17 Days Rovos Rail from Dar Es Salaam to Cape Town

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17 Days Rovos Rail from Dar Es Salaam to Cape
Town
Experience the extravagant elegance of rail
travel on the most luxurious train in the world.
Rovos Rail's unique train safaris through the
heart of Africa combine some of the most
magnificent scenery with the glamour and
excitement of the golden age of rail travel.
Since its establishment in 1989, Rovos Rail has
earned an international reputation for its truly
world-class travel experiences. Step aboard the
wood-panelled coaches - classics remodelled and
refurbished to mint condition - and enjoy fine
cuisine in five-star luxury as some of the most
varied scenery imaginable unfolds beyond the
windows. Recapture the romance and atmosphere of
a bygone era, when privileged travellers
experienced the magic and mystery of Africa in a
relaxed and elegant fashion. Pride of Africa
links some of Africa's greatest destinations from
Cape Town, at the tip of Africa, to Dar es Salaam
in Tanzania, from scenic splendours as diverse as
the game reserves of Mpumalanga to the Victoria
Falls, from the desert landscapes in Namibia and
the stark beauty of the Karoo to the lush cane
fields of KwaZulu-Natal and the magnificent
Garden Route along the Cape south coast.
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Day 1 Flight to Tanzania D Arrive in the
evening at your quiet first class hotel in Dar Es
Saalam where you are welcomed by your Lernidee
Tour guide. Day 2 Dar Es Salaam B/D You will
take a guided sightseeing tour and explore the
bustling centre of Dar Es Salaam with its mix of
modern skyscrapers and old colonial buildings. In
the afternoon you can take a guided trip to
Bagamoyo. Once an important port for the slave
and ivory trade and the capital of German East
Africa, the Arab, Indian and European colonial
influences of the past can still be found today
in the unique monuments and memorials. Day
3 Welcome aboard Rovos Rail B/L/D Today your
grand journey through Southern Africa begins,
when your train rolls out of the large modern
Chinese-looking TaZaRa train station of Dar Es
Salaam. Settle comfortably into your luxurious
suite compartment and enjoy the amazing
landscapes unfold. Comfortably watch different
game while you travel through Africas largest
game preserve Selous, named after the famous 19th
century hunter Frederic Selous. At the train
station of Kisaki you can also often view Massai
warriors in their precious garments. At evening,
expect a delicious 3-course dinner in the
marvellous train restaurant. Day 4 / Day 5 From
Rift Valley to Zambia B/L/D The railway line
rises steadily uphill until your train reaches
the volcanic mountain chain of Mbeya. Your train
will take you on a breathtaking route through one
of the most interesting geological regions of the
world through Rift Valley into Zambia. The Great
Rift Valley is one huge crevice that runs from
Jordan through the Red Sea to East Africa. The
trains winds along steep slopes, passes through
23 tunnels and over countless bridges. In the
morning you will reach the border to Zambia at
Tunduma and travel through Northern Zambias vast
uninhabited bush land plateau at an altitude of
about 1,300 meters. Due to the dry, moderate
climate Zambia is often referred to as the
air-conditioned state. In the afternoon your
Private Train reaches Kasama, where you will get
off in order to visit the Chisimba Falls.
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Day 6 / Day 7 On Livingstones footsteps through
Zambia B/L/D Passing the dense Miomba forests
your journey continues to Kanona. You will follow
the footsteps of the great African explorer David
Livingstone who lost his heart here to Africa.
Literally speaking, because his loyal servants
Sussi and Chuma buried Livingstones most
important muscle in 1873 in this area. In Kapiri
Mposhi the train switches from the TaZaRa line to
the old colonial train tracks that were intended
to be extended until Cairo. It was only in the
70s that Chinese engineers built the TaZaRa line
in order to connect the landlocked Zambia to
ports on the East coast. It is an irony of
history The major railway project of the
Imperialist Rhodes was continued by communist
China. Via the capitol Lusaka and the Kafue River
your train will reach on the next day the fertile
Batoka-Plateau. Day 8 Elephant Herds in the
Chobe-National Park B/L/D In the morning you will
reach Livingstone, until 1935 capitol of Northern
Rhodesia. After a short, curvy ride another
highlight of the journey awaits you the drive
over the spectacular Victoria-Falls Bridge
connecting Zambia with Zimbabwe. The train will
stop for an outing over the approximately 120 m
deep gorge of the Zambesi, with the rising water
vapor of the water falls as a picturesque
backdrop. After settling the border formalities,
your train gently rolls into the small train
station of Victoria Falls. After a two hour bus
ride you will cross the border of Botswana, where
you will reside at an idyllic first class lodge
situated on the Chobe River. At sunset you will
take a boat ride along the river on whose shores
elephants, hippos, antelopes and many water birds
gather in the cooler evening hours. Day 9 The
smoke and Thunder B/L/D Today you should get up
early in open vehicles you will enjoy a game
drive through the game-rich Chobe-National Park.
