Please check in a minimum of one hour before departure. If you wish to visit our museum or take a site tour at Rovos Rail Station, we suggest arriving two hours prior to departure.

At 11:00 AM, the Rovos Rail departs from Pretoria Station, heading south across the goldfields of the Witwatersrand. This region is historically significant for its rich gold mining history, which played a pivotal role in South Africa’s development. Guests may freshen up in their luxurious suites before joining fellow travelers in the lounge car or observation car at the rear of the train, where they can relax and enjoy the scenic views.

At 1:00 PM, lunch is served in the elegant dining cars. Guests can savor a gourmet dining experience with a selection of freshly prepared dishes, all while the train continues its journey through the picturesque South African landscape.

At 4:30 PM, tea is served in the lounge and observation cars. This provides a delightful afternoon interlude where guests can enjoy a variety of teas and pastries while socializing and taking in the beautiful views.

At 7:30 PM, dinner is served in the dining cars as the train travels en route to Kimberley. The evening’s dress code is Smart Casual, adding a touch of elegance to the dining experience. Please ensure that the Train Manager or Administration Deputy has your passport for any necessary formalities.

At 7:00 AM, breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00, offering a range of delicious morning options to start the day.

At 10:00 AM, guests will enjoy a guided tour of Kimberley’s Diamond Mine Museum and the Big Hole. Kimberley, the capital of the Northern Cape, is renowned for its significant role in the diamond rush of the late 19th century, leading to its establishment in 1871. The Big Hole is one of the largest hand-dug excavations in the world and provides fascinating insights into the area’s diamond mining history.

At 1:00 PM, lunch is served in the dining cars. The observation car will be leading the train until after tea, providing rail enthusiasts with a unique perspective. The journey continues through the Karoo, a vast semi-desert region that was once an enormous inland sea. Over millions of years, volcanic matter was ground down and deposited as silt upon the seabed, forming what geologists now call the Karoo system.

At 4:30 PM, tea is served in the lounge and observation cars, offering a relaxing afternoon break with a selection of teas and light snacks.

At 7:30 PM, dinner is served in the dining cars as the train heads toward De Aar, an important railway junction. The evening’s dress code is Smart Casual, ensuring a comfortable yet refined dining experience.

At 7:00 AM, breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00, featuring a variety of freshly prepared dishes to start the day.

At 1:00 PM, lunch is served in the dining cars as the train approaches Upington. Upington is located in the Northern Cape and is known for its agricultural significance, particularly in grape and wine production.

At 4:00 PM, guests will enjoy a walking tour of Upington, followed by a sundowner cruise on the Orange River. The Orange River, the longest river in South Africa, rises in the Drakensberg Mountains in Lesotho and flows westwards through South Africa to the Atlantic Ocean. It forms part of the borders between South Africa and Lesotho, and South Africa and Namibia. This river cruise offers stunning views and a relaxing experience as the sun sets over the water.

At 7:30 PM, dinner is served in the dining cars. During this time, border formalities with Namibia will take place. The evening’s dress code is “Africa” Theme or Smart Casual, adding a fun and cultural touch to the dining experience.

At 7:00 AM, breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00, providing a range of morning options to enjoy as the train continues its journey.

At 12:30 PM, lunch is served in the dining cars as the train travels along the southern reaches of the Kalahari Basin, offering passengers scenic views of this unique landscape.

At 2:00 PM, guests transfer (approximately 60 minutes) to Fish River Canyon, the largest canyon in the southern hemisphere and one of the most impressive natural features in Africa. The Fish River has carved out this vast canyon, which is 161 kilometers long, up to 27 kilometers wide, and almost 550 meters deep in some places. The visit includes breathtaking views and opportunities to learn about the geological and natural history of the area.

At 7:30 PM, dinner is served in the dining cars as the train makes its way to Aus. The evening’s dress code is Smart Casual, allowing guests to enjoy a relaxed yet elegant dining experience.

At 6:00 AM, breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure, offering a variety of delicious options to start the day.

At 8:00 AM, transfer (approximately 60 minutes) to the ghost town of Kolmanskop. Once a thriving diamond mining town, Kolmanskop is now a fascinating ghost town where the desert sands have reclaimed the buildings. After exploring Kolmanskop, guests will continue to Lüderitz, known for its charming colonial architecture and diverse wildlife, including seals, penguins, flamingos, and ostriches. Look out for the elusive legendary horses rumored to roam the Namib Desert.

At 1:00 PM, enjoy lunch in Lüderitz, providing an opportunity to savor local cuisine while taking in the historic and scenic surroundings.

At 6:00 PM, return to the train and depart for Keetmanshoop. The observation car will lead the train until after dinner, offering unique views of the journey.

At 7:30 PM, dinner is served in the dining cars. The evening’s dress code is Smart Casual, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable dining experience.

