Itinerary Highlights
- luxury on board the famous Rovos Rail
- Specialized game drives in the Hwange National Park
- Marvel at the massive Victoria Falls
- Game watch on a cruise on the Chobe River in Botswana
What's Included
- Flights
- Accommodation Throughout
- Transfers
11 nights from £5,580 - £5,695 per person
Nikki Lynas
Travel Specialist
For a stylish holiday travel through Southern Africa on the Rovos Rail, a journey on the classic train which combines an exhilarating safari in Zimbabwe, a stay at the colossal Victoria Falls and a journey down the Zambezi River. The Rovos Rail recaptures the romance of a by-gone era, a wonderful way to witness the beauty of Africa. Board the stylish Rovos Rail in Johannesburg, and travel through picturesque South Africa and into Botswana, crossing the Tropic of Capricorn and heading for Zimbabwe.
The exciting route includes a safari in the Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe, the expanse of land one of Africa’s most diverse wildlife havens. This is an exceptional destination, and during your safari activities you may spot herds of elephant, impala and buffalo, prides of lion and leopard and cheetah.
Disembark at Victoria Falls for three nights in the historic Victoria Falls Hotel, a luxury hotel combining modern comforts with the building’s charming heritage. Overlooking the Victoria Falls Bridge and the dramatic gorges below, the hotel offers canoeing, white water rafting, helicopter flights, game drives and much more for you to experience the incredible nature of your surroundings.
From here you will be transferred to the Zambezi Queen to spend the last two nights of your holiday cruising down the Chobe River. With amazing views onto the Caprivi Strip from one side and the Chobe National Park on the other, the Zambezi Queen is a relaxed way to view this marvellous part of Africa.
Itinerary
Day 1 Leave London on your flight
Leave London on your flight to Johannesburg. Regional departures are available for similar prices, call us to discuss travel from your local airport.
Day 2 Pretoria
On arrival in Johannesburg, you will be collected and transferred to your accommodation in Pretoria. The Castello Di Monte. Spend the night here recovering from your long haul flight in this beautiful and relaxing hotel.
Day 3 Rovos Rail Departure
This morning you will be transferred to the train station for the start of your Rovos Rail journey, spending the next two days discovering the beauty of South Africa from the comfort of your romantic wood-panelled Pullman suite.
The Pullman suite embodies privacy, comfort and luxury with an en-suite, a fridge filled with drinks of your choice and a cosy sofa seat which transforms into a plush double bed. The train’s observation, lounge and club cars are the ideal place to relax, unwind and enjoy the beautiful passing views. Spend your evenings in the opulent dining cart for romantic meals of delicious food.
Your expedition will take you through the south of Johannesburg and the goldfields of Witwatersrand, alongside the majestic Magaliesberg Mountains and through the scenic Limpopo region, before crossing the border into Zimbabwe.
Day 4 Journey North of Johannesburg passing into Zimbabwe
Today you will pass the edge of the escarpment as you cross the Tropic of Capricorn en route to the border with Zimbabwe - you will complete formalities at Beit Bridge before continuing on to the BBR line to Bulawayo.
Day 5 Hwange National Park Zimbabwe
Wake up to a delicious breakfast as the train meanders down one of the longest stretches of railway line in the world taking you to the Hwange National Park. The largest nature park in Zimbabwe, the sweeping Hwange National Park is home to an abundance of exquisite wildlife roaming free including herds of lion, pods of hippo, packs of wild dog, the elusive cheetah, the rare grand black rhino and the beautiful elephant.
Day 6 Victoria Falls
Leave behind the untouched wilderness of Hwange for Victoria Falls and a three night stay in Victoria Falls Hotel. On the Zimbabwe side of the majestic waterfalls the Victoria Falls Hotel, with a charming and tranquil ambiance within acres of private garden, is the perfect base to return to after your adventures. Enjoy an elegant evening in the Livingstone Room choosing from the superb a la carte menu and an extensive wine list, the fine silver service with a relaxed friendly atmosphere.
