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Rovos Rail: Pretoria to Durban + Zululand Safari
TYD7J

7 NIGHTS
FROM $2,711
International flights quoted separately
Board the Rovos Rail for this luxury train journey to Durban, travelling through the Free State and scenic KwaZulu Natal, disembarking at Ladysmith for a game drive and Boer War battlefield tour at Spioenkop. Continue to the warm Durban North Coast & complete your holiday with a Big-5 safari.  Journey available in both directions - Pullman, Deluxe or Royal.
HIGHLIGHTS
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• Rovos Rail Train • Capital Park Station • Pretoria • KwaZulu Natal
• Ladysmith • Spionkop Boer Battlefield • Nambiti Game Reserve • Durban
• Ballito • Zululand Safari
Day 1
You will be met at Johannesburg Airport and transferred to your Pretoria hotel.
  
Check in and relax in this beautiful city under warm blue South African skies.
Day 2
Transfer from your hotel to Capital Park Station to arrive in good time to board the luxury Rovos Rail Pride of Africa departing 10h00 for Durban.
 
Relax and enjoy the elegance of luxury 5-star train travel of a bygone age, as you settle in to your wood-panelled coach for your 48-hour rail journey to Durban, enjoying fine cuisine and outstanding personal service, as you travel nearly 1,000 miles through beautiful mountains and grassland scenery to enjoy the history and wildlife of this wonderful continent.
 
Travel through the Transvaal Highveld towards Ladysmith for overnight.
 
Dress code on the train during the day is smart casual, with comfortable walking shoes for the off-train excursion. Evenings are generally more formal, with most guests enjoying the opportunity to dress up in cocktail or evening wear including black tie (although collar & tie is acceptable).
Day 3
Early morning 05h00 wake up call today to disembark at Elandslaagte for a game drive in the malaria free Nambiti Private Game Reserve, which is home to all the Big Five as well as many other bird and animal species.
 
After returning to the train for brunch, we continue through beautiful scenery to Estcourt where we disembark for your choice of excursion - either an open top game drive in Spionkop Game Reserve or an escorted tour of the famous Spionkop Battlefield, where the most futile and bloodiest of four battles took place in efforts to relieve the seige of Ladysmith during the Boer War. After sundowners overlooking the dam and a traditiional "braai" (barbeque), we continue overnight towards Pietermaritzburg.
Day 4
After winding through the rolling hills of the KwaZulu Natal Midlands, we disembark at Lions River Station for an excursion to the Ardmore Ceramics Gallery, including a dressage display and tea. Ardmore features the sculpure and painting of local Zulu artists whose sense of colour, rythm, dance and song have become world renowned.
 
We re-board the train and continue southwards towards Pietermaritzburg. After enjoying a final day of luxury train travel, arrive at Durban Station at 16h00 and transfer to your hotel.
Day 5
At leisure to relax on the warm golden beaches of the KwaZulu Natal Durban North Coast.
 
Many optional activities are available such a Durban City tour, a visit to Ushaka Marine World, or a marine cruise to search for dolphins, turtles, sharks, whales (in season) and other fascinating sea life. Championship golf, horse riding, quad biking and deep sea game fishing is also available.
Day 6
Today transfer 3-hours to your Private Game Reserve in Zululand, renowned for its outstanding wildlife.
  
After checking in to your lodge, game viewing opportunities should present themselves almost immediately and hopefully you will see several species of antelope, zebra, wildebeest and maybe even giraffe - as well as several of the Big 5 - before dining under the stars in the atmosphere that only the African bushveld can provide!
Day 7
Rise at dawn to take advantage of the best game viewing conditions of the day and enjoy a thrilling open-top game viewing safari with your lodge ranger in your Private Game Reserve which is home to all the Big Five - Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Leopard and Rhino. Hope to see many interesting species before returning to your lodge for breakfast. Note: game drives are optional extras, if not included in your lodge package (see hotel details below).
 
The rest of the morning is free to relax by the lodge swimming pool, before setting out again in the late afternoon for another game drive. Hope to see cheetah, giraffe, hippo, kudu, crocodiles, sable antelope, waterbuck, warthogs, baboons and many other interesting animals. With over 500 different bird species, outstanding bird watching is also guaranteed!
 
After a beautiful African sunset, enjoy the balmy evening and pristine stars of the Milky Way as you have never seen them before – as well as the spectacular Southern Cross.
 
Children < 6 are not allowed on open top game drives
Day 8
After some final game viewing, transfer 1.5-hours to Richards Bay Airport for your flight home.