Check-In
Please check in at least one hour before departure. Guests wishing to explore the Rovos Rail Museum or take a guided tour of the station are encouraged to arrive two hours prior for a richer experience.

10:00 AM – Departure from Pretoria
The Rovos Rail departs Pretoria Station, beginning its journey across the historic goldfields of the Witwatersrand and into the wide grassland plains of the Highveld. Take time to settle into your suite or join fellow travelers in the lounge and observation cars, where panoramic windows showcase the passing landscapes.

1:00 PM – Lunch
A sumptuous lunch is served in the dining cars. Enjoy a gourmet menu crafted by the onboard chefs, complemented by attentive service and the charm of the vintage carriages, as the train continues its scenic route.

4:30 PM – Afternoon Tea
Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars. Delight in a selection of teas, pastries, and light refreshments while you relax in comfort and take in the views from the train’s elegant social spaces.

7:30 PM – Dinner
Dinner is served in the dining cars as the train travels en route to Klerksdorp. Dress: Formal. This refined evening begins with a multi-course menu that blends regional and international flavors, paired with fine wines. The formal dress code and sophisticated ambiance create a memorable dining experience, after which you will retire to your suite for an overnight stay on board.

This opening day sets the tone for your Rovos Rail journey: a perfect combination of elegant travel, fine dining, and scenic beauty.

7:00 AM – Breakfast
From 7:00, the aromas of freshly ground coffee and warm pastries draw you to the dining cars, where crisp linens, polished silver, and cut glass set the tone for the day. Breakfast is served at leisure until 10:00 as the train glides across the ochre plains of the northern Karoo, a landscape dotted with windmills, merino sheep, and distant koppies unfolding beyond the windows.

12:30 PM – Lunch
A refined four-course luncheon is served in the dining cars—perhaps Karoo lamb cutlets or line-caught Cape hake accompanied by a chilled Chenin Blanc—just as the first red-sand embankments signal your approach to Kimberley.

Afternoon Excursion – Kimberley Mine Museum
Disembark mid-afternoon for a guided visit to the Kimberley Mine Museum. Period buildings, a replica diamond vault, and a restored tram line capture the atmosphere of the 1870s rush, when fortunes were dug from the dusty claims. From the viewing deck, gaze into the Big Hole, the world’s largest hand-dug excavation—a vast, turquoise-rimmed crater 215 metres deep that once yielded over 2,700 kilograms of diamonds.

Evening – Return and Dinner
Rejoining Rovos Rail, enjoy a refreshment in the lounge before preparing for dinner. At 7:30, chandeliers glow warmly above the dining cars, waltz music drifts softly, and waiters in white jackets present a multi-course dinner paired with Cape estate wines. Outside, twilight settles over thornveld and salt pan as the train eases south-west, beginning its overnight run into the arid heart of the Great Karoo.

7:00 AM – Breakfast
Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00. As you enjoy fresh pastries, fruits, cereals, and hot dishes, the train glides across the vast Karoo. Once an ancient inland sea, this semi-desert has, over millions of years, transformed into a stark yet beautiful landscape of wide horizons and unique geology known as the Karoo system.

1:00 PM – Lunch and Matjiesfontein Walk
A sumptuous lunch is served in the dining cars before disembarking at Whitehill Siding for a scenic 5km walk into the historic village of Matjiesfontein, accompanied by a Rovos Rail staff member.

Afternoon – Explore Matjiesfontein
Step back in time as you explore this charming village, renowned for its Victorian architecture and rich history. Visit the museum on the platform, which houses an eclectic collection of historical artifacts, or admire the impressive display of vintage cars and railway carriages beside the Lord Milner Hotel.

4:30 PM – Afternoon Tea
Return to the train for afternoon tea in the lounge and observation cars. As the journey continues, the train enters the first of four tunnels along the pass. The longest stretches 13.5 kilometers—guests are advised to use caution when moving through the train and switch on lights as needed.

7:30 PM – Dinner
Dinner is served in the dining cars as the train descends nearly 750 meters down the escarpment towards Worcester. Dress: Formal. The multi-course menu, paired with fine wines, reflects the refinement of Rovos Rail dining. The elegant setting, complemented by the dramatic descent of the train, creates a fitting close to a day filled with history, scenery, and luxury. Overnight on board.

7:00 AM – Breakfast
Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 9:30. Enjoy freshly baked pastries, seasonal fruits, and a selection of hot dishes as the train makes its way through the Hex River Valley. This fertile region, framed by dramatic mountains and rolling vineyards, provides a fittingly beautiful backdrop for your final morning aboard.

10:00 AM – Arrival in Cape Town
The train arrives at Cape Town Station, marking the conclusion of your Rovos Rail journey. Disembark in South Africa’s Mother City, celebrated for its breathtaking scenery, vibrant culture, and rich history. From the iconic silhouette of Table Mountain to the lively V&A Waterfront and the surrounding winelands, Cape Town offers endless opportunities to continue your adventure.