Rovos Rail

Experience the extravagant elegance of rail travel on the most luxurious trains in the world. Rovos Rail's unique train safaris through the heart of Africa combine some of the most magnificent scenery with the glamour and excitement of the golden age of steam.

Step aboard the wood-panelled coaches - classics remodelled and refurbished to mint condition - and enjoy fine cuisine in five-star luxury as some of the most varied scenery imaginable unfolds beyond the windows. Recapture the romance and atmosphere of a bygone era, when privileged travellers experienced the magic and mystery of Africa in a relaxed and elegant fashion.

In a series of journeys lasting from 24 hours to a fortnight, the Pride of Africa links some of Africa's greatest destinations from Cape Town at the tip of Africa to Dar-Es-Salaam in Tanzania, from scenic splendours as diverse as the game reserves of Mpumalanga to the Victoria Falls, from the desert landscapes of Namibia and the stark beauty of the Karoo to the lush cane fields of KwaZulu-Natal and the magnificent Garden Route along the Cape South Coast.

The Train

Locomotive, generator car, staff car, guest sleepers, a non-smoking lounge car (26 guests), two non-smoking 42-seat dining cars (if required, plenty of space for the maximum of 72 guests carried), kitchen car, guest sleepers, smoking lounge and Observation Car (32 guests) at the tail.

The use of steam has become increasingly difficult over the years as more and more water and coaling facilities have been scrapped. Diesel or electric locomotives are used while steam is used in and around the area of Rovos Rail Station. 

The track over which the train travel is inconsistently maintained. If you wake at night imagining the train is travelling at high speed, be assured it is the state of the track below that is creating that impression. The speed of the train is restricted to 60km/h and over the bad sections reduce speed to as little as 20km/h. If you find it noisy, earplugs are available.

Cuisine

Meals are served in one sitting only in the charming Victorian atmosphere of the dining cars and are complemented by a selection of fine South African wines. An enthusiastic team of chefs is responsible for overseeing the very important task of ensuring guests’ every need is catered for. There’s an accent on fresh local ingredients and traditional dishes such as games are a specialty.  Breakfast is between 07h00 and 10h00, lunch is at 13h00, tea is at 16h30 and a formal dinner is at 19h30. A gong heralds lunch and dinner.

Rovos will do its best to cater to dietary requirements provided a detailed request has been made at the time of booking. If a special request has not been made, the chefs will endeavour to prepare suitable meals with the ingredients available on board. 

Dress

For days on the train, the dress is smart casual. Evening attire is more formal – for the gentlemen, a jacket and tie is a minimum requirement while for ladies we suggest cocktail/evening dresses or suits. Please include warm clothing for cold mornings and evenings. With regard to off-train excursions, we strongly recommend comfortable walking shoes, sun lotion and hats as well as warm clothing for the game drives, which are on open vehicles and can get very cold.

Public Spaces

Observation Cars

The observation car seats ±32 passengers. With its open-air balcony, big picture windows, bar, sofas and booths, it has great mingling areas or quiet corners to while away the days. On most days, afternoon tea is served at 16:30 in the lounge and observation cars while bar service is from ±07:00-01:00.

Lounge Cars

The lounge car seats ±26 passengers. With its big picture windows, sofas and wingbacks, it has great mingling areas or quiet corners to while away the days. On most days, afternoon tea is served at 16:30 in the lounge and observation cars while bar service is from ±07:00-01:00. On some of our long journeys, we have an onboard historian who hosts lectures in the lounge car. At one end of the carriage there is a small gift shop, which is a smart, subtly-lit glass affair selling bespoke memorabilia.

Dining Cars

The dining cars seat ±42 passengers each. Dependent on the number of passengers on a journey, the train is setup with one or two dining cars. They are made up of two-seaters and four-seaters where guests eat together or individually. Meals are served in one sitting only. Breakfast: 07:00-10:00 • Lunch: 13:00 • Formal Dinner: 19:30. All meals are served at these times unless otherwise stated in the itinerary. Hot breakfast items are made to order while lunch and dinner are four-course meals complemented by fine South African wines. Our bar menu is comprehensive although special items such as French Champagne would need to be requested in advance.

Club Cars

The Club Car area was created by demolishing the end suite in a Deluxe carriage. This was done specifically to host the smokers on the train in a public area and also as an overflow facility adjoining the Observation Car. With a glass passage wall, guests can comfortably watch the scenery on both sides of the train.

Accommodation

The Royal Suites

The Royal Suites, each of which takes up half a carriage, are spacious and elegant measuring ±16 sq metres (±172 sq ft) in size. Each has its own private lounge area and full bathroom with a Victorian bath and separate shower. The epitome of luxury with handsome wood panelling and period Edwardian features, the air-conditioned suites accommodate two people offering the option of side-by-side twin or spacious double beds. In the en-suite bathrooms, original fittings combine with the modern technology of hot showers, hair dryers and shaver plugs.

