Rovos Rail Train from Pretoria to Victoria Falls

Four Days on the Rovos Rail train from Pretoria to Victoria Falls

We spent four days on the beach. Rovos Rail TrainThe journey from Pretoria to Victoria Falls.  Then, you can take the ferry from Pretoria to Victoria Falls. Rovos Rail luxury trainsThe brand was branded as “Pride of Africa”.  This was our First, Rovos RailYou can also learn more about the experience of others by clicking here.We got a taste of luxury travel on the train. It was a fascinating part of Our African adventure. 

We boarded a plane Rovos Rail after Staying in Johannesburg. We saw different scenery as the train traveled through South Africa into Zimbabwe.  On one day, we left the train to visit. Matobo National Park.  On a second, we did a game driveThen, you can get in touch with us. Hwange National Park.  We departed the train in Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side.  It was a unique way to travel. Our next safari stop is in Zambia.

Pretoria Rovos Rail Train – Boarding

We were picked up by our driver from Staying in Johannesburg.  The drive to the Rovos Rail TrainPretoria station took less than an hour.  We pulled into the station where we were greeted with uniformed porters. They checked us in.  While wandering around the station we could not find a train at the platform.  

We visited the Rovos Museum.  The history of trains was fascinating.  There were huge model train setups, complete with villages and local settings.

We returned to the station and took a tour of the facilities in the train yard.  The tour is usually given by the owner Rohan, but he was not available on our trip.  We learned all about the historical background of Rovos RailThe growth of the train from a small 3 car train to a large train that services many routes.  Rovos RailSearches for old used rail cars.  These cars are brought to the rail yard where they are completely refurbished.  To make a new car, at least 2 used vehicles were required. Rovos Rail Train car.

This station also performs major repairs on cars and locomotives. We were fascinated by the variety of the Rovos RailWe saw locomotives.

After the tour was over, we found the train station and boarded.  We were called by names and escorted into our train car.  The Rovos Rail TrainFrom Pretoria to Victoria Falls, we were on our way.

Staying On the Same Page Rovos Rail Train From Pretoria To Victoria Falls

There were 3 types of accommodations on the train – the large Royal Suites that came with a bathtub, the Deluxe Suite we booked and smaller Pullman Suites.  Our Deluxe Suite had the bed between two walls at one end.  We worried about getting out of bed.  We eventually figured out the best way to get into and out of the bed.

The room included a small table, a refrigerator and two chairs.  In our cabin the large windows were not operable.  They opened in other cabins.  The bathroom had a shower and was of a good size.  Grab bars were provided if we felt foolish enough to try showering while the train moved.

The closet had a few shelves for folded clothes and a few hooks for hanging clothes.  We learned quickly that the large suitcases full of clothes we packed to go on our African adventure had not been unpacked.  We took advantage of a laundry service that offered a turnaround time of 2 days.  Also, pressing was available.

The train ran several times throughout the night.  We were happy to have a lot of ocean cruise experience. The train bucked up and screechedWe slept through the night.  We caught up on sleep when we finally stopped for a part of the night.

We are glad we only booked for 4 nights Rovos Rail TrainPretoria To Victoria Falls.  It was great to have two-day excursions for short breaks away from the train.  We were sore and a bit razzle dazzled by the time we left the train.  But we are still glad that we booked this First, Rovos RailYou can also learn more about the experience of others by clicking here..

Train Facilities

The train had all the amenities we needed to have a luxurious experience.  Two dining cars were located in the middle.  Tables are set up for two or four people with crystal glasses, crystal dishes and white tablecloths.  Dress code for the daytime train was “smart casual”.  At night, however, a more formal attire was required.  David brought his suit jacket and ties with him for the 4 days we spent on the train.

We sat in public areas with large windows, and enjoyed the scenery.  There were two Lounge Cars – one ahead of the Dining Car and one at the back.  The Observation Car was located at the rear of the train.  

There was a small, open area at the rear of the Observation Vehicle.  This was the ideal spot for people who wanted to jostle each other for a good photo.  We loved having the platform all to ourselves, as we could enjoy the incredible night sky view.

There was a small room for smokers with a large, period-appropriate leather sofa and a closed door.  We rarely saw it occupied.

On the Rovos Rail TrainFrom Pretoria to Victoria Falls, there are many ways we enjoyed our time. First, Rovos RailYou can also learn more about the experience of others by clicking here..

Eat Well on Our Train Journey

When we Plan our African adventureWe conducted our research on the Rovos Rail Train.  The sample menus assured us that we would eat well.  The culinary team visited us shortly after we boarded.  They asked about any special dietary requirements.  We told them that we don’t eat spicy food and they said that we could choose from a variety of spicy dishes. All sauces will be served on the sides.  We were quite surprised to receive the dishes we wanted on our trip.

We had tea and coffee in our cabin.  We found cappuccinos being served in the Observation Cabin about 30 minutes prior to breakfast.  Breakfast was open seating. The start time varied every day.  Fruit, cereals, and yogurt were available every day. Breakfast was served with a special treat and other hot items.

Lunch and dinner was at a fixed time for all passengers. The time of day was determined by what was on the schedule.  We were offered 4 courses – an appetizer, main dish, cheese plate and then dessert.  The menu was fixed with a vegetarian option.  The chef and staff were open to creative requests to mix or substitute items.

Each course at lunch and dinner was paired with a local wine.  Each day, the wines changed.  It was a great opportunity to sample many different South African wines.  We even found some of the South African wines we tried on Wine tasting in Stellenbosch.  If we wanted to drink something other than beer or wine, cocktails were also available.

