A Luxury Rail Journey Through Africa

Duration 15 days
Price guide
From
  PP
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From exciting Cape Town to an incredible Sabi Sands safari to wine tasting in the Winelands, this thorough and exclusive trip takes in the amazing highlights of South Africa in style. You’ll hop aboard Rovos Rail and travel in true classic luxury before paying a visit to the incredible Victoria Falls to witness the thundering world wonder in all its glory.

Trip highlights

  • Experiencing true luxury on the famous Rovos Rail train
  • Sampling the incredible food scene of Cape Town
  • Unforgettable safaris in Sabi Sands
  • Discovering the thundering Victoria Falls

Bespoke trips with Jacada

We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke trips include:

  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • Private transfers
  • Private tours and experiences
  • Expert safari guides on shared game drives Sabi Sands
  • Full support from your travel designer and concierge
  • Help with restaurant recommendations and reservations
Black and white illustration of two guides pointing to a building in the distance
  • Days 1–4 Cape Town
  • Days 4–6 The Winelands
  • Days 6–9 Sabi Sands
  • Days 9–10 Pretoria
  • Days 10–13 Rovos Rail
  • Days 13–15 Victoria Falls
A Luxury Rail Journey Through Africa
Price guide
  PP
  • Days 1–4 Cape Town
  • Days 4–6 The Winelands
  • Days 6–9 Sabi Sands
  • Days 9–10 Pretoria
  • Days 10–13 Rovos Rail
  • Days 13–15 Victoria Falls

Itinerary in detail

Every Jacada trip is tailored to your personal preferences and interests. Below you’ll find a sample itinerary to inspire your own custom-designed journey.

Days 1–4

Three nights of exclusive adventures in Cape Town

Spend your time relaxing and exploring the cosmopolitan capital of Cape Town. Explore the beguiling scenery of Cape Point and Table Mountain and experience the city’s delicious gourmet cuisine and a fascinating history. You will have our top recommendations for activities, restaurants and shopping so that you can make the most of your time here. If you would like us to organise your time here with a privately-guided tour, according your interests, we can do so.

Explore the city

Half day privately guided exploration of Cape Town

Your tour is entirely private and at your own pace picking out the attractions which interest you. Typically highlights include, the Houses of Parliament, the Castle, this is South Africa’s oldest building, the lively Green Market Square with its daily market, the Company Gardens and of course Table Mountain which will give you spectacular views over the city and Peninsula.

Get the cable car up Table Mountain

Take a short cable car ride up to Table Mountain and enjoy the spectacular views from the top.

Visit the Bo-Kaap

Enjoy a walk through the Bo-Kaap, traditionally home to the Cape Malay community, with its brightly coloured houses and cobbled streets.

Leave the city for a day of glorious nature

Full Day Cape Point & Peninsula Tour

Take one of the most scenic journeys in the world in this wonderful, full day private tour. Your guide will collect you from your hotel in the morning and bring you out through the coastal suburbs. The trip is entirely private, so you can take things at your own pace though typically you’ll make stops to see the highlights.

Hout Bay and Chapman Peak Drive

Leaving the suburbs of Cape Town the road winds through Hout Bay and up over Chapmans peak for truly stunning views of the coastline. If we’re lucky we may even see Southern Right Whales in the waters off-shore from June-November.

Cape of Good Hope

Explore the rocky coastline and unique Cape Fynbos vegetation which is home to unique bird-life such as African Black Oystercatchers and Cape Sugarbirds amongst others. Climb to the famous Cape Point Lighthouse to capture the magical vistas of False Bay, and stop at the south western most point of Africa – the fabled Cape of Good Hope.

Simon’s Town & Boulders Beach

We will visit Boulders Beach for a visit to see African Penguins in their natural habitat. Next drive through the historical naval village of Simonstown and over yet another spectacular mountain pass; Boyes Drive, where you will take in views of the quaint fishing harbour at Kalk Bay as well as the seaside villages of St James and Muizenberg.

Make it mine

In the city

Outside the city

Company Gardens

Enjoy a stroll through the Company Gardens – a large public park and botanical garden set in the heart of Cape Town. It is the oldest garden in the country and has its origins in Jan van Riebeeck’s vegetable garden which he grew to feed the original colony as early as 1652.

Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens

As we return to the city (time allowing) you have the opportunity to visit these magnificent gardens set on the slopes of Table Mountain before returning to your hotel in the city.

Days 4–6

Two nights in South Africa's Winelands

Enjoy the serenely beautiful countryside of the Winelands. You have our top recommendations for activities, vineyards and restaurants so that you can make the most of your time here. If you would like us to organise a variety of privately-guided tours, according to your interests, we can do so.

Discover the winelands

Full day privately guided tour of the Winelands

During this tour your private, expert guide will take you to see the stunning mountain ranges, vineyards and Cape Dutch homesteads. You will get to sample some of South Africa’s most exquisite wines and enjoy exploring the charming colonial towns and picturesque countryside.

Visit the culinary capital of Franschhoek

Take a journey through the beautiful scenery of Helshoogte Pass to visit the town of Franschhoek, founded by French Huguenots over 350 years ago, and widely regarded as the culinary capital of South Africa. Its beautiful setting and café lined streets will charm you and a wine tasting is included at one of the renowned estates here.

Make it mine

Chocolate and dessert

Wines and tasting

Wine, chocolate and desert tastings

Visit the charming colonial town of Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa, with canal-lined avenues, and magnificent examples of Cape Dutch architecture where you can do wine tasting, coupled with a chocolate tasting, if desired.

Explore Paarl and enjoy wine tastings

Paarl is located in the Winelands at the foot of a cluster of remarkable granite domes, a wonderful place to take in spectacular landscapes and enjoy a final wine tasting.

Days 6–9

Three nights on safari in Sabi Sands

Enjoy days relaxing at your luxury lodge and exploring the world-famous Sabi Sands Reserve with morning and afternoon game drives. Depending on the lodge you’ve chosen, there are various other optional activities you can do such as walking safaris, attending nature lectures and for children there often dedicated tours just for them. Ask your travel designer for the full lowdown.

Days 9–10

Overnight in 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. Pretoria melds 19th century Dutch, German and British Colonial Architecture with modern, Postmodern, Neomodern, and Art Deco architecture and its landmarks and monuments help tell the story of the city’s long and involved history.

Days 10–13

A 3 night, 4 day luxury train journey from Pretoria to Victoria Falls

Board Rovos Rail and begin your journey trundling through Southern Africa’s epic landscapes in all the romantic refinement of the Edwardian era and five-star luxury of today to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

Your journey across Africa

Your first day aboard Rovos Rail, day one

Your iconic journey starts as your train leaves Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria at 10am. Enjoy a superb lunch in the magnificent dining car as the train travels north through Warmbaths and Nylstroom. Dinner is served en route to Messina and Beitbridge for Zimbabwe border formalities.

Day two on Rovos Rail

Breakfast is served as the train travels towards Bulawayo via West Nicholson. Lunch is served in the dining cars, and you will enjoy tea in the lounge and observation cars in the afternoon. Dinner is served as you make your way to Mpopoma.

Day three, crossing the border into Zimbabwe

After breakfast and departing Mpopoma, the train travels along the eastern edge of Hwange National Park along one of Africa’s longest stretches of straight railway line – 114km. Arrive at Kennedy Siding for a game drive at The Hide. Dinner is served in the dining car en route to Thompsons Junction for the overnight stop.

Your departure day, day four

Today your journey on board will come to an end after a delicious breakfast. Bid farewell to the train, crew and fellow travellers. Victoria Falls is calling as you depart for your chosen hotel and the chance to witness the cascading waterfalls.

Days 13–15

Two exciting nights at Victoria Falls

The mighty Victoria Falls rank as one of the most spectacular sites in all of Africa. As the mighty Zambezi river crashes over sheer cliffs onto the rocks below it sprays a cloud of water high into the air. Enjoy a variety of activities in this area (as well as the falls themselves). Speak to your travel designer to find out which suits the best for you.

Witness the 'smoke that thunders'

A private tour to both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides of Victoria Falls

Witness the incredible waters of Victoria Falls from both the Zimbabwean and Zambian side. A knowledgeable guide will take you on an unforgettable experience of the falls, otherwise known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning the smoke that thunders. You’ll not only get wonderful views of one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World but also learn a great deal of interesting facts about the geology, wildlife and history of Africa’s most famous landmark.