You will then enjoy the view during brunch on the
terrace of the lodge before you return by bus to
Victoria Falls. After a light lunch in the
traditional Victoria-Falls Hotel you will be able
to make a walk to the Victoria Falls. On a small
path through the rain forest you will get to the
edge of a washout, where the noise of the roaring
spray of the Zambezi will reach you. In the
afternoon you will view the traditional dances of
the Shangaan from the train station in Victoria
Falls and then continue your train journey. Day
10 Through Matabele Land into the
Kalahari B/L/D You will pass by Bulawayo, capitol
of the Matabele province. Not far from the here
Cecil Rhodes grave can be found. An on-board
lecture will be devoted to his life. In the
afternoon you will reach the border of Botswana.
The border formalities will be comfortably taken
care of on the train. Your journey will take you
now past the Tropic of Capricorn into the wide
plains of the Kalahari. Day 11 / Day 13 On
Safari B/L/D In the late morning your train
will reach Gabarone, capitol of Botswana. For two
days you will be off the train now and pass the
near South-African border by bus. In the
afternoon you will have your first game drive in
open vehicles in the malaria-free Madikwe game
reserve. South Africas fourth largest game
reserve covers 76,000 hectares of game-rich bush
and grass plains and due to its location it is
secluded from the usual routes given by insider
tips in South Africa. You will stay for 2 nights
in a luxurious safari lodge. Meanwhile, your
large luggage will remain under safekeeping in
your private train suite.
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The 12th day of your journey will be at your
disposal for wildlife observation. Your
experienced ranger will share his knowledge with
you about the habits of the wild animals and
their tracks through the bush. With a little luck
you will see lions, elephants, rhinos and perhaps
even the rare leopard. Madikwe became famous
thanks to Operation Phoenix which was
successfully completed in 1997. As part of the
worlds largest resettlement of wild animals,
nearly 10,000 animals found new homes in Madikwe
and thus they gave the region its original animal
abundance. On the 13th day you will drive per bus
to the small town of Zeerust, where your friendly
train staff will welcome you back on board of
Rovos Rail. Day 14 Under steam to
Pretoria B/L/D Before entering Pretorias
stylish Rovos train station Capital Park
reflecting the charm of the 30s your train will
be pulled on the last kilometres by an original,
lavishly restored steam locomotive. At Capital
Park you can, in addition to other historical
locomotives, admire the heart of Rovos Rail The
workshop, in which the fine dark green salon and
sleeping cars emerge from extensive manual work
on the old, disused train cars. Afterwards a
sightseeing tour of Pretoria will conclude your
day including visits of the Union buildings and
the residential house of Paul Kruger, the former
president of the Transvaal Republic. Day 15 A
Diamond is forever B/L/D Before your arrival in
Kimberley you will witness a real wonder of
nature tens of thousands of flamingos will
appear like a giant pink band on the banks of a
small lake. Shortly before noon your private
train will reach the historical train station of
Kimberley, the city of diamonds. At the end of
the 19th century, the town experienced a real
diamond rush, from which the diamond empire of De
Beers emerged, led today by the Oppenheimers and
founded by Cecil Rhodes. You can view the famous
Big Hole, once the largest diamond mind in the
world and visit the lovingly restored original
buildings of Kimberleys Belle Époque. In the
afternoon your train will depart for the last
great leg of the journey into the Cape lands.
Enjoy your farewell dinner while on board of your
rolling first-class hotel the sun dips the
fascinating Karoo half-desert into red evening
light. Day 16 Cape Town B/L/D In the morning
your train will reach the small Victorian village
of Matjiesfontein where you will have time to
visit the railway museum and the venerable Lord
Milner Hotel. After your train has passed the
Hexriver Mountains you will now see green wine
lands. Now its also your last opportunity to try
one of the magnificent wines aboard your private
train. In the late afternoon you will reach the
final destination of your voyage Cape town. Now
its time to say good-bye to your train crew
before you are escorted to your First-Class hotel
at the famous Waterfront. Before the farewell
dinner you will make a sun-downer trip to Signal
Hill where you will find a spectacular view of
the citys sea of lights. Day 17 Farewell to
Africa B The morning is at your disposal to
explore the city on your own. We recommend a
cable car ride up Table Mountain or a visit to
the fantastic botanical gardens of Kirstenbosch.
In the afternoon you will be escorted to the
airport, where your tour guide will bid farewell
to you. This concludes an unforgettable African
journey !
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Compartment Category I (4-Bed Cabin)
Compartment Category II (Standard Plus)
Compartment Category III (Nostalgic Comfort)
Compartment Category IV (Bolshoi)
Compartment Category V (Bolshoi Platinum)
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Transsiberian Date / Rate 2011/2012Tsars Gold
From Moscow to Beijing
Moscow to Beijing 2011 - 16 Aug 31 Aug
09 Sep 24 Sep Moscow to
Beijing 2012 - 15 May 30 May
12 Jun 27 Jun 10 Jul 25
Jul 07 Aug 22 Aug 28 Aug 12 Sep 04
Sep 19 Sep

• Compartment Category I
• (Standard 4 berth Compartment) Rm 26,000
• Supplement if the Compartment use by 3 person.
• Supplement per person. Rm 2,835
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• Compartment Category II
• (Standard 2 berth Compartment) Rm 31,600
• Supplement per person. Rm 5,500
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• Compartment Category III (Nostalgic Comfort)
• (Standard 2 berth Compartment) Rm 38,200
• Supplement per person. Rm 12,780
• --------------------------------------------------
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• Compartment Category IV (Bolshoi)
• (Standard 2 berth Compartment) Rm 51,200