When we returned from our day trip, we were quite late. Motobo National ParkThe dinner hour was moved to 8pm.  We knew that this meant we wouldn’t finish eating until well after 10pm.  After a long day, this was way too late.  Room service is not generally available.  We were pleasantly surprised to receive a small sandwich and salad in our cabin.

We certainly ate well and drank plenty on the Rovos Rail TrainFrom Pretoria To Victoria Falls

Sightseeing in the Rovos Rail Train From Pretoria To Victoria Falls

We spent a lot of time every day travelling through South African, then Zimbabwe.  At times, the scenery was dominated by dense forests that scraped the train sides and wide open fields. We passed through small towns and villages many times.  The locals often waved at the train.  But the small herds ignored our passage. 

On our first day, we passed through the  Drakensberg Mountains.  On that day, we found a large group of people at the back enjoying the view.

When we left South Africa we crossed over the Limpopo River.  We were warned to look out for alligators and hippos, but we did not see any wildlife.  We were surprised by the large number of people who crossed the border at the bridge.

We saw wildlife several times from the train.   On one occasion, we saw wildebeests and zebras roaming the fields. Another day we saw a large number of hippos in the water. These animal sightings had us excited for our Safaris in ZambiaAnd later Sabi Sabi EarthSouth Africa

The scenery was beautiful as we watched it from the train window. Rovos Rail TrainFrom Pretoria To Victoria Falls

Day Trip To Motobo National Park

On our second day of travel, we stopped at the town of Bulawayo.  All passengers were packed into a large air-conditioned bus for the 45-minute trip to Motobo National Park.  We were put into smaller jeeps when we arrived at the park.  

David took the front spotter seat to get an excellent view of the park as we moved about.  We swiveled our heads as we drove through park.

Our first stop, a large rock with hieroglyphics, was our first stop. We thought we would also be visiting the bushman’s caves.  We only got to see the rock art at this stop.  Shopping at the community market wasn’t missed either!

While we were stopped, one guide gave us some interesting facts about the local Bushman tribes.  Another guide told us a fascinating story about Cecil John Rhodes’ time in Africa.  We learned about his controversial role in African History.

As we traveled through the Motobo National ParkWe were on the hunt for rhinos.  The park had 60 black rhinos and 15 white rhinos.  We learned that “white”The colour of the shirt does not matter “white rhinos”.  The word “white”The word for “wide”The very wide jaw of the reflected in the mirror “white rhinos”.

We saw fresh feces several times, but did not see any rhinos.  We met a jeep who told us that rhinos had been at the spot 10 minutes earlier. We wondered how much distance they could travel in just 10 minutes.  At one point a small deer was hiding in the rocks, and three deer ran off into the forest.  We saw some great rocks while driving through the park, but no signs of animals on this stop.

We stopped for the first time “sundowner”.  Our train staff brought a complete cocktail setup to the park and we had a refreshment break – if not quite at sunset.

We walked up the hills to the National Monument from this point. World’s View.  We had an amazing view from one side. Motobo National Park.  As you climb higher, you will find the actual grave site of Rhodes.  When Rhodes passed away, he was given special permission to be buried at the site where he took part in historic peace negotiations.

By the time we returned to our bus, the sun had set and the temperature was significantly lower.  After our visit, we headed back to the train. Motobo National ParkOur website Rovos Rail TrainFrom Pretoria To Victoria Falls

Game Drive in Hwange National Park

The train stopped on our third day after lunch.  The jeeps drove right up to the train, and we boarded. our game drive in Hwange National Park.  We had other game drives planned for Our great African adventure.  We were looking forward to our first encounters with real animals.

We were delighted to find several groups of lions, if only they were lazing in the shade.  We were even more excited when we saw elephants very close to our jeep.  

We could see ostriches running on the fields in the distance.  A group of Baboons stopped as we drove by.  And the zebras stayed in the trees.

We joined the other jeeps to enjoy a wonderful Sundowner around fire pits.  The train staff brought some drinks and appetizers.  We watched the sky turn a brilliant color after the sunset.

We were excited to experience our first wildlife encounters. A day trip to Hwange National ParkThe following are some of the most effective ways to improve your own effectiveness. This African adventure.  We knew this was just the beginning. 

It was only a short drive to the train.  We were once again welcomed by the staff, who provided us with cold cloths and beverages.  We always receive a warm welcome back aboard our Rovos Rail TrainFrom Pretoria To Victoria Falls 

Arriving in Victoria Falls

We packed up early on our last day. First, Rovos Rail experience.  We headed to the observation vehicle for our arrival at Victoria Falls.  As we approached, we could see the water plumes erupting from Victoria Falls.  We were excited about our upcoming opportunity to Explore Victoria Falls.

Our luggage was unloaded when the train stopped at the Victoria Falls Hotel.  When We planned our African adventureWe thought about staying at this hotel for a couple of days to see Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.  We couldn’t fit that into our schedule.

A driver was waiting to receive us and transferred our bags quickly into his vehicle.  We were on our journey to our next stop The game lodge in Zambia.

Rovos Rail Train: Four busy days from Pretoria to Victoria Falls

We had four busy days on the Rovos Rail TrainPretoria To Victoria Falls.  The days were filled up with day trips and sightseeing on the train.  Our first Rovos RailYou can also learn more about the experience of others by clicking here.We got a taste of luxury train travel.  We were thrilled with the early wildlife encounters.  The game drive we went on was just the beginning. Our African adventure.

Have you taken your? Rovos Rail TrainPretoria To Victoria Falls?  Do you have a favorite part of the itinerary or experience?

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