Rovos Rail · Official Swain partner

Rovos Rail, planned into your Africa journey.

Choose the train, suite and route with Swain, then connect the rail journey with the right hotels, safari camps, flights and private transfers.

Plan with Swain Call 1-800-227-9246

Pretoria, South Africa

Rovos Rail is privately owned and family-run, operating from Pretoria since 1989. Capital Park is its private station, where all six trains were built and are maintained — all journeys begin, visit or end there.

01Pullman Gold, Deluxe and Royal

Choose the suite by space and how you will use it.

Every suite has a private bathroom, air-conditioning, storage, a safe, tea facilities and daily service from a hostess. Bed layouts and carriage configurations vary, so Swain confirms the exact category and setup before booking.

Pullman Gold

Pullman Gold uses fixed-bed layouts that can be arranged as a double or split twin.

Area: Approximately 7 square meters
Bathroom: Private bathroom with shower

Pullman Gold Suite with a lengthways double bed — Pullman Gold double

Deluxe

Deluxe Suites have a lounge area and double or twin configurations. The exact bed orientation varies by carriage.

Area: Approximately 10 square meters
Bathroom: Private bathroom with shower

Deluxe Suite with a double bed and picture window aboard Rovos Rail — Double bed

Deluxe Suite arranged with lengthways split twin beds — Split twin

Private bathroom with a shower inside a Deluxe Suite — Private bathroom

Cutaway showing a Deluxe Suite with a lengthways double bed and private bathroom — Deluxe cutaway

Royal

Royal Suites have a larger lounge with wingback chairs and ottomans, and a claw-footed Victorian bathtub in addition to the standard shower. Double and split-twin configurations are available.

Area: Approximately 16 square meters
Bathroom: Bath and separate shower

Private lounge and sleeping area inside a Royal Suite aboard Rovos Rail — Double bed and lounge

Royal Suite arranged with lengthways split twin beds — Split twin

Royal Suite bathroom with a clawfoot bath — Clawfoot bath

Cutaway showing a Royal Suite with a double bed, lounge and private bathroom — Royal cutaway

02Life on board

Meals and public rooms set the daily rhythm.

Guests entering a set dining car for dinner aboard Rovos Rail

Morning
Breakfast is cooked to order.
Midday
Lunch is served in one sitting with four courses, paired with South African wines.
Afternoon
Tea is generally served in the lounge and observation cars.
Evening
Dinner is served in one sitting with four courses, paired with South African wines. All other drinks are included.

Lunch and dinner are paired with South African wines, and all other drinks are included. Each suite has a private room hostess, a fully stocked mini bar and amenity kits, and laundry is included. The observation car has picture windows and an open-air rear balcony. The lounge provides another place to read or talk, while the Club Car is the designated smoking area.

03On board and off the train

The experience continues past the private suite.

Afternoon tea is served in the lounge and observation cars. The most popular destinations are Victoria Falls, Cape Town, UNESCO World Heritage sites and various game parks. Off the train, published excursions include Addo's elephants and rhinos, game drives near Namibia's Etosha and Sossusvlei, and Kimberley's Big Hole. The specific stops vary by route and departure.

Off the train

Elephant herd on an Addo Elephant Park excursion from the African Collage journey — Elephants at Addo — African Collage

Rhinos sighted on an Eastern Cape game drive from the African Collage journey — Rhinos near Addo — African Collage

Sunset game drive near Etosha National Park on the Namibia Safari journey — Sunset game drive, Etosha — Namibia Safari

Giraffes on a game drive during the Namibia Safari journey — Giraffes on a game drive — Namibia Safari

Dune 45 in Sossusvlei on the Namibia Safari journey — Dune 45, Sossusvlei — Namibia Safari

The Big Hole diamond mine excavation on the Cape Town journey's Kimberley stop — The Big Hole, Kimberley — Cape Town

On board

Afternoon tea arranged in the lounge car aboard Rovos Rail — Afternoon tea

Rovos Rail flag flying above a cream-and-green passenger coach — Signature livery

Images courtesy of Rovos Rail Tours.

View from a Rovos Rail carriage across the Kalahari landscape in Namibia — Looking across the Kalahari from a Rovos Rail carriage in Namibia.

04Across Southern Africa

The route determines the pace of the whole trip.

Current journeys range from focused links between Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban and Victoria Falls to longer cross-border expeditions. Some longer programs include flights, hotel or lodge nights and substantial off-train touring. Swain compares the operating direction, border requirements, excursion pattern and time aboard before placing a route into the wider itinerary. Schedules and routings can change with railway capacity and local operating conditions.

Current portfolio

All Rovos Rail journeys.

Each route card includes its map and representative off-train activities. Published durations, schedules, operating directions and programs can change. Swain confirms the current itinerary for your travel date. The shorter routes below are typically one leg of a longer Southern Africa itinerary, paired with Cape Town, the Winelands, Victoria Falls or a safari on either end.