The very spacious suites offer passengers the opportunity to travel in privacy, comfort and luxury, with fittings and facilities that are of the highest standard. All are equipped with a writing surface and a personal safe for valuables. There is also a bar fridge filled with beverages of the passengers’ choice and room service is available 24 hours a day.

Facilities

Bath, Shower, Toilet, Basin, Air conditioner, Heated towel rail, Fire extinguisher, Safe, Luggage rack, Adaptors, Plug points/shaver plugs, Hair dryer, Fridge, Tea drawer, Amenities, Dressing gown and slippers, Goggles, Laundry bag, Shoe bag, Writing desk, Internal telephone system, Room service

The Deluxe Suites

The Deluxe Suites (±10 sq metres/±118 sq feet) accommodate two passengers in either twin or double beds and have a lounge area and en-suite bathroom with shower. The wood-panelled rebuilt sleeper coaches, remodelled and refurbished to mint condition, offer every modern convenience and comfort.

In the en-suite bathrooms, original fittings combine with the modern technology of hot showers, hair dryers and shaver plugs. The spacious suites offer passengers the opportunity to travel in privacy, comfort and luxury, with fittings and facilities that are of the highest standard. All are equipped with a writing surface and a personal safe for valuables. There is also a bar fridge filled with beverages of the passengers’ choice and room service is available 24 hours a day.

Facilities

Shower, Toilet, Basin, Air conditioner, Heated towel rail, Fire extinguisher, Safe, Luggage rack, Adaptors, Plug points/shaver plugs, Hair dryer, Fridge, Tea drawer, Amenities, Dressing gown and slippers, Goggles, Laundry bag, Shoe bag, Writing desk, Internal telephone system, Room service.

The Pullman 

The Pullmans, used on our short journeys, accommodate one or two passengers and have 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. A dedicated host/ess is available at all times and services the suites daily. 

Facilities

Shower, Toilet, Basin, Air conditioner, Heated towel rail, Fire extinguisher, Safe, Luggage rack, Adaptors, Plug points/shaver plugs, Hair dryer, Fridge, Tea drawer, Amenities, Dressing gown and slippers, Goggles, Laundry bag, Shoe bag, Writing desk, Internal telephone system, Room service

Pullman Gold

The Pullman Golds, used on our long journeys, accommodate one or two passengers and have an en-suite bathroom with shower, toilet and basin. During the day, the suites are setup with split twin beds configured as sofa-seats (optional) with a conversion to split twin or double beds for the evening. A dedicated host/ess is available at all times and services the suites daily.

Facilities

Shower, Toilet, Basin, Air conditioner, Heated towel rail, Fire extinguisher, Safe, Luggage rack, Adaptors, Plug points/shaver plugs, Hair dryer, Fridge, Tea drawer, Amenities, Dressing gown and slippers, Goggles, Laundry bag, Shoe bag, Writing desk, Internal telephone system, Room service

History of Rovos Rail

There's a story behind all of the Rovos Rail locomotives, their acquisition and restoration. Each one has a distinctive character and charm and all are named after members of owner Rohan Vos' family. The first engine acquired was No 2702 Bianca, a Class 19D locomotive built by Borsig in 1938. It was purchased in 1986 from Loewenthal's Scrap Metal. Dunn's Locomotive in Witbank was commissioned to return the 50-year-old workhorse to running condition.

The Rovos Rail staff then carried out cosmetic improvements, including a superb paint job, making Rovos Rail's first loco a beautiful sight. No 2701 'Brenda', a Class 19D locomotive with coincidentally a number just one digit away from Bianca, was bought from Chick's Scrap Metal while staged at Volksrust in Natal and restored at the workshops in Witbank.

Rohan Vos had had his eye on No 3360 Shaun since he first saw it standing on the scrap line at Witbank, way back in 1986. It was purchased a decade later and restored by Rovos personnel. The oldest engine in the stable is also the smallest. No 439 Tiffany a Class 6 locomotive, is one of 40 locomotives, the first of which was delivered in 1983 and was built by Dubbs & Co. The Vos family first saw the dainty locomotive on the platform at Winburg Station in the Eastern Free State, For Rohan and Anthea Vos; it was love at first sight. The engine was purchased in 1987 and returned to the rails by Dunn's of Witbank. The locomotive is named for their youngest daughter.

The latest addition to Rovos Rail is a Class 25 NC locomotive that has been converted from a coal burner to an oil-fired engine. It completed an 18-month overhaul and refurbishment, which brought a gleam to every bit of brass and a glow to the faces of the team of people who had painstakingly restored her to her prime. A highlight of the official opening of the new Capital Park Station on the 7th of May 1999 was the christening ceremony performed by Rohan's mother, Mrs. Marjorie Vos, as she cracked a bottle of champagne across the 'bows' of Class 25NC No 3484.

The use of steam has become increasingly difficult over the past years, as more and more water and coaling facilities have been scrapped. Wherever practical the trains may be drawn by any one of the five vintage steam locomotives. Where facilities no longer exist, diesel or electric locomotives will be used. Rovos Rail will, however, endeavour to ensure that arrivals and departures in Pretoria are steam hauled.