The famous Garden Route is a 550-kilometre rail journey between Cape Town and George, and then on to Knysna, a coastal jewel , and is rated one of the most beautiful in the world.
No trip to South Africa is complete without a trip to the Garden Route. The elegant and luxurious Rovos Rail is the perfect way of viewing the famous Cape Garden Route. The tour's highlights include: Knysna, George, the Cape Winelands and the Robertson Valley. Tours run in both directions and can be incorporated into many tailor-made itineraries and combined with other Rovos Rail Tours.
This spectacular 550-kilometre 24-hour trip runs between Cape Town and George during the summer months and is rated one of the most beautiful in the world. From the Mother City the train, with the Hex River Mountains as a backdrop, travels through the Tulbagh Valley towards Worcester.
Grapes are grown in vast quantities in this area, and apart from several co-operative wine cellars, there are a number of brandy distilleries. The KWV Brandy Distillery is visited on the George to Cape Town leg.
The train continues along the Breë River Valley towards Robertson, home of the largest brandy distillery in southern Africa, and then onto Ashton, largest producer in the southern hemisphere of canned fruit, jams and vegetables. On the Cape Town to George leg a stop is made here to sample the wines of a local wine estate.
Then it is on towards the coast passing through stations such as Merwepoort, and South Africa's third oldest town, Swellendam. Leaving the coast behind the train passes near Mossel Bay, a commercial seaport that enjoyed a boom in the 1990’s due to the discovery of offshore oil. George is a quiet inland town, founded in 1811 and named after King George 111.
CAPE TOWN - WORCESTER - ASHTON - GEORGE
February 2010 to March 2010
CAPE TOWN TO GEORGE |
|
Friday |
|
| 09:20 | Depart from Cape town Station, Platform 23. Guests may freshen up in their suites before joining fellow travellers in the midway Lounge Car or Observation Carriage at the rear of the train. |
| 13:00 | Lunch is served in the dining car(s) as we head towards Worcester. |
| 15:30 | Arrive Ashton where, time permitting, enjoy a wine tasting excursion at Zandvliet Wine Estate. |
| 17:20 | The train departs Ashton en route to Voorbaai. |
| 19:30 | Dinner is served in the dining car(s). |
Saturday |
|
| 07:00 - 08:30 | Breakfast is served as we pass through Kleinbrakriver and Grootbrakriver. |
| 09:00 | Arrive George |
GEORGE TO CAPE TOWN |
|
Saturday |
|
| 12:30 | Board the Pride of Africa. Guests may freshen up in their suites before joining fellow travellers in the midway Lounge Car or Observation Carriage at the rear of the train. |
| 13:30 | Depart George on Rovos Rail. Lunch is served in the dining car(s). |
| 18:30 | Arrive in Riversdale where we will be stationary till 20:00. This is a good opportunity to take a shower or bath before joining your fellow guests for the evening. |
| 19:30 | Dinner is served in the dining car(s). |
Sunday |
|
| 07:00 - 10:00 | Breakfast is served in the dining car(s). |
| 11:00 | We arrive Worcester and if time permits we will disembark to visit the KWV Brandy Cellar, the largest of its kind in the world, with 120 copper pot stills under one roof. |
| 12:20 | The train departs for the final leg to Cape Town. |
| 13:00 | Lunch is served in the dining car(s). |
| 17:00 | Arrive Platform 24 Cape Town Station |
Click here for detailed information on destinations visited on this route.
Departures Cape Town to George and George to Cape Town 2010:
| Cape Town to George | George to Cape Town |
| 2010 | |
|---|---|
| February 5. | February 6. |
| March 5. | March 6. |
Prices 2010 : Cape Town to George or v. v.
| Pullman Suite | Deluxe Suite | Royal Suite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prices from (per person) | £495 | £742 | £1,237 |
| Single Occupancy from | £742 | £1,114 | £1,485 |
Please note that all prices shown are intended as a guide only, as rates can vary depending on currency fluctuations etc. The correct prices will be quoted at the time of booking.
Prices include :
- Accommodation on board the train.
- Three superb meals and 24 hour room service.
- All alcoholic and other beverages.
- Sightseeing excursions and entrance fees.
Off train excursions cannot be guaranteed and will be undertaken only if time permits.
Departure and arrival times are approximate and cannot be guaranteed.