Cape Town
3 nights
From Pretoria, the train crosses the Highveld into the Great Karoo, then climbs through the Cape's mountain ranges and Winelands to Cape Town, arriving beneath Table Mountain. En route stops include the Victorian village of Matjiesfontein and the diamond-era city of Kimberley.
Off-train program: Kimberley Diamond Mine Museum and Big Hole; Matjiesfontein village visit.
Often paired with: A Cape Town stay, the Winelands or a Southern African safari before or after the train.
Pretoria and Cape Town
Maps show the published routing. Direction, stops and operating details can change by departure.
Durban Safari
2 nights
From Pretoria, the train travels into KwaZulu-Natal's Valley of a Thousand Hills and the African bushveld before reaching Durban. Stops along the way take in a Big Five game drive at Nambiti, the Spionkop battlefield, and the arts-and-crafts towns of the Midlands Meander.
Off-train program: Nambiti game drive; Spionkop battlefield presentation and nature drive; Ardmore Ceramics.
Often paired with: A Durban stay or a KwaZulu-Natal safari before or after the train.
Pretoria and Durban
Maps show the published routing. Direction, stops and operating details can change by departure.
Victoria Falls
3 or 4 nights
From Pretoria, the train crosses the Tropic of Capricorn and Limpopo's baobab country for a game drive at Hwange before reaching Victoria Falls on the Zambezi. The four-night departure adds a stop at Matobo National Park.
Off-train program: Hwange game drive. Four-night programs add Matobo's bushman caves and rock art.
Often paired with: Victoria Falls stays or a Southern African safari on either end of the train.
Three-night route
Four-night route
Maps show the published routing. Direction, stops and operating details can change by departure.
Golf Safari
9 nights
A Pretoria round trip through the Pilanesberg, the Spionkop battlefield, Durban and the Kingdom of eSwatini, with golf arranged where courses allow. Guests not golfing follow the same route, with game drives at Hluhluwe, Mkhaya and Kruger in place of tee times.
Off-train program: Golf rounds depend on course availability. The non-golf program includes game drives, Durban, eSwatini and Dullstroom.
Pretoria round trip
Maps show the published routing. Direction, stops and operating details can change by departure.
Namibia Safari
11 nights
From Pretoria, the train crosses the Karoo to Kimberley, Upington and the Fish River Canyon before a fly-in stay at Sossusvlei in the Namib dunes. It continues to Windhoek and a cheetah conservation project, then a lodge stay in Etosha before reaching Walvis Bay.
Off-train program: Sossusvlei lodge stay, dune drives and bush dinner; cheetah conservation visit; Etosha lodge and game drives.
Pretoria and Walvis Bay
Maps show the published routing. Direction, stops and operating details can change by departure.
Southern Cross
11 nights
The eastern line carries the train to the Panorama Route and a Kruger game drive, then on through Maputo and eSwatini to the Great Zimbabwe Monument and Matobo National Park. The route ends with a Hwange game drive and a sunset cruise on the Zambezi at Victoria Falls.
Off-train program: Swazi Candles and Mantenga Cultural Village; Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre; Antelope Park; sunset Zambezi cruise.
Pretoria and Victoria Falls
Maps show the published routing. Direction, stops and operating details can change by departure.
African Collage
12 nights
An extended Southern Africa route linking a Kruger game drive, eSwatini, Hluhluwe and Durban with the Spionkop battlefield, Golden Gate National Park and Clarens. It continues through Addo and Knysna, past the Cango Caves, to the Winelands and Cape Town.
Off-train program: Kruger; eSwatini; Hluhluwe; Durban; Spionkop; Addo; Knysna; Cango Caves; Matjiesfontein. Golf programs are also published.
Cape Town to Pretoria
Pretoria to Cape Town
Maps show the published routing. Direction, stops and operating details can change by departure.
African Trilogy
15 nights
From Pretoria, the train descends the escarpment for a Kruger game drive, then continues through eSwatini and Hluhluwe to Durban before crossing the Highveld to Kimberley and the Karoo. A short flight reaches Sossusvlei and Etosha ahead of journey's end at Walvis Bay.
Off-train program: Kruger; eSwatini; Hluhluwe; Kimberley; Sossusvlei; Windhoek; cheetah conservation project; Etosha.
Pretoria and Walvis Bay
Maps show the published routing. Direction, stops and operating details can change by departure.
Copper Trail
14 nights
From Victoria Falls, the train crosses the Zambezi for a sunset cruise, visits Lusaka's elephant sanctuary, then flies guests into South Luangwa for a three-night safari. It continues through Lubumbashi and the historic Benguela line to journey's end at Lobito.
Off-train program: Lusaka elephant sanctuary; fly-in South Luangwa lodge and game drives; Kolwezi copper mine; towns along the Benguela Railway.
Victoria Falls and Lobito
Maps show the published routing. Direction, stops and operating details can change by departure.
Malawi Meander
16 nights
From Pretoria, the train pauses for a Kruger game drive, then crosses eSwatini and Mozambique into Zimbabwe for the Great Zimbabwe Monument before continuing to Malawi. The route closes at Lake Malawi, with game viewing at Liwonde and a cruise on the Shire River.
Off-train program: Kruger; eSwatini; Maputo; Great Zimbabwe; Lake Malawi; Liwonde game viewing and Shire River cruise.
Northbound
Southbound
Maps show the published routing. Direction, stops and operating details can change by departure.
Dar es Salaam
16 nights
From Cape Town, the train crosses the Karoo to Matjiesfontein and Kimberley before reaching Pretoria and a Big Five stay at Madikwe. It continues over the Victoria Falls Bridge into Zambia for a walk at Chisimba Falls, then through the Udzungwa Mountains and Nyerere National Park to Dar es Salaam.
Off-train program: Matjiesfontein; Kimberley; Pretoria; Madikwe lodge and game drives; Victoria Falls; Chisimba Falls; Nyerere game drive.
Cape Town and Dar es Salaam
Maps show the published routing. Direction, stops and operating details can change by departure.

