South Africa • Rail
Rovos Rail: Pretoria to Cape Town
This meandering luxury rail journey offers the perfect illustration of South Africa as a world in one country.
Travel the grasslands of the gold-rich Highveld to the haunting barrenness of the Great Karoo; trundle through the spectacular mountain ranges and scenic winelands of the Cape. Journey’s end is Cape Town, the Mother City of South Africa.
From NZ$6,175 per person, twin share
4 Days / 3 Nights • Set departures 2026–2028 • South Africa
2026 — Pretoria > Cape Town 9, 16, 30 Oct · 13, 27 Nov · 11, 25 Dec
2026 — Cape Town > Pretoria 13, 20 Oct · 2, 3, 13, 17 Nov · 1, 15, 21, 29 Dec
2027 — Pretoria > Cape Town 5, 8, 22, 29 Jan · 12, 23 Feb · 5, 12 Mar · 2, 16, 30 Apr · 14, 28 May · 11, 25, 29 Jun · 9, 23 Jul · 6, 17, 20 Aug · 3, 10 Sep · 1, 5, 15, 29 Oct · 12, 26 Nov · 10, 23 Dec
2027 — Cape Town > Pretoria 12, 26 Jan · 2, 15 Feb · 5, 9, 16 Mar · 6, 19, 20 Apr · 4, 18 May · 1, 15, 29 Jun · 13, 27 Jul · 9, 10, 24 Aug · 7, 14, 27 Sep · 5, 19 Oct · 2, 15, 16, 30 Nov · 13, 14, 27 Dec
2028 — Pretoria > Cape Town 6, 14, 28 Jan · 18, 24 Feb · 3, 17 Mar · 7, 21 Apr · 4, 26 May · 2, 23, 29 Jun · 7, 21 Jul · 11, 17, 25 Aug · 8, 15, 29 Sep
2028 — Cape Town > Pretoria 18 Jan · 1, 8, 15, 22 Feb · 7, 21, 28 Mar · 4, 11, 18, 25 Apr · 15, 30 May · 6, 27 Jun · 11, 25 Jul · 8, 15, 29 Aug · 12, 19, 26 Sep
Price quoted is a lead-in rate. As pricing may vary seasonally and according to standard/category selected, please contact us for a quote on your specific requirements.
Current offer • Book by 18 December 2026
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Create extraordinary itineraries by combining short and long journeys, and save 5% on the rate. Please note that not all combinations are available for every departure, plus other trips can be combined, with a flight in between. Please enquire.
Luxury Rail Journey. Let us tailor-make further travel arrangements before and/or after this journey.
About
About this journey
Visit the historic village of Matjiesfontein, an authentically preserved Victorian Village founded as a refreshment stop in 1890, which also boasts an impressive museum on the platform. Stop in Kimberley to visit the Diamond Mine Museum and the world’s largest man-made excavation, the Big Hole.
Who this suits
Travellers who want to see the breadth of South Africa without the driving, and who enjoy the ritual of a grand train — dressing for dinner, the observation car, the long views. A natural bridge between a safari and the Cape.
Good to know
The train stops for a tour of Kimberley's Big Hole and the Diamond Mine Museum, and at Matjiesfontein.
The journey
Day by day
Day 1 — Pretoria
Guests are requested to check in a minimum of one hour before departure but those who wish to visit the museum or do a site tour at Rovos Rail Station are recommended to arrive two hours prior to departure. Depart Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria and travel across the goldfields of the Witwatersrand and the broad grassland plains of the Highveld. Join fellow travellers in the lounge or observation cars at the rear of the train before enjoying lunch in the dining cars. Later this afternoon experience tea in the lounge and observation cars. Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Klerksdorp
Day 2 — Kimberley
Breakfast is served in the dining cars en route to Kimberley. After lunch enjoy a tour of Kimberley’s Diamond Mine Museum and the Big Hole. Dinner is served in the dining cars.
