’s capital Windhoek, a lively and cosmopolitan city with a strong German flavour.

From Windhoek it’s a short flight to the renowned desert dunes of Sossusvlei, a stunning pan in the Namib Desert, for an overnight stay followed by a night in the game-rich Etosha National Park.

On the last morning of the rail journey, the train travels the Namib to the perfectly preserved 19th-century German Hansa town of Swakopmund, an unforgettable end to a remarkable journey.

Extension options include Victoria Falls and Cape Town or a flying safari to the far north of Namibia.

At a glance:

  • International Flights
  • 8 nights Rovos Rail Journey
  • 1 nights Swakopmund
  • Game Drives in Etosha
  • Desert drives in Sossusvlei
  • All transfers & domestic flights

Day 1: Fly UK to South Africa

Overnight flight from the UK.

Day 2: Rovos Rail

On arrival transfer to Pretoria, just north of Johannesburg for the start of your Southern African rail journey.

At 3 pm, depart the Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria and travel southwards through the goldfields of the Witwatersrand.

Dinner is served in the dining car at 7:30 pm.

Overnight Rovos Rail. All meals included.

Day 3: Rovos Rail

Breakfast is served in the dining car from 7 until 9:45.

The train arrives  at the Kimberley Railway Station at 9:45. Disembark for a tour of the city, Diamond Mine Museum and the Big Hole.

At 12:30 the train departs and continues through the Great Karoo.

Lunch is served in the dining car at 1 pm, afternoon tea in the dining lounge or the Observation Car and dinner at 7:30 pm in the dining car.

Overnight Rovos Rail. All meals included.

Day 4: Rovos Rail - Namibia

Breakfast is served between 7 and 10 a.m.

Today the train is on the move between 8 am and 11 pm.

An optional two-hour walking tour of Upington is included before the train reaches the border with Namibia, arriving at Holoog for the night.

Overnight Rovos Rail. All meals included.

Day 5: Rovos Rail - Fish River Canyon

Today enjoy a visit to the spectacular Fish River Canyon, second in size only to the Grand Canyon.

This is one of Africa's truly great natural spectacles.

Rovos Rail continues to traverse the great Kalahari before arriving at Keetmanshoop where there is an optional two-hour walking tour.

Overnight Rovos Rail. All meals included.

Day 6: Rovos Rail - Sossuvlei

Rovos Rail continues to Windhoek, Namibia's lively capital city from where it's a scenic one-hour light aircraft flight to the spectacular desert scenery at Sosusvlei in time for lunch.

Enjoy a desert drive and a bush dinner in the dunes.

Overnight Sossusvlei. All meals included.

Day 7: Sossuvlei - Etosha National Park

After breakfast in the Vlei, fly to Windhoek and travel north aboard Rovos Rail to the Etosha National Park.

Overnight Rovos Rail. All meals included.

Day 8: Etosha National Park

Transfer to Mokuti Lodge in time for lunch before an afternoon game drive in Namibia's prime Game Reserve.

Overnight Etosha National Park. All meals included.

Day 9: Etosha National Park

Enjoy an early morning game drive before returning to Rovos Rail in time for lunch on board. Continue the journey to the Atlantic Coast.

Overnight Rovos Rail. All meals included.

Day 10: Swakopmund

Today Rovos Rail rolls in to Swakopmund, the perfectly preserved Hansa German town on the Atlantic seaboard.

The rail journey culminates here. We have included a night in Swakopmund, which offers the chance to discover the charms of town or discover the secrets of the desert.

Overnight Swakopmund. Breakfast included.

Day 11: Fly to UK

Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK.

Day 12: Arrive UK

Arrive back in the UK

Overview

Since its inception back in 1989, Rovos Rail has earned a justifiable international reputation for offering truly exceptional and world class luxury rail journeys.

A journey on any of its spectacular routes will take you back to an elegant era of grace and high romance tuned in with Africa exploration.

The trains which can be hauled by either diesel or electric locomotives can carry up to 72 guests in 32 superbly appointed suites on either 48 hour to 15 days especially tailored tours around Southern and Eastern Africa.

Life On Board

By travelling on Rovos Rail, you will be recapturing the romance and atmosphere of travel from a bygone era where you can experience the magic and mystery of travel through Africa in a relaxed and elegant fashion.

A team of highly skilled chefs will be responsible for overseeing the incredibly important task of ensuring its guests needs are catered for. Every morning there is a full breakfast with dishes cooked to order.

Lunch and dinner are complemented by a selection of South Africa’s finest wines. All meals are served in one sitting in the charming Victorian atmosphere of its dining cars. Guests can expect formal dining with fine china, crisp linen, silver and fine glassware.

During the day, the dress is more casual and cool, suitable for the days various off-train excursions. In the evening formal dining attire to suit the mood and bygone era of luxury rail travel is expected.

For gentlemen a jacket and tie is the minimum requirement, whilst for ladies we suggest a cocktail/ evening dresses or suits be worn.

At the rear of the train, you will find an Observation Car (seats 32 guests) and there is a non-smoking and separate smoking lounge car. You will also find a small and discreet Gift shop on the train.

Suites

There are three types of suites on board the Rovos Rail Journey’s. These suites are the epitome of luxury with wood-panelling and period Edwardian features, along with air-conditioning where twin and double beds each with its own en-suite bathrooms which offer original fittings, hot showers, hair dryers and shaver plugs.

The Royal Suite (172 sq feet in size) is the premier suite on the train and takes up to half the length of a single carriage. These are spacious and mesmerising each with its own private lounge area, full bathroom with a Victorian bath tub and separate shower.

The Deluxe Suite(110 sq feet) also accommodate twin or double beds and have a lounge area with en-suite bathroom which has a shower.

The Pullman Suite(76 sq feet) are equipped with a comfortable sofa seat during the day which is then converted in the evening (during dinner service) to either a twin or double beds which also each have their own en-suite bathroom with shower.

These incredibly spacious suites offer its guests the opportunity to travel in privacy, comfort and luxury with fittings and facilities that are of the highest standard.

All are equipped with a writing surface, personal safe for valuables and have a bar filled fridge with beverages of your own choosing and room service is available 24hrs a day.

Sossusvlei Accommodation:

  • To be confirmed

Etosha National Park Accommodation:

  • Mokuti Lodge or similar

Swakopmund Accommodation:

  • Desert Breeze or similar

2016 Dates

Departs Pretoria 7th and 28th April 2016

Departs Swakopmund 17 April and 8th May 2016

9 Nights Namibian Journey - Rovos Rail:

  • Price from £6,995 pp

This is a guide price only, based on travel in low season.

Prices will vary according to choice of hotel and seasonal airfare and hotel surcharges. Please ask us for any current special offers.

Contact Us:

All of our Southern Africa Holidays are completely tailor made and we can put together any kind of itinerary to suit your interests and budget.

Call us now to speak to a Southern Africa holiday expert about your Southern Africa holiday or honeymoon to Southern Africa.

Call us now on 0333 7000 747

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We're open from 9 until 9 daily and our 0333 number is a local rate number included in most call packages.