Staying at
Victoria Falls Hotel
Day 7 Victoria falls
Over the next two full days enjoy the Victoria Falls with the hotel’s diverse range of activities. For the adventurous there is white water rafting in the Zambezi River under the falls, bungee jumping off the Victoria Falls Bridge and jet boating in the Batoka Gorge. For those captivated by the wildlife of Hwange a full day in Chobe National Park, a night game drive with bush dinner or a horse trail through the African bush.
Staying at
Victoria Falls Hotel
Day 8 Victoria Falls
Water flows down from Angola to the Victoria Falls and they can be quite dry coming out of December and January. February is when it starts flowing, being at its fullest in April. May to Mid August is the dry season and there is very little rain and the skies are clear but with lower temperatures.
At full flow, the Victoria Falls can create a massive spray soaking you to the bone and making photography difficult but illustrating the sheer power of these falls. When the water level is low, there is less spray and it makes for beautiful photographs!
Staying at
Victoria Falls Hotel
Day 9 Zambezi Queen - Chobe River
Your last two nights will be spent aboard the Zambezi Queen; a luxury sophisticated three storey river cruiser taking you on a relaxed journey down the Chobe River, one of Botswana’s star safari attractions. A wide variety of wildlife can be seen from the comfort of the boat including hippo, crocodile, Cape buffalo, African Fish eagle, lion and baboon. All 14 suites are tastefully furnished with an intimate, restful ambiance and magnificent views due to the floor to ceiling windows. The Zambezi Queen is a wonderful way to escape the crowded lodges along the riverfront, enjoying high levels of customer service in the restful ambiance of the lounge, pool deck and the suites.
Day 10 Zambezi Queen - Chobe River
During your time on the cruiser if you wish to experience the thrill of seeing the wildlife up close, disembark the cruiser for a water-based game drive by tender boat. If your visit are within season, Tiger and Bream fishing are offered with tackle and bait, a lovely way to spend the afternoon casting your fishing line into the smooth water. Keen twitchers should grab their binoculars and make the most of the magnificent array of birds. Visit a local village on the Namibian side of the river, an incredible chance to learn about the gentle nature of rural Africa and interact with the locals and browse their handmade crafts.
Staying at
Zambezi Queen
Day 11 Departure
Today you will disembark the Zambezi Queen and be transferred to the airport in time for your flight to Johannesburg and on to London.
Nikki Lynas
Travel Specialist
Pricing Information & Dates
11 nights from £5,580 - £5,695 per person
Itinerary Dates
Pricing
1st Oct 2023 -
15th Dec 2023
15th Dec 2023
£5,580
1st Jan 2024 -
31st Dec 2024
31st Dec 2024
£5,695
Nikki Lynas
Travel Specialist
Price Includes
- Return International Flights as per the itinerary
- All airport taxes and security charges
- Accommodation and meals as specified
- Transfers as specified
- Activities and excursions as specified
- All entrace fees on sightseeing tours as specified
• International and regional flights from the UK
• All pre-paid taxes
• 3 nights in a Pullman Suite on the Rovos Rail - all inclusive
• 3 nights at the Victoria Falls Hotel with breakfast included
• 2 nights in a suite aboard the Zambezi Queen with all meals, drinks and excursions
Price Excludes
- Travel Insurance
- Any meals not specified in the itinerary
- Tips and gratuities
- Optional excursions
Visa's, items of a personal nature, travel insurance and gratuities
Pricing Notes
The Rovos Rail only departs on certain dates and is extremely popular so is the Zambezi Queen so please check with your travel specialist.
Why Choose Us?
Passionate travel experts
- We've been leading wildlife travel since our first South Africa tours over 25 years ago
- Our Travel Specialists have lived in their specialist area for years
- We work with local guides to immerse you deeper in our diverse range of experiences
Personal & tailor-made
- You'll speak to your own expert who'll share their first-hand knowledge
- We'll make your itinerary seamless with 24/7 emergency contact available
- Your Travel Specialist will listen to ensure you have the best chance of seeing the wildlife you love
Responsible by nature
- We take care to actively contribute to the conservation of environments we visit
- For select countries, we make a charitable donation on your behalf when you make your booking
- We've partnered with conservation experts and NGOs to curate responsible tours
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office check www.gov.uk/travelaware
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