From South Africa to Namibia on the Rovos Rail
17 days / 14 nights
Train “Rovos Rail”
Pretoria - Kimberley - Upington - Kolmanskop - Lüderitz - Fish River Canyon - Garas Park - Windhoek - Sossusvlei - Otjiwarongo - Etosha - Walvis Bay.
Itinerary
City of Origin - Johannesburg
Flight to Johannesburg, via an international stopover. Overnight on board.
Johannesburg - Pretoria
Arrival and private transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Accommodation.
Pretoria - Kimberley (All-Inclusive)
Breakfast. Private transfer to Rovos Rail station to begin our fantastic journey, culminating in Walvis Bay, Namibia. Step aboard the vintage wooden coaches and relax as some of the most varied landscapes imaginable unfold beyond the windows. With discreet and friendly service, the finest cuisine, and a selection of South Africa's best wines, Rovos Rail evokes a simpler, more elegant era, embracing the timeless grace and romance of African exploration. The beautifully restored coaches carry a maximum of 72 passengers in 36 magnificently appointed suites.
Departing from Rovos' private station in Pretoria, we travel south through the goldfields of Witwatersrand. Refresh in your suite before joining fellow travelers in the lounge or observation car at the rear of the train. At 1:00 PM, enjoy lunch in the dining cars. At 4:30 PM, partake in afternoon tea in the lounge or observation cars. Dinner is served at 7:30 PM in the dining cars, with a "formal" dress code for the evening. Overnight on board.
Kimberley - Karoo - Upington (All-Inclusive)
After breakfast in the dining cars, take a guided tour of the Kimberley Diamond Mine Museum and the Big Hole. As the capital of the Northern Cape, Kimberley is renowned for its diamond discoveries, which led to its establishment in 1871. After lunch in the dining cars, the journey continues through the Karoo, a vast semi-desert region that was once an enormous inland sea. Over millions of years, volcanic material was eroded and deposited as silt on the seabed, forming what geologists call the Karoo system. Enjoy afternoon tea in the observation car en route to De Aar, an important railway junction. Dinner and overnight on board.
Upington - Fish River Canyon (All-Inclusive)
Breakfast followed by a visit to Upington's historical sites, starting with a walk through the Donkey Memorial, honoring the working donkey's role. Visit the railway on the Orange River, followed by a tour and tasting at Bezalel Wine & Brandy Estate. After lunch, complete border formalities with Namibia. Enjoy afternoon tea in the observation car at the rear of the train as the journey continues toward Fish River Canyon. The Cape Colony’s Attorney General, Sir Thomas Upington, played a pivotal role in ending the Orange River pirates' activities and capturing their leader, Klaas Lucas. After the outlaws were expelled in 1884, the town was founded on the Orange River banks and named in his honor. Dinner and overnight on board.
Fish River Canyon - Aus (All-Inclusive)
Breakfast and a free morning. After lunch in the dining cars, board vehicles for a one-hour journey to Fish River Canyon. The Fish River originates in central Namibia, flowing south to the Orange River at the Namibia-South Africa border, carving out the vast Fish River Canyon, the largest canyon in the Southern Hemisphere. The rugged, rocky landscape is divided by a series of spectacular cliffs. Dinner and overnight on board en route to Aus.
Aus - Kolmanskop - Lüderitz - Keetmanshoop (All-Inclusive)
After breakfast, departure to Kolmanskop, popularly known as "the ghost town." Once a prosperous city, it was abandoned in the 1950s and is now almost entirely overtaken by the desert's natural forces. Witness how the abandoned town has been invaded by sandstorms, piling tons of sand over the old houses. Nature is literally building dunes right before our eyes. Guided tour and time for photos. Lunch in Lüderitz, known for its museum, colonial architecture, and wildlife, including seals, penguins, flamingos, and ostriches. Keep an eye out for the legendary wild horses rumored to roam the Namib. Return to the train and depart for Keetmanshoop. Dinner and overnight on board.
Keetmanshoop - Garas Park - Mariental (All-Inclusive)
Breakfast and departure to visit Keetmanshoop and Garas Park (Quiver Trees), home to approximately 300 examples of Aloe dichotoma, prehistoric trees with bifurcated branches that can grow up to 5 meters tall, offering excellent photographic opportunities. Return to the train for lunch and continue the journey to Mariental. Dinner and overnight on board.
