Train travel in Africa provides unparalleled views of its lush landscapes and vintage towns, yet at the same time you see poverty-stricken townships and villages that serve as reminders that not everyone has the same privileges that you enjoy.
Rovos Rail offers three to 15 day itineraries from Cape Town to Hoedspruit and beyond, on its luxury train offering dining, lounge and observation cars as well as fully en suite cabins.
1. The Blue Train.jpeg)
The Blue Train is an experience reminiscent of travel’s golden age; luxurious yet intimate, its ride will surely make your South Africa vacation one of your most treasured memories.
The train offers spacious suites that rival those found in luxury hotels worldwide and offers exquisite wines and dining.
Visitors to The Blue Train can experience its magic as they travel between Pretoria and Cape Town with stops and excursions at Kimberley and Matjiesfontein for stops and excursions, providing each trip with unique experiences such as visiting an historic diamond mine.
2. The Rovos Rail
Rovos Rail offers guests one of Africa’s most luxurious railway experiences, featuring exquisite carriages once used by royalty, as well as an Observation Car with wide windows and open-air balconies offering unobstructed views of Africa’s breathtaking landscapes.
Rovos Rail offers passengers the chance to relax in luxurious lounge cars while taking in the beauty of Southern Africa on casual excursions, from game drives and tours of local attractions such as Kimberly Big Hole to Matjiesfontein Matjiesfontein Big Hole tours..jpeg)
3. The Shongololo Express
Based at Rovos Rail station in Pretoria, The Shongololo Express first began operations back in 1995 and provides an unforgettable journey experience through Southern Africa with various off-train excursions. Boasting comfortable cabins for 72 guests divided into two categories and historically appointed dining cars serving delicious local cuisine as well as bar cars, smoking lounges and an observation car complete with open air balcony for viewing the breathtaking landscape, this train boasts luxurious cabins in two categories as well as off-train excursions that provide memorable adventures along its route.
Breakfast will feature an abundant buffet, while dinners featuring traditional cuisine from all across Africa are enhanced by fine South African wines. Dress is casual on board.
4. The Madaraka Express
Madaraka Express provides passengers with a high-quality, hassle free, safe and on time rail passenger experience. Offering both commuter and long distance travel options.
Morning train services depart Nairobi at 8:00 AM, stopping at Mariakani, Miasenyi, Kibwezi, Voi and Mtito Andei intermediate stations before making its final destination – Mombasa. An Inter County service usually operates this train and the afternoon one departs Mombasa at 1:00 PM.
Madaraka Express makes traveling from Nairobi to Mombasa from Nairobi much faster, taking just four and a half hours instead of nine or 12 on Kenya’s previous rail line. Furthermore, its eco-friendliness and cost effectiveness makes this option eco-friendly and cost-effective.
5. The Victoria Falls Express
This train offers guests a luxurious way to travel across southern Africa. On-board entertainment includes on-going wildlife sighting tours as well as historian-guided excursions.
Travel along part of Cecil John Rhodes’ famed Cape to Cairo railway and cross the iconic Victoria Falls Bridge for an unforgettable journey. Take your time exploring Victoria Falls or try activities such as river cruises and white water rafting!
Travel across Namibia’s Northern Cape to Fish River Canyon – second only in size to Grand Canyon. After exploring this breathtaking natural spectacle, explore Windhoek and visit a Cheetah Conservation Project for some more cultural immersion and fun!
7. The TGV Duplex
The TGV Duplex is a high-speed train capable of transporting up to 360 passengers across 8 sleek cars. Constructed from aluminium bodies to reduce vehicle weight and maximize power output, its bogie, seats and electrical devices all are made out of this material.
Bi-level carriages of this TGV increase capacity 45% when compared with single level trains, making it suitable for many routes in France, such as Paris-Lyon & Paris-Marseille. Newer Oceane interiors feature first class seats that rotate to face in the direction of travel with power sockets for second class, while older interiors may lack these comforts and may lack power sockets altogether in second class.
8. The Tsavo Express
Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway, popularly known as the Madaraka Express, stands out as an exceptional form of transport. Connecting Nairobi and Mombasa on Kenya’s coast via Tsavo National Park where many iconic African big game animals live.
As the sun begins to shine red on an idyllic landscape of thorny bush and palm trees, soon giving way to manicured lawns and hedges, modern buildings, and barefoot farmers – as the train rolls forward a steward plays his hand-held xylophone signalling dinner time!
9. The Kenya Railways
Kenya Railways was founded in 1977 as Kenya’s national train company and currently offers both metre gauge trains as well as standard gauge track from Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway.
Kenya’s vision to industrialise and advance economic development includes the SGR project; however, its construction has been marred by controversy regarding China’s influence, allegations of neocolonialism and large scale infrastructure projects being sustainable.
Concilia Owire, 28, is Kenya’s pioneer female locomotive driver. Her life and the Standard Gauge Railroad (SGR) have long been interwoven. To gain her expertise as a locomotive driver she underwent rigorous training in northwest China’s Shaanxi Province – from inspecting trains on track to dashboard control inside the cab.