Rovos Rail - Pride of Africa. From Cape Town to Dar Es Salaam

foreigner the Cape of Good Hope the southwestern tip of Africa a steep cliff shrouded in legend this is where an adventure begins that few people will ever experience an epic train journey one that fulfills the great dream of crossing Africa by

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a journey that will open New worlds Those who take this journey will be rewarded with once-in-a-lifetime experiences and scenes of stunning beauty. An outsider's approach to Cape Town with a magnificent view of the iconic Table Mountain, a spectacular backdrop to South Africa's bustling metropolis on the Atlantic Cape. The city's restored port district, the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, here elegant restaurants and cafes rub shoulders with stylish shops, a popular destination for wealthy locals, as well as tourists from around the world for those who have enough time for a trip The rugged coastal lands

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of the Cape of Good Hope offers a pleasant contrast to the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Cape Town.

Afternoons on Signal Hill. The sunsets in Cape Town are among the most beautiful in the world and create the perfect atmosphere for a very special adventure. The train journey with

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meanders through the south. Africa Botswana Zimbabwe Zambia and Tanzania 6,100 kilometers from Cape Town to Dar es Salaam, on the tropical east coast of Africa, it is early in the morning and the red carpet is rolled out for the guests Rowan Foss greets them personally The South African businessman is the founder of Rovos

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way and has turned it into the most luxurious private train in the world, all the results of the meticulous demands of the owner himself.

Well the train was originally designed as a private caravan for my family and that of course was a direct reflection of The Royal Suites as they are today was what I thought my wife and I would enjoy with the private bathroom and then to the kids, we put them in the Deluxe Suites, we put the dogs you know in the van of the gods in a special place. and we had room for the motorbikes and other things like that because I had four terrible children, you know, and we had all the animals with us, so like a four-car moving caravan, that's how it all started today, the train has more of 20 carriages when it begins its long journey from Cape Town.

The journey takes us first through the luscious green fields of the Western Cape and then through the rugged valleys of the Hex River Mountains, mostly at a leisurely pace of 50 kilometers per hour. The luggage has already been stowed and the dining car is serving lunch. The premium service and gourmet three-course menus ensure that every meal is a culinary delight. The visual feast on the plate is combined with the spectacular views from the table. From the dining room All drinks during the voyage are included Each course is accompanied by specially selected wines and of course Rovas has only the best South African wines on board.

The train travels directly through the heart of one of the most famous wine regions in the world. August is still cool in this southern region. Africa, but there is already a breath of spring in the air, there are approximately 150 wineries in the valleys around the

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s of French Hook and Stellenbosch. Some of the estates can trace their routes back to the 18th century, but South Africa's wine industry has only really just taken off. After the end of Apartheid, today South African wines must meet strict quality controls and the bottles age in the cellars here, where Chardonnay Shiraz or pinotage are highly prized by wine connoisseurs around the world.

The products of South Africa's 300 years of wine-growing experience and its exquisite cuisine can be found on board the luxury train, for example in the form of an excellent glass of red wine in the lounge car, outside the countryside, the train now travels through the Great Karoo, a semi-desert that stretches some 750 kilometers from east to west on the high plains of South Africa, the train almost looks like a model railway located on this vast isolated and almost uninhabited plateau with its sparse vegetation and rocky hills. It is an empty and uninviting region, which is best traveled in the comfort of your car on the Rovos train. a quick look at the compartments the Royal Suite lives up to its name offers 16 spacious square meters and occupies half of an entire carriage the epitome of elegance and style the ultimate in luxury for train travelers the private bathroom not only has shower but also has a Victorian bathtub a personal touch all to the taste of founder Rohan Voss passengers will also be more than comfortable in the Deluxe suites and, like all compartments on the train, they also have their own stylish bathroom: it is the motto of Rovos Rails Premier Luxury train, the

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of Africa, the observation car with its own bar and open-air balcony is a fitting end to the train from the comfort of the open deck.

Africa's spectacular flora and fauna are close enough to touch as the train has traveled almost 1,000 kilometres. in the lounge car the multilingual tour guide gives interesting and informative lectures he is currently giving a talk about a place that plays a very special role in the history of South Africa the next stop on the trip Kimberly about me the big hole is a relic of Kimberly The era of the diamond rush, from 1871 to 1914, when mining ended, about 2,700 kilos of diamonds were extracted from the mine, including some of the most expensive stones in the world, such as the Tiffany yellow diamond.

