Rovos Rail: Pretoria to Cape Town
A luxury rail journey
• Cape Town • Kimberley Diamond Mine • Matjiesfontein • Pretoria
PRICE FROM | DURATION | |
---|---|---|
AUD
$3,475
|
Days
4
|
Nights
3
|
PRICE FROM | DURATION | |
---|---|---|
AUD
$3,475
|
Days
4
|
Nights
3
|

Introduction
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.
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.
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.
Itinerary
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 a chance for guests to disembark the train at Whitehill Siding and walk the five km into Matjiesfontein, accompanied by a member of staff. Disembark in Matjiesfontein for an opportunity 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 climbs 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
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Pricing
Pricing (per person), AUD
TYPE |
TWIN from |
SINGLE from |
EXTRA from |
---|---|---|---|
2025 |
|||
01 Jan – 30 Sep |
|||
Pullman Gold Suite |
AU$3,475 |
AU$5,210 |
– |
Deluxe Suite |
AU$5,000 |
AU$7,500 |
– |
01 Oct – 31 Dec |
|||
Pullman Gold Suite |
AU$4,170 |
AU$6,250 |
– |
Deluxe Suite |
AU$6,000 |
AU$9,000 |
– |
2026 |
|||
01 Jan – 30 Sep |
|||
Pullman Gold Suite |
AU$4,170 |
AU$6,250 |
– |
Deluxe Suite |
AU$6,000 |
AU$9,000 |
– |
01 Oct – 31 Dec |
|||
Pullman Gold Suite |
AU$5,000 |
AU$7,500 |
– |
Deluxe Suite |
AU$7,225 |
AU$10,835 |
– |
2027 |
|||
01 Jan – 30 Sep |
|||
Pullman Gold Suite |
AU$5,000 |
AU$7,500 |
– |
Royal Suite |
AU$7,225 |
AU$10,835 |
– |
2025
01 Jan – 30 Sep
Pullman Gold Suite
Twin: from $3475
Single: from $ 5210
Extra: from $ –
Deluxe Suite
Twin: from $5000
Single: from $ 7500
Extra: from $ –
01 Oct – 31 Dec
Pullman Gold Suite
Twin: from $4170
Single: from $ 6250
Extra: from $ –
Deluxe Suite
Twin: from $6000
Single: from $ 9000
Extra: from $ –
2026
01 Jan – 30 Sep
Pullman Gold Suite
Twin: from $4170
Single: from $ 6250
Extra: from $ –
Deluxe Suite
Twin: from $6000
Single: from $ 9000
Extra: from $ –
01 Oct – 31 Dec
Pullman Gold Suite
Twin: from $5000
Single: from $ 7500
Extra: from $ –
Deluxe Suite
Twin: from $7225
Single: from $ 10835
Extra: from $ –
2027
01 Jan – 30 Sep
Pullman Gold Suite
Twin: from $5000
Single: from $ 7500
Extra: from $ –
Royal Suite
Twin: from $7225
Single: from $ 10835
Extra: from $ –
Departs
2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
Pretoria > Cape Town | Pretoria > Cape Town | Pretoria > Cape Town |
13, 27, 30 Jun | 5, 9, 16, 23 Jan | 5, 8, 22, 29 Jan |
11, 25 Jul | 6, 18, 20 Feb | 12, 23 Feb |
1, 8, 22 Aug | 6, 20 Mar | 5, 12 Mar |
19, 26 Sep | 17 Apr | 2, 16, 30 Apr |
3, 10, 24, 31 Oct | 1, 15, 29 May | 14, 28 May |
7, 20, 21 Nov | 12, 26 Jun | 11, 25, 29 Jun |
5, 23 Dec | 10, 24 Jul | 9, 23 Jul |
Cape Town > Pretoria | 7, 14, 21 Aug | 6, 17, 20 Aug |
16, 30 Jun | 4, 18 Sep | 3, 10 Sep |
14, 28 Jul | 2, 9, 16, 30 Oct | Cape Town > Pretoria |
4, 11, 25 Aug | 13, 27 Nov | 12, 26 Jan |
12, 15, 29 Sep | 11, 25 Dec | 2, 15 Feb |
6, 13, 27, 28 Oct | Cape Town > Pretoria | 5, 9, 16 Mar |
3, 10, 25 Nov | 13, 20, 27 Jan | 6, 19, 20 Apr |
9, 20, 27 Dec | 10, 14 Feb | 4, 18 May |
10, 13, 24 Mar | 1, 15, 29 Jun | |
3, 7, 14, 21 Apr | 13, 27 Jul | |
5, 8, 19 May | 9, 10, 24 Aug | |
2, 16 Jun | 7, 14, 27 Sep | |
14, 28 Jul | ||
8, 11, 25 Aug | ||
8, 22, 25 Sep | ||
13, 20 Oct | ||
2, 3, 13, 17 Nov | ||
1, 15, 21, 29 Dec |
Type of Journey
Luxury Rail Journey: Let us tailor-make further travel arrangements before and/or after this journey.
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
Gratuity
- Recommended US$10 to US$20 per person per night
Important Notes
- 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
Please refer to World Journeys terms & conditions