For many visitors to South Africa, there's no finer way to see the country than on the popular 48-hour weekly journeys between Pretoria and Cape Town.
Cape Town offers a blend of cosmopolitan city life, magnificent mountains and superlative wine lands, while the twin cities of Pretoria and Johannesburg form the economic heartland of South Africa and the ideal departure point for Mpumalanga's world-famous Game Reserves.
This 1600-kilometre journey is a perfect illustration of South Africa as a world in one country. Travel the windswept grasslands of the gold rich Highveld to the haunting barrenness of the Great Karoo.
Travel the windswept grasslands of the gold rich Highveld to the haunting barrenness of the Great Karoo, the spectacular mountain ranges and scenic wine lands of the Cape to the Mother City of South Africa, Cape Town, cradled by the imposing bulk of Table Mountain, Devils' Peak and Lions Head.
Highlights of the north and southbound routes include a visit to the historic village of Matjiesfontein. This authentic perfectly preserved Victorian Village, which was founded by Mr Logan as a refreshment stop in 1890, also boasts an impressive museum on the Station platform.
A stop is also made in Kimberley providing an opportunity to enjoy a city tour and a visit to the Mine Museum and the world’s largest man-made excavation, the "Big Hole".
CAPE TOWN · MATJIESFONTEIN · KIMBERLEY · PRETORIA
1 January 2011 to 30 September, 2012
CAPE TOWN TO PRETORIA |
|
Monday/ Saturday |
|
| 11:00 | Depart from Cape Town Station, Platform 23 and proceed inland to Worcester. 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 will be served in the dining car(s). |
| 15:00 | We pass through Worcester on the way to the village of Matjiesfontein. At 15:30 we reach the first of four tunnels which take us through the Hex River Pass. The third tunnel is 13.5 km's long, so please be careful if you are walking through the train. |
| 17:45 | Upon arrival at Matjiesfontein guests may disembark for a stroll through this quaint and historical little village. Of special interest is the museum on the platform and a collection of historic cars and railway carriages to the right of the hotel. |
| 19:00 | Depart Matjiesfontein. |
| 19:30 | Dinner is served in the ding car(s) |
Tuesday/Sunday |
|
| 07:00 - 10:00 | Breakfast will be served in the dining car. |
| 12:30 | Lunch is served in the dining car(s). |
| 14:30 | The train arrives in Kimberely. Here we disembark and proceed by coach / combi for a tour of the city, the "Big Hole" and the Mine Museum. |
| 16:00 | Rejoin the train at Kimberley Station |
| 16:10 | Ten minutes after leaving Kimberley, there is a shallow lake on the left hand side facing forward. On most occasions there are spectacular flocks of Flamingos. |
| 19:30 | Dinner will be served in the dining car(s) as we pass through Bloemhof and Leeudoringstad en route to Klerksdorp. |
Wednesday/Monday |
|
| 07:00 - 10:00 | Breakfast will be served in the dining car. The train continues the journey towards Pretoria passing through Krugersdorp, Johannesburg and Germiston. |
| 10:45 | We arrive at Centurion where one or two of our Rovos locomotives will collect us for the final leg of our journey. |
| 12:00 | Arrive at Rovos Rail's Capital Park Station, Pretoria. |
PRETORIA TO CAPE TOWN |
|
Wednesday/Friday |
|
| 15:00 | Depart Rovos Rail's private Capital Park Station aboard 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. |
| 19:30 | Dinner is served in the dining car(s). |
Thursday/Saturday |
|
| 07:00 - 09:45 | Breakfast will be served in the dining car. |
| 09:30 | Ten minutes before arriving in Kimberley, there is a shallow lake on the right hand side facing forward. On most occasions there are spectacular flocks of Flamingos. |
| 09:45 | The train arrives in Kimberely. Guests disembark and proceed by coach / combi for a tour of the city, the "Big Hole" and the Mine Museum. |
| 12:30 | Depart from Kimberley. |
| 13:00 | Lunch is served in the dining car(s). |
| 19:30 | Dinner is served in the dining car(s). |
Friday/Sunday |
|
| 08:00 | There is an opportunity to disembark the Train at Whitehill siding and walk or jog the 5 kilometres into Matjiesfontein. The Train Manager or a member of staff will accompany you. Comfortable walking or running shoes are essential. |
| 08:25 | The train arrives at Matjiesfontein where you will have a chance to stroll through this historic settlement. Of special interest is the museum on the platform and a collection of historic cars and railway carriages to the right of the hotel. Breakfast will be served in the dining car(s) between 07:00 and 10:00. |
| 10:30 | We depart Matjiesfontein passing through Tweedside and Touws River. At 12:00 we reach the first of four tunnels which take us through the Hex River Pass. The second tunnel is 13.5 km's long, so please be careful if you are walking through the train. |
| 13:00 | Lunch is served in the dining car(s) as we pass through the Hex River Valley and the town of Worcester. |
| 18:00 | Arrive Cape Town Station, Platform 24 where your journey ends. |
Click here for detailed information on destinations visited on this route.
Departures Pretoria to Cape Town 2011:
| January 7, 12, 14, 21, 28. | July 1, 8, 15, 22. |
| February 4, 11, 18, 23, 25. | August 5, 10, 12, 19, 24, 26. |
| March 4, 11, 18, 23, 25. | September 2, 7, 16, 21, 23. |
| April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29. | October 5, 7, 14, 19, 28. |
| May 6, 13, 20, 27. | November 4, 11, 18, 25. |
| June 3, 10, 17, 24, 29. | December 2, 9, 16, 23, 28, 30. |
Departures Pretoria to Cape Town 2012:
| January 6, 13, 20, 27. | June 1, 8, 15, 22, 27, 29. |
| February 3, 10, 17, 22, 24. | July 6, 13, 20. |
| March 2, 7, 9, 16, 30. | August 3, 8, 10, 17, 24, 31. |
| April 6, 13, 20, 27. | September 14, 21, 26, 28. |
| May 4, 11, 18, 25. |
Departures Cape Town to Pretoria 2011:
| January 1, 3, 10, 24, 31. | July 4, 11, 18, 25. |
| February 2, 7, 14, 16, 21, 26, 28. | August 1, 8, 15, 22, 27, 29. |
| March 5, 7, 14, 21, 26, 28. | September 5, 10, 12, 19, 26. |
| April 4, 11, 18, 25. | October 8, 10, 17, 22, 24, 31. |
| May 2, 9, 16, 23, 28, 30. | November 7, 12, 14, 21, 28. |
| June 6, 13, 20, 27. | December 5, 12, 19, 26, 31. |
Departures Cape Town to Pretoria 2012:
| January 2, 9, 23, 30. | June 4, 11, 18, 25. |
| February 6, 13, 15, 20, 27. | July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30. |
| March 3, 5, 10, 12, 19, 26. | August 6, 13, 20, 27. |
| April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30. | September 3, 10, 17, 24. |
| May 7, 14, 21, 28. |
Prices 2011 : Pretoria to Cape Town or v. v.
| Pullman Suite | Deluxe Suite | Royal Suite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twin Occupancy from (per person) | £1,095 | £1,642 | £2,190 |
| Single Occupancy from | £1,642 | £2,463 | £3,285 |
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. Please call for 2012 prices.
Prices include :
- Accommodation on board the train based on to people sharing a double cabin.
- 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.