Also worth a visit is the open air Kimberley Mining Museum, with many original buildings. The rich history of the mining

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where some 50,000 hopefuls sought their fortune is still tangible, it almost feels like a Western and there were certainly many scenes that could having come straight out of the movies during the Diamond's climax. Rush here in the Kimberley even today there are still some hopeful prospectors, although the mind has been officially closed for almost 100 years, the journey continues as the Rovos trains head north, the next destination is Pretoria, the capital of South Africa. After the tour, passengers settle into the observation car with a snack and something to drink yes, it's late and everything is bathed in golden sunlight an African fairytale train ride through illustrated lands

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s thank you The view over the waters of the camphor dam offers an extraordinary spectacle of nature oh thousands of flamingos form pink ribbons along the shores of the lake, a foreign intoxicating sight, not with any locomotive, but with this old 1948 timer from the historic Rovos Rail train station, the heart of every train.

Enthusiasts beat to the rhythm of this historic steam engine as the

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of Africa resonates at its main station Capital Park The headquarters of Rovos Rail also has a train depot for restoration and maintenance, as well as a magnificent reception area for passengers located in a colonial train station, all privately owned by Rowan Foss. This is where you treat your guests to an exclusive lunch, an honor reserved only for Rovos passengers. Those who want to immerse themselves in railway nostalgia can take a look at the collection of lovingly restored vintage locomotives, each locomotive has its own story, the oldest being built in 1894.

Rowan Foss and his team have breathed new life into the OldTimer. All locomotives have names. They all bear the name of his family. Says Brenda Bianca Tiffany and Sean. Those are the four of him. His four children. One is named after his wife Anthea and then the second. The last one is named after his mother Marjorie and the last locomotive we built. I think we're out of last names, so Rowan decided to name her after his Dalmatian dog and that engine's name is Zog King Zog. It's been over 25 years since Rovos Rail started as a crazy idea before growing into a company with over 300 employees in Capital Park.

Vintage carriages from the 1920s and 1930s are carefully restored to their original glory. These lucky finds come from all over Africa and it's hard to believe. that can be rebuilt to the original standards of colonial luxury because he has a passion for train travel Rowan Foss is also an animal lover and collects ostriches and other stray animals all stops are stopped for the Capital Park exit Sean the locomotive departs a good amount of steam for the guests then after the show gently return to the train station the journey continues for the adventurers the next station is at the madikwe game reserve foreign elephant heard searching for water during the station seca elephants are regular visitors the few waterholes in the 75,000 hectare game reserve for guests of the

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a perfect opportunity to observe the animals up close visitors can enjoy their coffee on a terrace while the young bulls taste their metal to each other a memorable start to the day after half an hour the herd gets fed up and disappears again into the foreign bush guests can now look forward to two days of safari the rooms leave no wish unfulfilled the individual chalets at the Lodge first class blend harmoniously with their surroundings offer a luxurious atmosphere in the middle of African nature, thanks to an open 4x4 Safari, the question on everyone's lips is what animals they will see in the photographs today.

The Experience Rangers want to show the richness of Africa's wildlife to their visitors, but there is never any. Today we guarantee that you are lucky. Ranger Bill has spotted something in the thick undergrowth - a square-lipped rhino, also known as a white rhino - and photographers are even luckier. The two-ton Colossus crosses the road right in front of them. Many of the largest species in Africa can be found in the Medikue game reserve. In total there are approximately 12,000 animals. Here, it is a magical moment for everyone to be able to observe the animals in their natural habitat.

Visitors have ample opportunity to enjoy the rich variety of African wildlife during On many late afternoon safaris, Rangers make a very special discovery and have to drive their all-terrain vehicles through thick undergrowth. A group of lions rests in the mountains, face to face with the powerful felines. The two species are only measured against each other. A few meters separate the man from the Beast shortly after and at a safe distance from the Lions, it is time for a sunset to close the exciting Safari surrounded by peacefully grazing zebras. The Drive game comes to an end. It would be difficult to overcome it.

This day is full. with the wonders of nature but then comes the spectacular African sunset thanks to four wheels back to the tracks the train is now pulled by a diesel locomotive it has just crossed the border with Botswana and is now making its way through the dry savanna of the Kalahari Desert, guests are once again in the hands of the Rovos staff and enjoy their midday meal at the five-star mobile hotel. What the cooks managed to put on the plates in the train kitchens seems nothing less than after-meal witchcraft. time to relax in the sweets or in the lounge car arrival at one of the most important stops on this African journey, the small train station at Victoria Falls.

