Get ready to explore the luxurious world of Rovos Rail, Africa’s premier train travel experience!
Explorer Safari’s project leader, Shanaaz Dollie, recently journeyed from Pretoria to Durban onboard Rovos Rail and loved every moment!
Shanaaz shares her highlights from the Rovos Durban Safari Journey, where exceptional service meets the charm of a bygone era.
Rovos Rail offers routes across South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Tanzania, with journeys ranging from three to 15 days. This allows you to travel in style to dream destinations like Victoria Falls and Zanzibar.
I had the pleasure of experiencing the Rovos Durban Safari Journey – a three-day adventure on the rails between Pretoria and Durban. This ultimate luxe safari took us through historical sites and breathtaking landscapes, making every moment truly memorable.
Here are the highlights of my luxury train experience!
Every Rovos Rail journey begins and ends in different destinations around Africa. For Rovos Rail’s Durban Safari journey, we started in Pretoria and ended in Durban.
Getting there: Before hopping on Rovos Rail, we flew to Johannesburg and stayed the night in Pretoria. The drive from the Southern Sun Pretoria where we stayed was a short 20-minute drive to the Capital Park station.
The Rovos Rail experience
You can expect the same, high standard luxury on all Rovos Rail journeys, and I absolutely loved the aesthetic onboard the train – it was like stepping back in time!
Not only was the look very “old school cool”, but it was also no-tech. No phones or electronics are allowed outside your cabin. As someone who spends most of their time online and with technology, this was a wonderful break.
The no-tech policy was the perfect excuse to relax and have real conversations.
We enjoyed the time on board, sipping on mocktails – no screens and no distractions! It was good old-fashioned fun.
Service on Rovos Rail
Like all Rovos Rail trips, you can expect 5-star service onboard the trains. The charming “Victorian Chic” atmosphere is everywhere. Every meal felt like an event – from breakfast to lunch, the food was incredible – even with our vegan plan. Rovos Rail is all about keeping things local and fresh, so the meals were all traditional African cuisine with seasonal ingredients.
All Rovos Rail journeys are all-inclusive, so when you hear the gong (yes, there is a real dinner bell!), it’s time to come running. The staff is great, and you’ll certainly leave happy.
Excursions on Rovos Rail Durban Safari
While you can expect the same 5-star service and experience on all Rovos Rail journeys, it’s good to know that no two trips are the same. The highlight of the Durban Safari was that our safari excursions were included.
We ended off in Durban with a quick transfer to our nearby hotel. Durban offers plenty to do, and it’s worth getting there early so you can explore.
South Africa has an amazing amount of natural beauty. We were able to wander around and learn about the land. We spotted giraffes, zebras, and other beautiful plains game.
A big thank you to Rovos Rail for hosting me during this trip and for the chance to experience a return to the Golden Age of Luxury Rail Travel!
As always, thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own.