The Most Luxurious Train in the World
Golf Safari
Duration
9 Nights
Distance
~2,100 km
South Africa & Eswatini
2 Countries
Championship Golf
7 Courses
The Experience
1920s Pullman opulence meets the raw African landscape.
A circular journey from Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria — looping south to Sun City, the KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields and Drakensberg, Durban’s Indian Ocean coast, the wilderness of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi and the Kingdom of Eswatini, and home via Kruger National Park and the trout-fishing village of Dullstroom.
Two parallel tracks:Â LEISURE GUESTSÂ follow cultural and wildlife excursions;Â GOLFERSÂ play seven championship courses curated for the Rovos Rail traveller.
Nine nights of formal dinners on rails, sunrise game drives, and afternoons on legendary fairways. Aboard the restored Edwardian-era carriages of Rovos Rail, time slows down. Handcrafted wood interiors, fine dining by candlelight, and the gentle rhythm of the rails at 60 km/h create an atmosphere of hushed, quietly extravagant heritage.
The Journey
Day-By-Day Itinerary
Day 01
PRETORIA
Leisure Track
- 12:00 – Depart Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria
- Freshen up & meet guests in lounge / observation cars
- 13:00 – Lunch onboard (en route to Rustenburg)
- 16:30 – Tea
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
✨ Highlights: Travel towards Pilanesberg & Sun City region
Golfer Track
- Same as leisure.
Day 02
PILANESBERG / GARY PLAYER/LOST CITY
Leisure Track
- 06:00 – Breakfast
- Game drive in Pilanesberg Reserve
- Lunch with golfers
- Afternoon at leisure (Lost City)
- 20:00 – Dinner (Formal)
Golfer Track
- 06:00 – Breakfast
- Transfer to Gary Player / Lost City Golf Course
- Tee-off + lunch
- Afternoon golf & leisure
- 20:00 – Dinner (Formal)
Day 03
AT LEISURE (ONBOARD)
Leisure Track
- Full day onboard (towards Ladysmith)
- All meals included
- Dress: Africa Theme / Smart Casual
Golfer Track
- Same as leisure.
Day 04
SPIONKOP / CHAMPAGNE SPORTS
Leisure Track
- 06:00 – Breakfast
- Transfer to Spionkop Lodge (battlefield talk + lunch)
- Afternoon game drive or leisure
- 16:30 – Tea
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
Golfer Track
- 06:00 – Breakfast
- Transfer to Champagne Sports Resort
- Tee-off + lunch
- Return to train
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
Day 05
DURBAN / EDGECOMBE / COTSWOLD
Leisure Track
- 06:00 – Breakfast
- Durban city tour + botanical gardens
- Lunch at Umhlanga beachfront
- 16:30 – Tea
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
Golfer Track
- 05:30 – Breakfast
- Durban Country Club
- Mt Edgecombe
- Cotswold Downs
- 16:30 – Tea
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
Day 06
HLUHLUWE PARK → ESWATINI
Leisure Track
- 05:00 – Breakfast
- Game drive in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
- Return to train
- 12:00 – Lunch onboard
- Travel to Eswatini (border formalities)
- 16:30 – Tea
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
Golfer Track
- Same as leisure.
Day 07
ESWATINI
Leisure Track
- 05:30 – Breakfast
- Game drive at Mkhaya Reserve
- Visit Swazi Candles + lunch
- Join golfers at Royal Swazi OR return to train
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
Golfer Track
- 05:30 – Breakfast
- Transfer to Royal Swazi Sun
- Tee-off + lunch
- Return to train
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
Day 08
KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
Leisure Track
- 05:30 – Breakfast
- Full-day game drive in Kruger Park
- Tea & lunch included
- Return to train
- 16:30 – Tea
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
⛳ Optional: Golf at Leopard Creek (subject to availability)
Golfer Track
- Same as leisure
Day 09
DULLSTROOM / HIGHLAND GATE
Leisure Track
- 07:00 – Breakfast
- Flyfishing presentation + lunch
- Whisky tasting + Arts & Crafts visit
- 19:30 – Dinner (1920s Theme / Smart Casual)
Golfer Track
- 07:00 – Breakfast
- Transfer to Highland Gate
- Tee-off + lunch
- 16:30 – Tea
- 19:30 – Dinner (1920s Theme / Smart Casual)
Day 10
PRETORIA (END OF JOURNEY)
Leisure Track
- 07:00 – Breakfast
- 10:00 – Arrival at Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria
📌 Ensure luggage is ready & passport collected
Golfer Track
- Same as leisure.