Mariental - Windhoek - Sossusvlei (Full Board)
Prepare a light bag for the stay in Sossusvlei. Rovos will provide a carry-on bag. After breakfast, transfer to the airfield and depart by light aircraft to Sossusvlei. Lunch. Enjoy a sunset safari through the desert and dinner under the stars before returning to the lodge. Accommodation.
Sossusvlei - Windhoek - Kranzberg (Full Board)
Early morning coffee or tea before heading out for a desert tour, culminating with breakfast in this unique natural setting. Return by light aircraft to Windhoek. After lunch at Windhoek Country Club, visit the train museum followed by a city tour before reboarding Rovos Rail, which continues toward Kranzberg. The Namib Desert dunes were formed by wind-blown sand from the coast. The sand here is over 5 million years old and is red due to its high iron oxide content. As the light changes throughout the day, so does the appearance of the dunes, offering fantastic photographic opportunities at any time. Dinner on the train and overnight on board.
Kranzberg - Otjiwarongo - Otavi (All-Inclusive)
Breakfast. A relaxed morning to enjoy the magnificent views as the train continues its journey. After lunch, visit the cheetah conservation project in Otjiwarongo. Founded in Namibia in 1990, the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) is dedicated to saving cheetahs in the wild. Dinner on the train while continuing the journey toward Otavi.
Otavi - Etosha (Full Board)
Prepare a small bag with essentials for tonight’s adventure. After breakfast, transfer to Etosha National Park, where we will enjoy lunch. Sunset safari. Etosha National Park offers magnificent safari opportunities. Its name comes from a large salt pan that is part of the Kalahari Basin. Etosha means "Great White Place." Dinner at the lodge and accommodation.
Etosha - Tsumeb - Walvis Bay (All-Inclusive)
Enjoy an early morning coffee or tea before heading out for a safari in Etosha. Return to the lodge for a late breakfast. Transfer to Tsumeb station to continue our train journey. Tonight’s dinner will have a "1920s" theme, and attire can reflect this theme or simply be "smart casual." Overnight on board.
Walvis Bay
Breakfast will be served as the train crosses the Namib Desert toward Walvis Bay. The observation car will be at the front of the train for the final stretch, offering a different perspective that railway enthusiasts will particularly enjoy. At midday, the train will arrive at Walvis Bay station, marking the end of our train journey. Private transfer to the lodge. Free afternoon and accommodation.
Walvis Bay (Half Board)
Breakfast and transfer to Walvis Bay's waterfront, where we’ll enjoy a kayak tour in the lagoon. With some luck, we may see dolphins, penguins, seals, and even whales up close. After a light lunch, enjoy a 4x4 excursion through Sandwich Bay. Dinner is at your leisure. Accommodation.
Walvis Bay - City of Origin
Breakfast. Enjoy one last activity offered by the lodge. At the scheduled time, transfer to the airport for your flight to the City of Origin, via international stopovers. Overnight on board.
City of Origin
Arrival
Map
Departures and rates
Departure dates 2025 (please inquire)
INCLUDED SERVICES:
- Flights on a regular airline, economy class.
- CO2 footprint compensation for all flights.
- Shared regular service light aircraft flights Windhoek - Sossusvlei - Windhoek.
- Transfers in Pretoria and Walvis, as per itinerary, in private service, in English.
- Accommodation in designated hotels (or similar), category A (5), as indicated in the itinerary.*
- 12 lunches and 11 dinners as per itinerary (drinks included on Rovos).
- During the train journey, shared transfers and activities, with an English-speaking guide.
- Entrance fees to parks included in the itinerary.
- Travel insurance.
- Airfare taxes and fuel surcharges.
HIGHLIGHTED EXPERIENCES:
- Travel aboard what is considered the most luxurious train in the world.
- Visit the cheetah conservation project.
- Safaris and an overnight stay in the Etosha Reserve.
- Explore the magnificent trees of Garas Park.
- Experience the Sossusvlei Desert, with its stunning dunes and "vleis."
- Excursion to the spectacular Fish River Canyon.
- Visit the ghost town of Kolmanskop.
- 4x4 excursion in Sandwich Harbour.
- Kayaking excursions with seals in Walvis.
- Namibia visa not included.
- The hotel category is determined by a combination of services, location, and activities offered by each establishment.
- Reverse route available. Please inquire.
PLEASE NOTE:
Reservations
Call us
(0034) 913 095 131
(0034) 624 225 152
Working hours
Monday to Friday 09:30 – 14:30 / 16:30 – 19:30
Address
Calle Ricardo Ortiz, 14 (28017) Madrid
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