Passengers on the Rovos train are greeted by traditional Shanghai dancers who locals call Victoria. Smoke falls and thunders. Powerful clouds of dew are part of this impressive spectacle of nature. Water volume Waterfall from the Zambezi River to The Gorge more than 100 meters deep. Thank you, depending on the season, it could be up to 10,000 cubic meters. meters of water per second, the widest waterfall in the world hangs over the cliff like a huge foreign curtain and, if all this wasn't impressive enough, you can still take a private helicopter tour inside modern custom Bell helicopters, passengers swooping along the Zambezi River to the Magnificent cliffs are reached the bird's eye view of the UNESCO world heritage site presents intoxicating perspectives Victoria Falls lies at the three corners of Zambia Zimbabwe and Botswana from here the Rovos railway group travel by bus to one of Africa's most famous national parks Cho Bay National Park in Botswana, a late afternoon boat safari along the Chobe River from the water, from the gas you can observe the diverse wildlife.

The park is particularly famous for its large herds of elephants, hippos, giraffes. Congratulations, the variety of species here is almost unparalleled. and the view from the boat particularly picturesque thank you thank you the crowning glory of the day sunsets over the river thank you the next night we will spend in a Lodge idyllically situated on the banks of the river Cho Bay at Victoria Falls railway station Rovos Rail sets off on its travel abroad once again the engineer has an exciting task ahead of him in a few minutes he will drive his train step by step over the famous Victoria Falls Bridge the feat of British civil engineeringcrosses the Zambezi at a dizzying height The Rovos train, almost 130 meters long, is the only train service that makes a brief stop in the middle of the historic bridge, allowing passengers to disembark and enjoy the magnificent view beyond , the waterfalls that thunder continuously in the foreground, the imposing steel structure dating from 1905, arches. over the gorge as a monument to the architectural genius of man a true highlight not only for foreign railway enthusiasts the journey continues as the bright red locomotive pulls the luxury train into the interior of Zambia some of the railway tracks here Dating back to colonial times, this is where the unique pioneering spirit of a train journey can be best felt.

Travelers are now passing through the heart of the African continent through a world that couldn't be further from their daily lives at home. Thank you Rivers Fields Endless Horizons the train. It moves through landscapes that cannot be taken out of your sight just north of the Zambian capital, Lusaka, the railway line branches towards Tanzania the train will have traveled some 4,000 kilometers two thirds of its journey in southern Tanzania it will find the city of makambako here the time has come for the train and its passengers to take a break and a walk through the city thanks to the train passengers is another opportunity to get to know the people and their country two completely different worlds meet and the curiosity on both sides is immense there is no tourist program just a glimpse into the authentic daily life here and that makes the short visit especially fascinating thank you The arrival of the Luxury Train is a real event for the local inhabitants, it only stops in the city a few times a year, one of the reasons why the city's children give the train such an exuberant farewell thanks to the distant foothills of the Sierra Mayor.

From now on you can see the diesel locomotive perfectly, which will have to work for several hours. The twin 3,000-horsepower engines will have to drag their multi-ton load uphill. A true test of endurance. The landscape here is especially varied. The train winds around curves. It runs alongside steep cliffs, passing many traditional villages and through numerous tunnels, a real joy for train enthusiasts as this stretch offers them an ideal view of their elegant luxury train amidst the fierce beauty of the African landscape. as the train has begun its downhill journey through the valleys of the udzungwa mountains towards the lowlands of tanzania it is a bit like the last goodbye to a swollen dam as the rovo rails gleam in the light of the foreign

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n sun this is the last Once passengers will experience this magical atmosphere, the golden African light that makes everything it touches fabulously beautiful, one last time they can admire the sunset, this riot of colors on the horizon, the reflection of everything that makes This African trip is so special for Rovas passengers, this dream trip is coming to an end, but often they will dream.

From these moments in the future, the final leg of the journey takes place during the night and early morning hours as the train progresses through the Seleuse Game Reserve to the end of the line in Dar es Salaam, arriving at the capital of Tanzania. The local police orchestra greets the guests of the far-traveling rovos with a little marching music Foreign fanfare for an extraordinary feat in the space of more than two weeks people and material have been transported more than 6,000 kilometers across Africa the pride of Africa has earned every syllable of its name and has brought its guests safely and in maximum comfort to their destination and they are responsible.

The staff of more than 30 rovos, the train manager and his cheerful team. The transport staff of the restaurant, the bar, the kitchen and the train laundry have all done their bit. to make this trip what a train trip is on the most luxurious train in the world, thank you