Day 3 — Matjiesfontein
The train travels 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 to form what geologists call the Karoo system. After lunch there is an option for guests to disembark the train at Whitehill Siding and walk the five km into Matjiesfontein, accompanied by a member of staff. Alternatively, remain on the train and disembark in Matjiesfontein to stroll through the historic village. Perhaps visit the museum on the platform or the collection of historic cars and railway carriages to the right of the Lord Milner Hotel. About an hour after Matjiesfontein, the train arrives at the first of four tunnels on the pass with the first tunnel being 13.5 km long. Dinner is served in the dining cars as the train travels 750 m down the escarpment to Worcester.
Day 4 — Cape Town
Breakfast is served in the dining cars as the train travels through the Hex River Valley before arriving at journeys end at Cape Town station.
*Itinerary also operates in reverse
Pricing • New Zealand dollars, per person
By season and category
2026
| Season | Twin, per person | Single | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Oct – 31 Dec | |||
| Pullman Suite | NZ$6,175 | NZ$9,260 | Enquire → |
| Deluxe Suite | NZ$8,915 | NZ$13,375 | Enquire → |
| Royal Suite | NZ$11,890 | NZ$17,830 | Enquire → |
2027
| Season | Twin, per person | Single | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Jan – 30 Sep | |||
| Pullman Suite | NZ$6,175 | NZ$9,260 | Enquire → |
| Deluxe Suite | NZ$8,915 | NZ$13,375 | Enquire → |
| Royal Suite | NZ$11,890 | NZ$17,830 | Enquire → |
| 01 Oct – 31 Dec | |||
| Pullman Suite | NZ$6,850 | NZ$10,270 | Enquire → |
| Deluxe Suite | NZ$9,890 | NZ$14,830 | Enquire → |
| Royal Suite | NZ$13,030 | NZ$19,545 | Enquire → |
Price quoted is a lead-in rate. As pricing may vary seasonally and according to standard/category selected, please contact us for a quote on your specific requirements.
The Train
Each train has accommodation carriages, dining cars, lounge car, small gift shop, smoking lounge and observation car with open-air balcony. Maintaining the spirit of a bygone era, there are no radios or television sets on board. The three types of suites include a dedicated host available at all times and services the suites daily.
Pullman/Pullman Gold Suite
Pullman Suites are used on shorter journeys, while the slightly larger Pullman Gold Suites are used on longer journeys. These cabins feature an en-suite bathroom with shower, toilet and basin. During the day, the suites have a comfortable sofa-seat with a conversion to double or twin beds (side-by-side or upper and lower bunks) for the evening.
Deluxe Suite
Accommodates one or two passengers in double or twin beds with its own lounge area, and en-suite bathroom with shower, toilet and basin. Includes a bar fridge filled with the on-board beverages of the guests choice.
Royal Suite
Takes up half a carriage with its own private lounge area and en-suite bathroom with Victorian bath, separate shower, toilet and basin. Accommodates one or two passengers in double or twin beds and includes a bar fridge filled with the on-board beverages of the passengers choice.
What’s included
- 3 nights’ accommodation onboard in your suite of choice
- All meals (B, L, D) during your trip
- Afternoon tea onboard most days
- All beverages onboard unless otherwise mentioned
- Shared guided excursions as per the itinerary
- Entrance fees as per the itinerary
- Room service and limited laundry onboard
Not included
- International sparkling wine onboard
- All other off-train beverages
- Gratuities
Booking conditions
Booking conditions as supplied by World Journeys.
- Pricing varies due to fluctuations in exchange rates; please contact us for current pricing or other changes
- Please enquire about pricing for children (3 to 9 years) and the Royal Suites
- The minimum age requirement is 3 years
- No child-minding services or activities are available onboard
- On select departures Pullman Suites are replaced by Pullman Gold Suites
- Included excursions are subject to change based on the achieved train schedule
- Formal attire is required at dinner
Gratuities
- Recommended US$10 to US$20 per person per night
Journey operated by World Journeys and booked through Fine Travel.
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