The Zambezi Steam Express

Treat yourself to a 1,300 mile steam journey through magical southern Africa aboard the world’s most luxurious train! The famous Rovos Rail train consists of a lounge car, an observation bar car, a dining car and ensuite accommodation, combined with steam haulage. Our journey starts in Pretoria and takes in Mafeking, where we join the Cape to Cairo Railway. From there we travel through Botswana to Bulawayo, still home to working Garratt locomotives. We continue through Zimbabwe to reach our final destination, Victoria Falls, one of the world’s most spectacular natural sights.

Sunday 1st May

Fly to Johannesburg

We check in at London Heathrow Airport for an evening flight direct to Johannesburg.

Monday 2nd May

Grand steam up at Rovos Rail

Arriving at Johannesburg in the morning, we check straight in to our hotel in Pretoria.
Later that day we visit Capital Park, home of the Rovos Rail head office, locomotive depot and museum. While there we’ll be treated to unlimited champagne and a buffet lunch. A 6th class 4-6-0 locomotive will take us on a tour of the site and two 19Ds and two 25NCs will also be in steam. Afterwards we return to our hotel for dinner and an overnight stay. (B L D)

Tuesday 3rd May

Steam to Mafeking

Our Rovos Rail luxury train will be waiting for us at Capital Park with two class 25NC 4-8-4s on the front; the pinnacle of steam locomotive development in South Africa. Champagne will be served on the patio before we board the train and our stewards will show us personally to our cabins before setting off, at full steam, for Magaliesburg and Mafeking. (B L D)

 

Wednesday 4th May

Botswana and Cape to Cairo Railway

After border and customs formalities at Mafeking we head northwards on the Cape to Cairo Railway to Botswana. Skirting the magnificent Kalahari Desert, we arrive in the vibrant and colourful capital city of Gaborone in the early evening for an overnight stay. While in Gaborone we’ll enjoy a Boma dinner, the region’s traditional barbecue-style meal. (B L D)

Thursday 5th May

The Bechuanaland Railway

We leave Gaborone around 08:00 for breakfast, served on board in the train’s luxurious restaurant cars. Our locomotive takes coal and water at Mahalapye before continuing northwards to Seruli where we’ll stop for the night. (B L D)

Friday 6th May

Steam at Selebi-Phikwe Mine

Following an early breakfast, you can choose to join our optional visit to the Selebi-Phikwe Mine Railway – an unusual line that still uses steam locomotives of the 14th class; Garratts and 19Ds. While there we’ll have the chance to photograph steam hauled mine trains in action – subject to confirmation – and visit the locomotive depot. Alternatively, stay on the Rovos train and relax if you wish. We return to Seruli by coach for a lunchtime departure, calling at Francistown, the site of southern Africa’s first gold rush, to take photographs in the town’s famous station.
After border formalities we arrive in Plumtree, Zimbabwe, for an overnight stay. (B L D)

Saturday 7th May

Bulawayo, the “Last Great Steam Shed in Africa”

We depart Plumtree around 08:00 for Bulawayo, stopping to photograph our train in action at Marula and Figtree. We visit Africa’s last working steam shed in Bulawayo; for many the highlight of the trip as we’ll watch Garratts shunting and being serviced. There will also be a visit to the railway museum. Opened in 1972, the museum is home to a wealth of exhibits and models, steam and diesel electric locomotives, many of which were built in the north west of England. Afterwards we return to our train for dinner.
(B L D)

Sunday 8th May

Matopos National Park

After breakfast we enjoy a short tour of Bulawayo before our coach transfers us to the Matopos National Park. We visit the grave of Cecil Rhodes and go on a game safari, where we will hopefully catch sight of the rare white rhino. (B L D)

Monday 9th May

Walking with Lions

Our train departs hauled by a Zimbabwe (NRZ) 16A class Garratt through Heany Junction and Somabhula to Dabuka. We hope to stop for several photographic sessions on this stretch of line to film our train in action.
At Dabuka we visit Antelope Park where, apart from elephant riding, you can walk with and stroke lions – an unbelievable experience!
Our train stays overnight in Damuka. (B L D)

Tuesday 10th May

Game Viewing

Today we leave the train for an African bush breakfast complete with local animal and bird watching. Afterwards our train departs for Bulawayo hauled by an NRZ 15 class Garratt.
At Bulawayo we welcome back our 25NCs before heading north towards Victoria Falls.
Tonight we stay overnight at Sawmills. (B L D)

 

Wednesday 11th May

Game Drive in Hwange

An early morning departure sees us heading north again, hauled by our two 25NCs, this time to Kennedy Siding where we arrive at around 12:00. From Kennedy Siding we have arranged a lunch at a hide followed by a game drive into the famous Hwange National Park. This park is not crowded with minibuses and tour buses and offers a fine wildlife experience. Look out for the big five animals as well as herds of antelope, zebra, buffalo and elephant. We return to our train at Kennedy Siding at about 18:00 and head for Thompson Junction. En route we will view game from the train as it runs alongside Hawange Game Park. We stop overnight, probably at Dete. (B L D)

Thursday 12th May

To Victoria Falls

Our train leaves early morning from Dete, enjoying photo opportunities at Lukozi before arriving at Thompson Junction where our locomotives take water. We continue northwards, occasionally seeing animals from the train and enjoying lunch on board before arriving at Victoria Falls. In the afternoon you can choose to relax in the beautiful grounds of our hotel or join an optional guided walk to see the falls. Dinner is at the hotel. (B L D)

Friday 13th May

Victoria Falls Safari Express

We join the steam hauled Victoria Falls Safari Express after breakfast, led by a 14A class Garratt, crossing the fantastic Victoria Falls Bridge into Zambia. The first station is Livingstone.
From there we follow the tracks of the old Zambezi Sawmills Railway to the Zambian Railway Museum where steam locomotives are arranged in an open-air display, many the British-built survivors of colonial times. Our train continues a little further along the Zambezi Sawmills Railway before reversing back to Livingstone where we turn the locomotive before returning to Zimbabwe.
Later this afternoon we’ve arranged a Sundowner Cruise on the Zambezi – watch out for crocodiles, hippos, giraffes and elephants. We return to our hotel for dinner and an overnight stay. (B L D)

Saturday 14th May

Returning Home

After breakfast in the hotel we offer a guided tour around the area, seeing Victoria Falls from different angles, before transferring to the local airport for our flight back to Johannesburg.
Our flight leaves at around 13:00 and we change in Johannesburg for London. (B)

Sunday 15th May

Arrive London

We arrive London Heathrow at approximately 06:30.

Deluxe 3 suite sleeper

More spacious accommodation with choice of twin beds or a spacious double bed, en-suite toilet and shower room, wardrobe, dressing table, hairdryer, electric sockets, Edwardian style fittings, air-conditioning with opening windows.

 

Pullman 5 suite sleeper

The coach has been divided into 5 suites, each compartment has twin beds or double bed, en-suite shower room with toilet and washbasin, air-conditioning, with opening windows.

Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner