The Zambezi Steam Express
Sunday 13th April to Sunday 27th April 2008
This is a journey by steam for over 1,300 miles through southern Africa aboard the world’s most luxurious train. It consists of a lounge car, an observation bar car, a dining car and accommodation all in en suite rooms. Join us on our spectacular steam rail tour featuring the Rovos Rail train unusually combined with steam haulage. Our journey starts in Pretoria with travel to Mafeking to join the Cape to Cairo Railway, the dream of Cecil Rhodes. Using this route we pass through Botswana to Bulawayo, still home to working Garratt locomotives. We continue through Zimbabwe to reach our final destination, Victoria Falls, one of the most spectacular sights in the world.
Sunday 13th April
Fly to Johannesburg
We check in at London Heathrow Airport for an evening South African Airways flight direct
to Johannesburg.
Monday 14th April
Grand steam up at Rovos Rail
After our morning arrival in Johannesburg we check into the Sheraton Hotel Pretoria with its marvellous views of the Union Buildings. Later we go to Capital Park where the Rovos Rail head office, locomotive depot and museum are located. We will 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. We return to the Sheraton Hotel for dinner.
(B L D)
Tuesday 15th April
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. Champagne will be served on the patio before we board the train. The stewards that will look after us will show us personally to our cabins. Soon we set off on our exciting steam adventure to Victoria Falls. The 25NCs were the pinnacle of steam locomotive development in South Africa. We steam on through Magaliesburg to Mafeking. (B L D)
Wednesday 16th April
Botswana and Cape to Cairo Railway
After border and customs formalities at Mafeking we head northwards on the Cape to Cairo Railway into Botswana. Rhodes wanted to construct a railway that linked the south coast of Africa with the north coast but failed. Soon we are skirting the Kalahari Desert before we arrive at the vibrant and colourful capital city, Gaborone, in the early evening for our overnight stay. We enjoy a Boma dinner, a traditional barbecue meal of the area. (B L D)
Thursday 17th April
The Bechuanaland Railway
We leave Gaborone around 08:00 as breakfast is served in the restaurant cars. Our locomotive takes coal and water at Mahalapye before continuing northwards to Seruli where our train will stay overnight. (B L D)
Friday 18th April
Steam at Selebi-Phikwe Mine
After an early breakfast there will be an optional visit to the Selebi-Phikwe Mine Railway. This line is unusual as it is still using steam locomotives of the 14th class Garratts and 19Ds. We will be able to photograph steam hauled mine trains (subject to confirmation) and visit the locomotive depot. Or it is possible to stay on the luxurious Rovos train and relax. We return to Seruli by coach so our train can depart at lunchtime still hauled by our two 25NCs. We call at Francistown, the site of southern Africa’s first gold rush, to take photographs in its famous station. After border formalities we arrive in Zimbabwe, at Plumtree, where we stay overnight. (B L D)
Saturday 19th April
Bulawayo, the “Last Great Steam Shed in Africa”
We depart Plumtree around 08:00 for Bulawayo. We will stop to photograph our train in action at Marula and Figtree. We visit the steam shed at Bulawayo, Africa’s last working steam shed.
For many this will be the highlight of the trip as we can watch Garratts being serviced and shunting. There will also be a visit to the railway museum. Opened in 1972, the museum displays a wealth of small exhibits and models as well as steam and diesel electric locomotives, many having been built in the north-west of England. We return to the train for dinner. (B L D)
Sunday 20th April
Matopos National Park
After breakfast we enjoy a short tour of Bulawayo before our coaches transfer us to the Matopos National Park. We visit the grave of Cecil Rhodes and go on a game safari and hopefully catch sight of some rare white rhinos. (B L D)
Monday 21st April
Walking with Lions
Our train departs hauled by a Zimbabwe (NRZ) 16A class Garratt through Heany Junction and Somabhula to Dabuka. Hopefully we will have 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 it is possible to walk with, and stroke, lions.
