The IRT Society's Best-Loved Railway Journeys 2018 - 5

tHe tour

If you do just one high-end
rail trip in your life, make it this
one. Rovos Rail runs one of the
world's ultimate luxury rail trips
between Cape Town and Dar es
Salaam several times annually.
The experience is unforgettable.
This 15-day tour takes in
major portions of South Africa,
Zambia and Tanzania, while
touching parts of Botswana and
Zimbabwe. Every day is unique.
Highlights include a two-night
stay at a four-star game lodge
and a night at the very British
Victoria Falls Hotel. There's also
plenty of time to enjoy the
train's lovely ambience and
African countryside.
Note: Railroad tracks in this
region can be very bumpy, and
delays are not uncommon.
Patience, flexibility and a love of
adventure are required for this
trip. A jacket and tie are required
for men; dressy outfit for women.

tHe itinerary
(Northbound)

Day 1: Cape Town
Depart Cape Town Station
aboard Rovos Rail's The Pride
of Africa this morning. Upon

Shirley Schoof

boarding, you might want to
head straight to the open-air
deck and wave goodbye to
Cape Town and spectacular
Table Mountain. Or settle in
to your private and spacious
compartment and unpack.
Before you know it, a hostess
is chiming you to a fabulous
luncheon with beautiful
South African wines paired
with delicious food. Arrive
Matjiesfontein for a stop this
evening. Explore this tiny
Victorian village, poke around
its museums, and stretch your
legs before dinner. Overnight
on the train.
Day 2: Kimberley
Breakfast and lunch on board
before afternoon arrival in
Kimberley. Visit Big Hole and
Diamond Museum. Return to
train for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Pretoria
Arrive Pretoria this afternoon.
A light lunch is followed by a
city tour. Enjoy visiting Capital
Park, which is Rovos Rail's
lovely headquarters filled with
locomotives, carriages and
lots of pet animals. Dinner and
overnight on the train.

at lodge. Or, if you'd rather,
opt out and make a spa
appointment. Or luxuriate in
your giant bathtub or your
outdoor shower. Sip a drink and
watch the waterhole by the
lodge. Giraffe, elephant, lion,
wildebeest seek water there.
Charles Kalb

Day 4: Tau Game Lodge
Arrive in Zeerust and leave your
train "home" today. (IRT and
Rovos supply small bags for
taking just what you need with
you. Leave your main suitcases
safely on the train.) We drive
an hour by motorcoach to the
Tau Game Lodge (or similar).
It's a full board, two-night
stay at the deluxe lodge, and
you'll probably spot animals
galore just on the way from the
entrance of the game reserve
to the lodge. This afternoon,
enjoy lunch followed by a game
drive. Cocktails as you watch the
sun set is a tradition you'll grow
to love. Then head back to the
lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Tau Game Lodge
Optional early-morning game
drive, evening game drive or
other activities. Overnight

Day 6: Tau Game Lodge;
Botswana
Early-morning game drive. (By
this time, most of the folks on
our group tour had seen all the
"Big Five," from lions to leopards
and everything in between. We
were happy but tired as our
motorcoach transferred us to
Gabarone, Botswana.) Here, we
go through border formalities
before heading to the train.
Day 7: Zimbabwe
Today, travel through Zimbabwe
on one of the longest straight
stretches of railroad line in
Africa. Enjoy one of several
lectures by a historian. (Don't
miss the lectures! Learn about
Cecil Rhodes, Victoria Falls,
David Livingstone and more.
When we were on board, the
lecturer was a huge hit.)

Visit our website for dates, prices,FOR
moreDATES,
tours * www
PRICES:
.irtsociety.com
WWW.IRTSOCIETY.COM
* (800) 478-4881, u.s. &*canada;
(800) (502)
478-4881
897-1725,*elsewhere
TOURDESK@IRTSOCIETY.COM
* tourdesk@irtsociety.com

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The IRT Society's Best-Loved Railway Journeys 2018

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