South Africa
Rovos Rail luxury train journey: Pretoria - Cape Town
May 15, 2027
Round trips in South Africa
South Africa tour packages with OVERCROSS run on rails, not on two wheels: you wake up in a Pullman, Deluxe or Royal cabin, spend the day on guided stops like Kimberley's Big Hole, and dine in a wood-panelled carriage at night.
Round trips
Guided & Self-Guided
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South Africa Motorcycle Trips.
All 2 South Africa trips
South Africa
Rovos Rail luxury train Pretoria - Victoria Falls
Jun 19, 2027
Country Profile
South Africa tour packages: 2 luxury train journeys
<p>South Africa is a country of long distances: the Highveld, the Karoo semi-desert, the Limpopo valley and the vineyards at the foot of Table Mountain. On our South Africa tour packages you cross them by Rovos Rail, with the landscape rolling past your window instead of a road ahead of you.</p><p>We run 2 tours here. The Rovos Rail journey from Pretoria to Cape Town takes 3 days and starts at €1,949, with stops at Kimberley's Big Hole and Matjiesfontein. The Pretoria to Victoria Falls journey starts at €2,499 and adds Baobab country, Matobo and Hwange. There are no motorcycles and no self-drive stages on this page.</p><p>A day aboard starts with breakfast, then a guided excursion at the next stop, lunch, afternoon tea and a dinner in the dining car. Up to 40 guests travel together, room service runs around the clock, and a qualified guide leads every excursion.</p>
Does this trip match your riding level?
There is no riding on these two tours, so there is no experience to bring. Both journeys are rated as the easiest level on our scale and the terrain is on-road in the loosest sense: you travel by train, and the only walking is at the scheduled stops, such as the rim of the Big Hole in Kimberley or the streets of Matjiesfontein.
You cannot bring your own motorcycle, because the train is the vehicle. What you choose is your cabin: Pullman, Deluxe or Royal. A guide is optional on the sheet, and where excursions run, a qualified tour guide leads them and explains the history of the places you stop in.
A day aboard is loose and unhurried. Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner are served on board, drinks are included as selected on the menu, and room service is available at any time of the day or night. The train rolls while you eat, read or sit on the open observation car. Excursions are short and built around the stops, so you never carry more than a camera and a light jacket. Up to 40 guests share the carriages, which makes it easy to book alone, as a couple or as a group of friends.
Experience required
None. Both journeys are rated at the easiest level and spent mostly on board the train; excursions at the stops are short and unhurried.
Own bike allowed
No. These are train journeys, with no motorcycles and no self-drive stages; you choose a Pullman, Deluxe or Royal cabin instead.
Daily distance
Not applicable: the train covers the distance while you eat, rest or watch from the observation car; there is no riding distance to manage.
Typical day
Breakfast on board, a guided excursion at the next stop, lunch, afternoon tea, then dinner in the dining car, with room service around the clock.
Where the two train routes take you
Both journeys leave from Pretoria's private Rovos Rail station and head for opposite ends of Southern Africa: the Cape in the south-west, Victoria Falls in the north.
Karoo and Cape
Kimberley, Matjiesfontein and Cape Town
The southbound route stops at Kimberley, where the Big Hole and the Mining and Diamond Museum tell the story of the diamond boom. It continues through the Karoo to the Victorian village of Matjiesfontein and ends in Cape Town beneath Table Mountain.
Tours where you can visit this area
Rovos Rail luxury train journey through South Africa
Limpopo and Hwange
Limpopo valley to Victoria Falls
The northbound route follows the Limpopo through Baobab country into Zimbabwe, with optional safaris in Matobo and Hwange National Park, and ends at Victoria Falls, where the spray rises up to 400 metres.
Tours where you can visit this area
Luxury train journey Pretoria Victoria Falls through Africa
Best time to ride
The dry season from May to September suits both journeys best. The 2 departures currently on sale run in 2027, one in spring and one in early summer. For the month-by-month matrix of Kruger, KwaZulu-Natal and the Limpopo valley, see our travel information page.
See the full season guideTraveler reviews
What riders say about South Africa
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Rovos Rail luxury train journey: Pretoria - Cape Town
The Rovos Rail luxury train journey from Pretoria to Cape Town consistently offers a high standard of care. The travel group of a maximum of 40 people is accompanied by a well-informed team, which provides valuable insights and historical contexts during excursions, such as visits...
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Rovos Rail luxury train journey: Pretoria - Cape Town
The Rovos Rail luxury train tour from Pretoria to Cape Town offers a well-organized group experience with a maximum number of 40 participants. The route excitingly passes through historic towns like Kimberley, and the visit to the Big Hole enriches the cultural insights. The pace...
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Rovos Rail luxury train journey: Pretoria - Cape Town
The Rovos Rail luxury train journey through South Africa is a clear, comfortable experience. The level of difficulty is to be considered advanced, but without physical challenges, as most of the time is spent on the train. The departures from the private station in Capital...
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Rovos Rail luxury train Pretoria - Victoria Falls
The tour through South Africa and Zimbabwe with the Rovos Rail offers a balanced challenge, however, the difficulty level is marked as advanced. The four days of the luxurious train journey, including the time spent in Matobo National Park and the explorations in Hwange National...
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Rovos Rail luxury train Pretoria - Victoria Falls
The route planning of the train tour from Pretoria through Limpopo to the Victoria Falls is well thought out and offers varied landscapes. Particularly noteworthy is the stay in Matobo National Park as well as the excursions in Hwange National Park. The days on board...
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Rovos Rail luxury train Pretoria - Victoria Falls
The tour led through South Africa and Zimbabwe, specifically from Pretoria to the Victoria Falls, and I expected a comprehensive luxury tour. The support from the team was consistently professional; particularly noteworthy was the qualified tour guide, who during the visits to Matobo National Park...
Who leads you through South Africa
Joe Küster
Founder & Creative Engine of Overcross"Jack of all trades, almost all!" The driving force and idea machine behind Overcross.
- 30 years guiding
- 45 countries visited
- Expedition leadership
Question not answered here?
Booking questions
What does the South Africa round trip cost?
Rates start at €1,949 per person for the 3-day Pretoria to Cape Town journey and run to €2,499 for the 3-day route on to Victoria Falls, both based on the departures currently on sale for 2027 in a standard Pullman cabin. Deluxe and Royal cabins are available at a higher rate; ask our team for current pricing.
What is included in the price?
All meals on board, breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, are included, along with selected drinks, 24-hour room service in your cabin, and guided excursions with a qualified tour guide at each scheduled stop. A travel protection certificate and OVERCROSS Premium Service are included as well.
What is not included?
Flights to and from Europe, food and drink taken outside the train, premium drinks not covered on board, and travel insurance are not included.
How many guests travel on each departure?
Each departure carries up to 40 guests aboard the train, so the journey works equally well for a solo traveller, a couple or a full group booking. A minimum of 1 confirmed guest is needed for a departure to run.
What should I pack for the journey?
Pack light: your cabin is serviced around the clock and there is little to carry beyond your travel bag. Bring smart-casual layers for dinner in the dining car and a light jacket for the open observation car, where the temperature drops once the train is moving.
Can I choose my cabin class when booking?
Yes. Both routes offer Pullman, Deluxe and Royal cabins; tell our team your preferred class when you book and we confirm availability for your chosen departure before payment.
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