The Golfer Trackn
Championship Greens.
General Informationn
Booking & Payments
Provisional bookings held 14 days. Bank transfer preferred (ZAR/USD). Cancellation insurance compulsory.
Passports & Health
Need 5 blank visa pages, valid 6+ months. Anti-malarial precautions recommended for Eswatini & Kruger.
Suitability
Not suitable for wheelchairs. Children 0-2 not permitted; under 13 not recommended for long journeys.
Check-in Points
- 11:00 check-in, 12:00 depart Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria
- 10:00 arrival Day 10 at Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria
Gary Player Country Club
Gauteng
- Type: Parkland
- Length: 6,550 m
Walking course. Built in an extinct volcanic crater. Home of the annual Nedbank Golf Challenge. Designed by Gary Player to US PGA specs.
Lost City Golf Course
Gauteng
- Type: Desert / parkland
- Length: 6,983 m
Carts compulsory. Gary Player design with mountain, desert and African parkland in one layout. Signature 13th par 3 — green shaped like Africa, pond home to live crocodiles.
Champagne Sports Resort
Drakensberg
- Type: Mountain
- Length: 7,400 m
Carts available. One of South Africa's most scenic mountain courses, beneath Champagne and Cathkin Peaks. 84 well-appointed bunkers.
Durban Country Club
Durban
- Type: Semi-links
- Length: 6,157 m
Carts available. Established 1922. Cape Dutch architecture, sand dunes, Indian Ocean views. Signature 3rd par 5 (468 m) — tee from the highest point on the course.
Mt Edgecombe
Durban
- Type: Parkland (Woods & Lakes)
- Length: 5,885m
Carts available. Two championship courses (The Woods and The Lakes). The Woods has an "Amen Corner" from holes 14–16.
Cotswold Downs
Durban
- Type: Parkland
- Length: 6,193m
Carts available. Peter Matkovich design to USGA specs. Indigenous bush, free-roaming antelope, bent-grass greens.
Royal Swazi
Eswatini
- Type: Parkland
- Length: 6,166m
Carts available. Opened 1966, laid out on the Lebombo Range slopes. Lakes, gullies and one bunker so steep it requires steps.
Highland Gate
Dullstroom
- Type: Mountain
- Length: 6,750 m
Carts available. Ernie Els signature course in the Steenkampsberg Mountains. High-altitude, dramatic elevation changes.
Leopard Creek
Kruger Park Malelane
- Type: Bushveld
- Length: 6,631m
(on request, own account) Carts compulsory. Johan Rupert's ultra-exclusive course on the Crocodile River bordering Kruger. Signature 13th par 5 (505 m) — green 32 m above the river with views into Kruger.
Accommodation
Restored Edwardian Elegance
Royal Suite
±16 m² / ±172 ft²
- Lengthways double 200×189 cm or split twin 200×75 cm
- Minibar, writing desk
- Bath, shower, basin, toilet
Deluxe Suite
±10 m² / ±108 ft²
- Lengthways double, crosswise double, or split twin
- Minibar, writing desk
- Shower, basin, toilet
Pullman Gold Suites
±7 m² / ±76 ft²
- Double or split twin (convertible couches)
- Minibar, writing desk
- Shower, basin, toilet
The Experience
Life on Board
The 9-night Golf Safari train is a self-contained world of luxury, featuring a locomotive, sleeper coaches, two dining cars, a lounge car with a gift shop, a club car for smoking, and an observation car with an open-air balcony.
There is no WiFi, radio or TV on board — devices are confined to suites, preserving the historic, communal atmosphere.
Dining & Attire
- Breakfast: 07:00-10:00
- Lunch: 13:00
- Tea: 16:30
- Dinner: 19:30 (Formal: collar & tie for gentlemen)
Service & Highlights
- 24-hour dedicated host/ess per suite
- Daily housekeeping & nightly turndown
- 1× "Africa" theme (Day 3) and 1× "1920s" theme (Day 9)
- Open-air balcony at the rear of the train
WHAT’S INCLUDED & EXCLUDED
What's Included
- Accommodation & all meals
- All beverages on board
- Room service
- Limited laundry
- Excursions with a qualified guide
- Entrance fees as per itinerary
- Golf activities (green fees, carts, halfway-house meals, tea/coffee and bottled water)
- Government tax
What's Excluded
- All other off-train beverages
- International sparkling wine
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Pre- and post-tour transfers, accommodation and flights
Embark on the Journey of a Lifetime.
Availability for the Golf Safari is highly limited. Contact our reservations team to secure your suite aboard the most luxurious train in the world.