TRD7J: Rovos Rail + Safari + Durban

Day 1

You will be met at Johannesburg Airport and transferred to your Pretoria hotel Check in and relax by the swimming pool 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.

Days 5 & 6

Relax on the warm golden beaches of the KwaZulu Natal North Coast, within easy reach of Durban.

Your hotel is situated close to the beach, with a swimming pool and everything you need to relax under sunny blue skies. The golden beaches are magnificent and the local restaurants are of a high standard.

Soak up the sun or participate in one of the local activities such as championship golf, horse riding, quad biking or deep sea fishing. Optional excusions include a visit to uShaka Marine World in Durban, a visit to a Zulu village or an ocean safari to search for dolphins and whales (in season), sharks, turtles and other fascinating sea life.

Day 7

Today enjoy a Durban City tour, including the City Hall and Botanical Gardens.

Continue to uShaka Marine World, situated in the old harbour area that is being extensively re-developed. Here you have the opportunity of viewing large indigenous sharks of the Indian Ocean and a wide variety of other marine animals in a world-class aquarium setting.

You also have the opportunity of interacting with dolphins, seals and penguins and the Water World offers fun for all ages! Interesting shops, restaurants and a magnificent private beach with sweeping views will add more pleasure to your day.

Day 8

Transfer 45-minutes to Durban Airport for your flight home.