At 7:00 AM, breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00.

At 9:00 AM, visit Keetmanshoop and Garas Park, home to roughly 300 specimens of the Aloe dichotoma, known as quiver trees. These prehistoric trees have forked branches that reach up to 5 meters, making for great photographic opportunities.

At 1:00 PM, return to the train for lunch as it departs for Mariental.

At 4:30 PM, tea is served in the lounge and observation cars, offering a relaxing afternoon break.

At 7:30 PM, dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Rehoboth. The evening’s dress code is Smart Casual, providing a comfortable and refined dining experience.

At 7:00 AM, breakfast is served in the dining cars en route to Windhoek.

At 10:00 AM, transfer to the airstrip and depart in a light aircraft for a one-hour flight to a Sossusvlei lodge for an overnight stay. Please pack a small overnight bag for the stay in Sossusvlei. Tog bags have been placed in your suite for your convenience.

At 12:00 PM, after check-in, enjoy lunch and an afternoon at leisure at the lodge.

At 4:00 PM, embark on an afternoon desert drive, followed by a bush dinner after sunset. The Namib Desert’s dunes, created by sand carried by the wind from the coast of Namibia, are over five million years old and are red in color due to their iron-oxide content. As the light changes during the day, so does the appearance of the dunes’ characteristic color, providing interesting photographic opportunities. The wind in the Sossusvlei area blows from all directions, causing the sand to form a star shape with multiple arms, hence the name “star dunes.”

Overnight at the lodge. Dress code: Casual.

At 5:00 AM, enjoy an early wake-up call with tea and coffee.

At 6:00 AM, take a desert drive with breakfast in the vlei. Afterward, return to the lodge to use the facilities, check-out, and transfer to the airstrip.

At 12:30 PM, depart in a light aircraft for the one-hour flight to Windhoek.

At 2:00 PM, enjoy lunch at the Windhoek Country Club, followed by a city tour. Visit the Trans-Namib Transport Museum, the Independence Memorial Museum, the Evangelical Lutheran Church (a striking landmark), and the Namibia Craft Centre in the old Breweries Building. Windhoek is situated in Namibia’s central highlands and is surrounded by clusters of hills and the Auas and Eros Mountains.

At 6:00 PM, depart for Kranzberg.

At 7:30 PM, dinner is served in the dining cars. The evening’s dress code is Smart Casual.

At 7:00 AM, breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00.

At 12:30 PM, lunch is served in the dining cars.

At 2:30 PM, transfer (approximately 60 minutes) to a cheetah conservation project in Otjiwarongo. Founded in Namibia in 1990, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is dedicated to saving cheetahs in the wild. Learn about the conservation efforts and the work being done to protect these magnificent animals.

At 6:00 PM, depart for Otavi.

At 7:30 PM, dinner is served in the dining cars. The evening’s dress code is Smart Casual.

Please pack a small overnight bag for the stay in Etosha.

At 7:00 AM, breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00.

At 10:00 AM, transfer (approximately 60 minutes) to an Etosha lodge for an overnight stay. Guests are welcome to use the pool and lodge facilities. Enjoy lunch followed by check-in.

At 3:00 PM, take an afternoon game drive (approximately three hours). Etosha National Park, covering 22,270 square kilometers, offers excellent game viewing opportunities with many species of mammals, birds, and reptiles. The park gets its name from the Etosha pan, a large salt pan that forms part of the Kalahari Basin and means “Great White Place.”

At 7:30 PM, dinner is served at the lodge. The evening’s dress code is Smart Casual. Overnight at the lodge.

At 6:00 AM, enjoy breakfast at the lodge until 7:00, followed by a morning game drive in Etosha National Park. Return to the lodge to freshen up and check out by 10:45.

At 11:00 AM, transfer (approximately 60 minutes) to the train at Tsumeb Station.

At 1:00 PM, lunch is served in the dining cars. The observation car will be leading the train until the next day.

At 4:30 PM, tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.

At 7:30 PM, dinner is served in the dining cars as the train travels southwest towards the Atlantic Ocean. The evening’s dress code is “1920s” Theme or Smart Casual.

Please ensure luggage is ready for collection 15 minutes before arrival and that you have your passport.

At 7:00 AM, breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00. Traverse the Namib Desert towards Walvis Bay. The Namib Desert stretches for more than 2,000 kilometers along the Atlantic coasts of Angola, Namibia, and South Africa. The geology consists of sand seas near the coast, while gravel plains and scattered mountain outcrops occur further inland. The name is of Khoekhoegowab origin and means “vast place.” Having endured arid or semi-arid conditions for roughly 55-80 million years, the Namib may be the oldest desert in the world.

At 12:00 PM, arrive at the journey’s end in Walvis Bay, Namibia.