Three Ways to Travel
The Pride of Africa carries a maximum of 72 guests in 36 suites, which is why there is so much room. The sleeper coaches were rebuilt from old rolling stock and fitted out in handsome wood panelling with Edwardian detailing, and every one of them is air-conditioned and en suite. All three grades sleep two, and all can be made up as a double or as twins, so do say which you would prefer when you book.
| Suite | Size | Beds | Bathroom | Sitting Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Suite | 16 sq m (172 sq ft) | Double or twin | Victorian bath and separate shower | Private lounge area |
| Deluxe Suite | 10 sq m (108 sq ft) | Double or twin | En suite with shower | Lounge area |
| Pullman Suite | 7 sq m (76 sq ft) | Sofa converting to double or twin | En suite with shower | Sofa seat by day |
The Royal Suites
Each Royal Suite takes up half a carriage, which gives you 16 square metres, roughly the size of a small hotel room but with the African landscape sliding past the windows. There is a private lounge area, and a full bathroom with a Victorian bath and a separate shower, an unusual thing to find on a train.
They are named after the colourful figures of Victorian South Africa: Cecil John Rhodes, Barney Barnato and Alfred Beit among them, the diamond and gold men whose fortunes were made along the very lines the train now runs.
The Deluxe Suites
At 10 square metres, the Deluxe Suites are restored with the same care as the Royals and are the choice of most guests. There is a lounge area for watching the country go by, and an en suite bathroom with a shower. Depending on the carriage, a double bed may run along the length of the suite or across it, which is worth mentioning when you book if you have a preference.
The Pullman Suites
The Pullman Suites are the smallest at 7 square metres, and they are cleverly done. By day there is a comfortable sofa seat by the window, and in the evening your hostess converts it into a double bed or twin bunks while you are at dinner. Like the others, a Pullman has its own bathroom with a shower, and it is the most affordable way onto the train.
What Comes as Standard
Whichever suite you choose, the fittings are the same standard throughout. Every suite has individually controlled air conditioning, a writing surface, a personal safe for valuables, and a bar fridge and tea drawer that your host or hostess stocks with whatever you like to drink. Room service runs 24 hours a day.
In the bathrooms, original fittings sit alongside hot showers, hairdryers, heaters and shaver points. The train carries its own water and sewerage system, so the showers and lavatories can be used at any time, including in the stations, which is not true of every train. There are no televisions or radios, in any suite or anywhere else on board.
Choosing a Suite
If you are on the train for two or three nights, a Pullman is perfectly comfortable and leaves more of the budget for the journey itself. On the longer trips, the fortnight to Dar es Salaam for instance, the extra room in a Deluxe earns its keep. The Royal Suites are worth it if you want the bath and the sitting room, and they are few in number, so they go early.
Solo travellers can take a suite for single occupancy with a supplement. Give us a call on 0333 405 0192 and we will talk you through what is available on your dates and what the difference works out at.