- Accommodation: Locomotive
- Activities: Game-drives, Addo Elephant Park excursion,Highgate Ostrich Farm visit
- Destinations: Pretoria, Malelane, Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Durban, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth, Oudtshoorn, Knysna, Cape Town (South Africa)
What you can expect from this scenic 13 day golf tour by train
Upon arrival, sip on a glass of champagne or juice and savor canapes that are served with a warm smile. The friendly Rovos Rail staff will take your luggage to your luxury suite. You will be escorted to your suite before the luxury locomotive departs.
Your Rovos Rail train has a number of facilities to ensure an unforgettable and comfortable journey. Admire scenic views of the rugged landscape from the observation car, enjoy an afternoon of leisure in the lounge car and delight exquisite cuisine in the banqueting and dining cars.
This panoramic 13-day sojourn commences at Rovos Rail Station at Capital Park in Pretoria. The first leg of the journey takes the train through Witbank and Middleburg and then traverses the majestic Drakensberg escarpment en-route to the lowveld of Mpumalanga.
The train sets off at midday from George travelling along the scenic Garden Route through Mossel Bay and Riversdale. The next morning, after a short visit to the KWV Brandy Distillery in Worcester, the Pride of Africa ends its magnificent collage in the Mother City of Cape Town.
Opposite direction possible This Rovos Rail safari tour is also available in the opposite direction from Cape Town via Durban and Malelane to Pretoria (please enquire about specific departure dates and itinerary).
Day 1: Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
Board your carriage and make yourself comfortable in this luxurious locomotive accommodation.
Your train will leave Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria at 18h00 and you will enjoy a delicious dinner in the formal dining cars.
Day 2: At Leisure on Board
Have a relaxed breakfast as you watch the rolling hills of eMakhazeni, eNtokozweni and Dullstroom. Lunch is served at 13:00 while you admire the spectacular Drakensberg Mountain escarpment pass by. High Tea is a grand affair - served at 16:30 in the lounge and observation cars.
As you head to Malelane you can enjoy a leisurely dinner and see your fellow guests dressed up in their finest.
Day 3: Kruger Park
An early morning wake-up call will indicate the start of a new day. Take a hot shower and dress comfortably for your wildlife safari in Kruger National Park. Track the Big Five and other mammals that roam the majestic Kruger Park. Enjoy a light lunch before heading back to the train at 15:00.
The Golfers will depart for a game of golf at the White River Country Club or Mbombela. Leopard Creek Golf Course can be booked on request for your own account. Savor a light lunch before heading back to the train in time for high tea.
Dinner is served en route to Mpaka.
Day 4: Eswatini
Breakfast is served while border formalities take place as you enter the tiny Kingdom of eSwatini (Swaziland). Learn more about this unique little country as you visit Swazi Candles and Mantenga Cultural Village followed by lunch. Return to the train at 14:00.
Golfers will play a round of golf at Nkonyeni or Royal Swazi Golf Course followed by lunch and return to the train at 14:00.
Depart for Goela and enjoy high tea and dinner en route to Hluhluwe.
Day 5: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Get ready to depart for an early morning game drive in the Hluhluwe Reserve in Zululand. Track the Big Five and other South African wildlife during your action packed safari drive. Make sure to pack your camera to capture this memorable experience.
After a morning of wildlife viewing, regain your energy by savoring a delicious lunch as your traverse St Lucia Wetland Park for an overnight stop. Enjoy a scrumptious dinner and a good night's rest.
Day 6: Durban
After breakfast head out on a city tour of Durban and visit the Durban Botanical Gardens followed by lunch in the seaside suburb of Umhlanga.
Golfers will tee off at the renowned Durban Country Club or Mt Edgecombe Golf Course and indulge the warm climate and stunning views of the lush vegetation and dunes.
After lunch the train will meander through the Valley of a Thousand Hills. Enjoy the scenery!
Day 7: Spionkop
After breakfast you will be transferred to Spionkop Lodge at 9:00 to explore the history of the Battle of Spionkop and walk in the footsteps of Churchill and Gandhi. At 14:00 explore the area on a game drive or relax at the Lodge.
The Golfers will travel to Champagne Sports Resort and return to the train at 15:30.
Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Harrismith.
Day 8: Golden Gate National Park & Clarens
You will drive through the Golden Gate Highlands National Park this morning after breakfast. The park is known for its extensively eroded sandstone cliffs and outcrops, particularly the Brandwag Rock, which has beautiful hues of orange and golden ochre.
Visit the charming little town of Clarens, which is located in the Maluti Mountains' foothills, at 9:30. Take advantage of an early lunch on your own. At 13:00, make the 60-minute transfer to the Sandstone Heritage Trust, a sizable farm estate that is home to an astounding array of vintage automobiles, buses, tractors, trains, and military equipment.
At 15:30, transfer to the train in Bethlehem (it will take around 60 minutes) and head to Bloemfontein.
Day 9: Bloemfontein
At 8:00 you will get to explore Bloemfontein on a guided tour which visits the Women’s Memorial and Anglo Boer War Museum. At 10:00 you will depart for Coerney as you explore the Karoo, a large and breathtaking semi-desert with sporadic towns and villages that stretches across the immense South African plateau inland from the Cape coast.
Continue down the Great Escarpment towards the ocean after traversing the arid southeast, which is home to a wide variety of grasses, hardy shrubs, tumbleweeds, and succulents.
As usual lunch, tea and dinner are served in the elegant dining and observation cars.
Day 10: Addo Elephant National Park
Today you will head bright and early at 8:00 to Addo Elephant National Park for a game drive to witness the myriad of wildlife that flock through the reserve. This elephant sanctuary is home to large herds of elephant as well as other wildlife like zebra, rhino, buffalo, lion, and hyena which can be seen on game drives. Board your luxury train at 12:00 and depart for Port Elizabeth.
Golfers will take a 1-hour transfer to Humewood Golf Course, where more golfing adventure awaits. Delight a game of golf. Enjoy wide undulating fairways, fast greens and thick coastal bush that are among the challenges to make this an exciting event. After a morning of golfing, board your train in Port Elizabeth.
Day 11: Knysna (Overnight at Fancourt)
Don't forget to pack and overnight bag for your stay off the train tonight at Fancourt.
You will spend the morning getting from Port Elizabeth to Knynsa, stopping en route at the quaint Oudebosch Farm Stall. Lunch is served on a Knysna Lagoon ferry so you can enjoy the gorgeous scenery. At 16:30 you will check in at the sprawling Fancourt Resort.
Golfers will head to Pezula or Simola Golf Course for a round of golf at this stunning golf course that boasts magnificent views of the Indian Ocean.
You will have dinner and spend the night at the beautiful resort.
Day 12: Oudtshoorn
Visit the Ostrich farm to complete your visit to Oudsthoorn, the ostrich capital of the world. Learn about ostrich farming and engage with the lovely creatures. Visit the most popular attraction in Oudtshoorn - the natural wonder that is the Cango Caves.
Golfers will play an early game of golf at Fancourt and will get back onboard the train in the afternoon.
Traverse the Montague Pass to continue your luxury getaway at your next stop to experience an enchanting night.
Day 13: Cape Town
Travel towards the shore while passing through the Western Cape's picturesque winelands and breathtaking mountain peaks. Lunch is served on board while you admire the scenery.
Your 10-day luxury train excursion ends at Platform 23, Cape Town approximately at 18:00. At the Cape Town Station, you will meet your onward travel arrangements.
