U
n important birthday that of Rovos Rail: 30 years in business during which it has earned a high international reputation for the quality of the travel experience it offers. Today, Rovos Rail offers travel across southern Africa with trains that can accommodate up to 72 passengers; itineraries ranging from 48 hours to 15 days with new routes such as Africa’s coast-to-coast from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic.
The two-week expedition, from Dar es Salaam to Lobito, will travel through Tanzania, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo andAngola. This will be the first time in history that a passenger train will run on the famous Tazara Railway, also known as the Great Uhuru Railway, the Great Freedom Railway.
Each trip offers shore excursions such as safaris or cultural and historical tours to fully enjoy South Africa. The train can carry up to 72 passengers accommodated in 36 luxuriously furnished and meticulously detailed cabins with private bathrooms.
The many common areas allow for a variety of sceneries that stimulate the senses: the panoramic car riage to admire the scenery or the lounge carriage that ends in an open veranda that allows you to soak in the colors and scents of nature.
Different menus are prepared on board and served in the dining car with its charming Victorian atmosphere. 15 luxurious suites in Rovos Rail-owned guesthouses along the coast of the Cape Town region await guests to envelop them in the Victorian atmosphere of the place.
St. James Manor, St. James Seaforth and St. James Homestead are also privileged whale watching spots, which appear in season just a few meters from the shore.
Rovos Rail’s fleet also includes the Shongololo Express, taken over and renovated in 2016, with three 12- to 15-day routes for a total of 300 shipping days per year. The train, owned by the government, has been overhauled and renovated while maintaining the colonial style.
Traveling overnight, Shongololo Express arrives at a new destination at each sunrise; professional multilingual guides are ready to accompany guests on excursions.