05Before departure

Dress, mobility and dietary details need an early conversation.

Dress
Daywear is smart casual. Evenings are formal, with a collar and tie mandatory for gentlemen on all short journeys. Longer journeys include some themed and casual nights.
Quiet aboard
Electronic devices are not permitted in public areas. Photographs are allowed, and suites are fully equipped with WiFi on all journeys.
Mobility
Rovos cannot accommodate wheelchair users because of hallway size restrictions. Boarding steps and excursions can also affect suitability.
Dietary and medical
Requirements should be raised before confirmation so Rovos can advise what is possible.

06Book through Swain

The train should connect cleanly with the rest of Africa.

Swain Destinations is an official Rovos Rail partner. A Destination Expert can compare routes and suite categories, plan arrival and departure nights, and coordinate the train with Cape Town, the Winelands, Victoria Falls or a safari. We also keep the rail schedule, flights, private transfers, hotels and lodge stays in one itinerary and communicate material operating updates as the journey approaches.

Compare route and direction
Confirm suite configuration
Place arrival and departure nights
Connect flights, transfers and safari
Track operating changes

Plan Rovos Rail with Swain

Guests standing on the open-air observation balcony of a Rovos Rail train

07Before you book

Planning a Rovos Rail journey.

What is the difference between Pullman Gold, Deluxe and Royal Suites?

Pullman Gold suites are approximately seven square meters, Deluxe Suites are approximately ten square meters, and Royal Suites are approximately sixteen square meters. Royal Suites have a larger lounge with wingback chairs and ottomans, plus a claw-footed Victorian bathtub in addition to the standard shower. Bed configurations vary by carriage and route, so Swain confirms the exact setup before booking.

What should I wear aboard Rovos Rail?

Smart-casual clothing is appropriate during the day. Evenings are formal, and a collar and tie is mandatory for gentlemen on all short journeys. Longer journeys also include some themed and casual nights. Rovos provides the current dress guidance with the selected itinerary.

What is included on a Rovos Rail journey?

Rovos Rail is fully inclusive. Fares cover the suite, all meals with South African wines at lunch and dinner, all other drinks, the room hostess and mini bar, amenity kits, laundry, and all listed excursions and entrance fees. Visas and travel insurance are never included and are always arranged at the guest's own cost. Flights, pre- and post-train hotels, gratuities and personal purchases are also arranged separately unless the itinerary says otherwise.

How long are Rovos Rail journeys?

The current portfolio includes short journeys of a few nights and expeditions lasting more than two weeks. The right length depends on how much time you want aboard, the number of off-train excursions and the countries you want to include. Swain confirms the current duration and operating direction for your dates.

Can I combine Rovos Rail with Cape Town or a safari?

Yes. Cape Town, the Winelands, Victoria Falls and Southern African safari regions can be planned before or after many Rovos routes. The useful sequence depends on the train direction, regional flights, border requirements and lodge availability.

Can Rovos Rail accommodate mobility or dietary requirements?

Rovos cannot accommodate wheelchair users because of hallway size restrictions. Boarding steps and some excursions can also limit guests with reduced mobility. Dietary requirements, allergies, medical conditions and requested assistance should be disclosed before confirmation so Rovos can advise what can be supported.

Can the route or schedule change?

Yes. Rovos operates across national rail networks and borders, so signalling, track conditions, railway capacity, border procedures and local operating requirements can affect timing, routing and excursions. Swain communicates material updates and adjusts the surrounding itinerary when needed.

Why book Rovos Rail through Swain Destinations?

Swain is an official Rovos Rail partner and plans the train as part of the full Africa itinerary. Your Destination Expert can help select the route and suite, coordinate flights and private transfers, add hotels or safari camps, track booking requirements and provide support while you travel.

Swain will fit Rovos Rail into the wider Africa itinerary.

Tell Swain which countries, landscapes and safari regions you want to include. A Destination Expert will compare Rovos routes and suites, then organize the stays, flights and transfers around the departure.

Talk to a Destination Expert Prefer to talk? Call 1-800-227-9246

Off the train

On board

The route determines the pace of the whole trip.

Cape Town

Durban Safari

Victoria Falls

Golf Safari

Namibia Safari

Southern Cross

African Collage

African Trilogy

Copper Trail

Malawi Meander

Dar es Salaam

Dress

Quiet aboard

Mobility

Dietary and medical

The train should connect cleanly with the rest of Africa.

Swain will fit Rovos Rail into the wider Africa itinerary.