This is an unbelievable experience. Our train stays overnight in Damuka. (B L D)
Tuesday 22nd April
Game Viewing
We leave the train for an African bush breakfast when we will see animals and birds. Afterwards our train departs with an NRZ 15th class Garratt and returns us to Bulawayo. On arrival at Bulawayo we welcome back our 25NCs and depart northward towards Victoria Falls. We stay overnight at Sawmills. (B L D)
Wednesday 23rd April
Game Drive in Hwange
We have an early morning departure, our train heading north once 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, therefore offering a fine wildlife experience. The big five may be sighted and herds of antelope, zebra, buffalo and elephant are common. We return to our train at Kennedy Siding at about 18:00 and depart for Thompson Junction. We will be able to view game from the train as we head north running alongside Hwange Game Park. Our train will stop overnight, probably at Dete. (B L D)
Thursday 24th April
To Victoria Falls
Our train departs early morning from Dete.
Again there will be photographic opportunities at Lukozi before we arrive at Thompson Junction for our locomotives to take water. We continue northwards, occasionally seeing animals from the train, arriving at Victoria Falls after lunch has been served in the dining car. We stay in the Kingdom at Victoria Falls Hotel. In the afternoon we can relax in the beautiful grounds of this old hotel or join an optional guided walk to view the falls. Dinner is at our Hotel.
(B L D)
Friday 25th April
Victoria Falls Safari Express
After breakfast we join the steam hauled Victoria Falls Safari Express with a 14A class Garratt.
We cross the famous Victoria Falls Bridge and enter Zambia. The first station is Livingstone, and from here we follow the tracks of the old Zambezi Sawmills Railway to visit the Zambian Railway Museum. A number of steam locomotives are arranged in an open air display, many are British built survivors from the colonial age. Our train continues a little further along the Zambezi Sawmills Railway before reversing back to Livingstone where the locomotive is turned before returning to Zimbabwe. Later this afternoon we have a Sundowner Cruise on the Zambezi where wild life will be visible perhaps including crocodiles, hippos, giraffes and elephants.
Dinner and overnight accommodation at our hotel. (B L D)
Saturday 26th April
Returning Home
We breakfast in the hotel with its views over the gorge and the bridge. There will be 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 14:00 and we change in Johannesburg for London. (B)
Sunday 27th April
Arrive London
We arrive London Heathrow at 06:25.
Fly to Johannesburg
We check in at London Heathrow Airport for an evening South African Airways flight direct
to Johannesburg.
Monday 14th April
Grand steam up at Rovos Rail
After our morning arrival in Johannesburg we check into the Sheraton Hotel Pretoria with its marvellous views of the Union Buildings. Later we go to Capital Park where the Rovos Rail head office, locomotive depot and museum are located. We will 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. We return to the Sheraton Hotel for dinner.
(B L D)
Tuesday 15th April
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. Champagne will be served on the patio before we board the train. The stewards that will look after us will show us personally to our cabins. Soon we set off on our exciting steam adventure to Victoria Falls. The 25NCs were the pinnacle of steam locomotive development in South Africa. We steam on through Magaliesburg to Mafeking. (B L D)
Wednesday 16th April
Botswana and Cape to Cairo Railway
After border and customs formalities at Mafeking we head northwards on the Cape to Cairo Railway into Botswana. Rhodes wanted to construct a railway that linked the south coast of Africa with the north coast but failed. Soon we are skirting the Kalahari Desert before we arrive at the vibrant and colourful capital city, Gaborone, in the early evening for our overnight stay. We enjoy a Boma dinner, a traditional barbecue meal of the area. (B L D)
Thursday 17th April
The Bechuanaland Railway
We leave Gaborone around 08:00 as breakfast is served in the restaurant cars. Our locomotive takes coal and water at Mahalapye before continuing northwards to Seruli where our train will stay overnight. (B L D)
Friday 18th April
Steam at Selebi-Phikwe Mine
After an early breakfast there will be an optional visit to the Selebi-Phikwe Mine Railway. This line is unusual as it is still using steam locomotives of the 14th class Garratts and 19Ds. We will be able to photograph steam hauled mine trains (subject to confirmation) and visit the locomotive depot. Or it is possible to stay on the luxurious Rovos train and relax. We return to Seruli by coach so our train can depart at lunchtime still hauled by our two 25NCs. We call at Francistown, the site of southern Africa’s first gold rush, to take photographs in its famous station. After border formalities we arrive in Zimbabwe, at Plumtree, where we stay overnight. (B L D)
Saturday 19th April
Bulawayo, the “Last Great Steam Shed in Africa”
We depart Plumtree around 08:00 for Bulawayo. We will stop to photograph our train in action at Marula and Figtree. We visit the steam shed at Bulawayo, Africa’s last working steam shed.
