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    Incredible Scenery

    Travel through some of South Africa's epic landscapes

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    Wildlife

    Pass through wildlife hotspots like the Kruger

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    Victoria Falls

    One of the ten Wonders of the Natural World

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    Cape Town

    Start your locomotive adventure in Cape Town

    Epic Africa in elegant style

    South Africa has some of the most moving, distinct and dramatic landscapes this world has to offer, which can all be enjoyed from the smooth gait of a luxury locomotive pulling along its plains, swallowing up the savannah and coursing along its coastlines.

    There’s also nothing more effortlessly comfortable and convenient, nor more hopelessly romantic, than travelling by luxury train through Africa. We offer a number of differing routes and trains that snake through some of South Africa’s most extraordinary scenes.

    What’s more if you prefer to hop on or off at a particular point to enjoy a safari stay or a beachside break, we can incorporate this into your personalised itinerary.

    Highlights

    Explore lively Cape Town

    Marvel at the epic Victoria Falls

    View wildlife at Africa’s premier game reserve, Sabi Sands

    Fill up a glass in the Winelands, tasting some of the best wine in the country

    There's not much that's more luxurious than exploring beautiful scenery by rail. Taking in all of the sights, sounds and flavours of South Africa from the comfort of an elegant cabin, but still having the freedom to stop off and explore lively cities and unmatched safaris. It really is like putting yourself at the heart of all South Africa has to offer.

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    Tor Saner

    Senior Travel Designer

    Luxury rail accommodation in South Africa

    There are many incredible places to stay in South Africa. Here are some of our favourites, handpicked by our travel designers:

    Why book with Jacada?

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    Personalised design

    We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.

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    Authentic experiences

    Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.

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    Responsible travel

    Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.

    Trip Inspriation

    Get inspired with our South African rail example trips and then get in touch to plan your own adventure
    Ready to plan your adventure?

    Whatever you want from your South African tour, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

    Discover South Africa

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    Cape Town

    Cape Town can really take your breath away. The horizon is dominated by the iconic Table Mountain rising up in the background, whilst in the foreground are the crisp waters of the cape and the laid-back bustle of the city’s waterfront skirted by sandy beaches and picturesque suburbs.

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    Drakensberg Mountains

    Now affectionately known as ‘the Berg’, Drakensberg, meaning ‘Dragon Mountains’, magically encapsulates the escarpment’s otherworldly feel. Tabletop peaks, wind-swept plains, mighty cliffs and glorious waterfalls make up just some of the spectacular grandeur.

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    Durban

    Durban is another of South Africa’s great seaside cities, with the added feature of enjoying a warm sub-tropical climate all year round.

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    Eastern Cape Safaris

    South Africa’s Eastern Cape continues to win visitors over with its pristine coastline, accessible and malaria-free wildlife reserves, picturesque villages and surreal hinterland landscapes.

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    Johannesburg

    South Africa‘s ‘Big Apple’, this sunny city is not only one of the world’s largest urban areas and South Africa’s commercial and economic hub, it’s also been branded the new capital of cool.

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    KwaZulu Natal

    Known as the ‘Kingdom of the Zulu’, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa’s most north-easterly coastal province, quite literally has it all.

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    Limpopo Province

    “The Great North” or South Africa’s northernmost province of Limpopo, justifies its nickname with some of the most magnificently scenic and contrasting terrain you’ll see throughout the country.

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    Madikwe

    The Madikwe Game Reserve, bordering the Kalahari Desert and Botswana in South Africa’s north west corner, is one of the country’s lesser known and more remote of the Big Five safari experiences. Moreover, it’s malaria-free, making the area great for families.

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    Northern Kruger National Park

    The Makuleke is the northernmost section of the Kruger National Park. It is something of an open secret among safari aficionados, a diverse and dramatic region that is perhaps the park’s most beautiful, yet kept wonderfully quiet thanks to its remoteness and community run concession status.

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    Phinda

    In the northern corner of the KwaZulu Natal’s eastern coast, the Phinda Private Game Reserve is a small and exclusive gem of conservation-based hospitality and authentic African splendor.

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    Pretoria

    Located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, this handsome city is one of South Africa‘s three capital cities. Pretoria is made up of grand buildings, large, leafy green suburbs and wide, tree-lined streets.

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    Sabi Sands

    Widely regarded as Africa’s premier game reserve, Sabi Sands is world renowned for the abundance of game (particularly leopard), and is the best place to see all of the ‘Big Five’ in South Africa.

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    The Garden Route

    This exquisitely pretty, pleasant and popular strip of South Africa’s Western Cape and coastline is a nature lover’s paradise and a horticulturist’s dream.

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    The Kalahari

    Although termed a desert, this semi-arid sandy savannah supports more animal and plant life than what is typical and is, in fact, not a desert in the truest sense.

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    The Kruger

    Founded in 1898 by President Paul Kruger, this National Park remains one of the oldest and largest wildlife reserves in the world.

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    The Western Cape Mountains

    Sweeping from the north of Cape Town and curving eastward underneath the southern limits of the Northern Cape, this arched expanse incorporates the Cederberg mountains, a good portion of the Karoo plateau spilling over into the Overburg interior.

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    The Whale Coast

    As you might imagine, the marine life of the Whale Coast is the main draw of the area, but you can’t help but credit them for picking such a spectacular stretch of coastline around which to gather.

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    The Winelands

    Just a short drive from Cape Town one enters the verdant, rolling hills of South Africa’s wine country. Home to fantastic wine and some of Africa’s best restaurants.

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    Meet your Africa team

    When to visit

    Rail travel is great any time of year. Rates tend to fluctuate between the high season (September to November) and low season (January to August, and most of December).

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    Safari

    May - October

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    Wildflowers

    August - September

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    Cape Town

    October - April

    When is the Best Time to Visit South Africa?

    When is the Best Time to Visit South Africa?

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    Plan your trip to South Africa

    Whatever you want from your rail adventure in South Africa, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.

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    Plan with peace of mind

    When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.

    If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.

    Find out more
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