At 10:00, the Rovos Rail departs from Pretoria Station, beginning its journey southeast across the Highveld and the goldfields of the Witwatersrand. The train passes through Heidelberg, the site of the first Rand gold strike, and Balfour, a small mining town in Mpumalanga. Guests can freshen up in their luxurious suites before joining fellow travelers in the lounge car and observation car, where panoramic views can be enjoyed.
At 13:00, lunch is served in the dining cars, offering a gourmet culinary experience. As you dine, the train travels through the majestic Drakensberg Mountains, named by the Voortrekkers who thought the peaks resembled the spines on a dragon’s back, hence the name ‘Dragon Mountain’ or Drakensberg in Afrikaans.
At 16:30, tea is served in the lounge and observation cars as the train climbs to Majuba Hill, the site of the decisive battle that ended the First Anglo Boer War. The journey continues past Newcastle, home to the largest cella-dome Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere.
At 19:30, dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Elandslaagte. This formal dining event invites guests to dress in their finest attire, enhancing the sophisticated ambiance. The train also passes Glencoe, the site of the first battle of the Anglo Boer War and now the center of the province’s coalfields.