For many this will be the highlight of the trip as we can watch Garratts being serviced and shunting. There will also be a visit to the railway museum. Opened in 1972, the museum displays a wealth of small exhibits and models as well as steam and diesel electric locomotives, many having been built in the north-west of England. We return to the train for dinner. (B L D)
Sunday 20th April
Matopos National Park
After breakfast we enjoy a short tour of Bulawayo before our coaches transfer us to the Matopos National Park. We visit the grave of Cecil Rhodes and go on a game safari and hopefully catch sight of some rare white rhinos. (B L D)
Monday 21st April
Walking with Lions
Our train departs hauled by a Zimbabwe (NRZ) 16A class Garratt through Heany Junction and Somabhula to Dabuka. Hopefully we will have 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 it is possible to walk with, and stroke, lions.
This is an unbelievable experience. Our train stays overnight in Damuka. (B L D)
Tuesday 22nd April
Game Viewing
We leave the train for an African bush breakfast when we will see animals and birds. Afterwards our train departs with an NRZ 15th class Garratt and returns us to Bulawayo. On arrival at Bulawayo we welcome back our 25NCs and depart northward towards Victoria Falls. We stay overnight at Sawmills. (B L D)
Wednesday 23rd April
Game Drive in Hwange
We have an early morning departure, our train heading north once 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, therefore offering a fine wildlife experience. The big five may be sighted and herds of antelope, zebra, buffalo and elephant are common. We return to our train at Kennedy Siding at about 18:00 and depart for Thompson Junction. We will be able to view game from the train as we head north running alongside Hwange Game Park. Our train will stop overnight, probably at Dete. (B L D)
Thursday 24th April
To Victoria Falls
Our train departs early morning from Dete.
Again there will be photographic opportunities at Lukozi before we arrive at Thompson Junction for our locomotives to take water. We continue northwards, occasionally seeing animals from the train, arriving at Victoria Falls after lunch has been served in the dining car. We stay in the Kingdom at Victoria Falls Hotel. In the afternoon we can relax in the beautiful grounds of this old hotel or join an optional guided walk to view the falls. Dinner is at our Hotel.
(B L D)
Friday 25th April
Victoria Falls Safari Express
After breakfast we join the steam hauled Victoria Falls Safari Express with a 14A class Garratt.
We cross the famous Victoria Falls Bridge and enter Zambia. The first station is Livingstone, and from here we follow the tracks of the old Zambezi Sawmills Railway to visit the Zambian Railway Museum. A number of steam locomotives are arranged in an open air display, many are British built survivors from the colonial age. Our train continues a little further along the Zambezi Sawmills Railway before reversing back to Livingstone where the locomotive is turned before returning to Zimbabwe. Later this afternoon we have a Sundowner Cruise on the Zambezi where wild life will be visible perhaps including crocodiles, hippos, giraffes and elephants.
Dinner and overnight accommodation at our hotel. (B L D)
Saturday 26th April
Returning Home
We breakfast in the hotel with its views over the gorge and the bridge. There will be 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 14:00 and we change in Johannesburg for London. (B)
Sunday 27th April
Arrive London
We arrive London Heathrow at 06:25.
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Price - Deluxe Suite
| Price per person | £4650 |
| Single supplement | £1650 |
Price - Pullman Class Suite
| Price per person | £3995 |
| Single supplement | £995 |
Accommodation on train
Deluxe 3 suite sleeperMore 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.
Price includes:
- Scheduled flights from London in economy class*
- One night half board in the Sheraton Hotel, Pretoria
- Two nights half board in the Victoria Falls Hotel
- Guest laundry on the train
- All meals taken on board the train, breakfast, lunch and dinner
- All wines, drinks and alcoholic beverages consumed on board the train
- Several champagne receptions
- All off train trips
- The services of a tour manager
- The prices exclude gratuities
*upgrades to business class and economy plus available at additional cost.
Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner
Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D= Dinner