South Africa and Zimbabwe: Luxury train travel through southern Africa

In the morning, the departure from the train station in Pretoria, South Africa, takes place. Lunch is served in the dining car as the train travels through the landscape of the hot mineral springs of Bela-Bela and Nylstroom. The Voortrekkers (Dutch settlers in the 19th century) once called them the sources of the Nile. Dinner is served as the train crosses the Limpopo River and reaches Beitbridge. In Rudyard Kipling's book Just So Stories, the 'Elephant Child' travels to the 'great gray-green, greasy Limpopo River', surrounded by fever trees, to see what the crocodile has for dinner.

Today is a quiet day on board. Breakfast is served in the dining car while the train heads north through Baobab Country. Baobab Country is a region lined with baobab trees. These trees are also known as the 'Tree of Life' and are famous for their massive trunks. Tea is available in the lounge and observation car. Dinner on the way to Mpompoma will be served in the dining car. Overnight stop in Mpopoma.

Breakfast is served in the dining car. At noon, the train travels along the eastern edge of Hwange Park on one of the longest straight railway lines - 114km. During this time, lunch will be served in the dining car. Afterwards, there will be a game drive in Hwange National Park. It is the largest national park in Zimbabwe, rich in African wildlife such as lions, leopards, and buffalo. Dinner on the way to Thompson's Junction will be served in the dining car. Thompson's Junction is an important train station in Zimbabwe where the train makes a service stop.

Today marks the end of the journey. After the last delicious breakfast in the dining car, we reach the majestic Victoria Falls. One can hear the thunder of the falls and see the water plume rising up to 400 meters above the falls from a distance. The Victoria Falls are named after Queen Victoria of England, who reigned during the time of British explorer David Livingstone (the first European in this region).