The Most Luxurious Train in the World
African Collage
Duration
12 Nights
Distance
~3,700 km
South Africa & Eswatini
2 Countries
Leisure & Golf
2 Tracks
The Experience
1920s Pullman opulence meets the raw African landscape.
Embark on a grand 13-day voyage traversing the diverse and spectacular landscapes of South Africa and the Kingdom of Eswatini. From the cosmopolitan elegance of Cape Town to the historic capital of Pretoria, the African Collage is a masterful tapestry of experiences.
Guests enjoy two parallel itineraries. Leisure guests are guided through cultural excursions, historic battlefields, and pre-dawn game drives in Hluhluwe and Kruger. Golfers enjoy tee times at the continent’s most prestigious courses, including Fancourt, Leopard Creek, and Durban Country Club.
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 Itineraryn
Day 01
Cape Town Departure
Leisure Track
- 14:30 – Check-in at Rovos Rail Lounge (1 Adderley Street)
- 16:00 – Departure from Cape Town Station
- 16:30 – Tea in lounge & observation cars (towards Worcester)
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
Golfer Track
- Same as leisure.
Day 02
MATJIESFONTEIN
Leisure Track
- Scenic travel: Hex River Valley & Cape Winelands (tunnels en route)
- 13:00 – Visit Matjiesfontein village (museum & historic cars)
- Lunch onboard; depart for Prince Albert Road
- 16:30 – Tea
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
Golfer Track
- Same as leisure.
Day 03
OUDTSHOORN / FANCOURT
Leisure Track
- 06:00 – Breakfast
- 08:30 – Transfer to Cango Caves
- Scenic drive via Outeniqua Mountains
- 19:00 – Dinner & overnight at Fancourt (Smart Casual)
Golfer Track
- 06:00 – Breakfast
- 08:00 – Transfer to Fancourt Golf Estate
- Tee-off + lunch + check-in
- 19:00 – Dinner & overnight (Smart Casual)
Day 04
KNYSNA / PEZULA / SIMOLA
Leisure Track
- 06:30 – Breakfast
- Knysna lagoon ferry + lunch
- Transfers via Oudebosch to Port Elizabeth
- 19:30 – Dinner (Smart Casual)
Golfer Track
- 06:30 – Breakfast
- Golf at Pezula or Simola
- Scenic Garden Route drive to Port Elizabeth
- 19:30 – Dinner (Smart Casual)
Day 05
ADDO ELEPHANT PARK / HUMEWOOD
Leisure Track
- 06:00 – Breakfast
- Port Elizabeth city tour
- 13:00 – Lunch onboard
- 14:30 – Addo Elephant Park game drive
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
Golfer Track
- 06:00 – Breakfast
- Golf at Humewood
- Scenic drive via Zuurberg Mountains
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
Day 06
BLOEMFONTEIN
Leisure Track
- 06:30 – Breakfast
- 12:00 – Early lunch
- 15:00 – City tour (Women’s Memorial & War Museum)
- 16:30 – Tea
- 19:30 – Dinner (Theme: Africa / Smart Casual)
Golfer Track
- Same as leisure.
Day 07
CLARENS & GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARK
Leisure Track
- 06:00 – Breakfast
- Sandstone Heritage Trust visit
- Clarens (lunch at own cost)
- Golden Gate National Park drive
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
Golfer Track
- Same as leisure.
Day 08
SPIONKOP / CHAMPAGNE SPORTS RESORT
Leisure Track
- Battlefield tour (Spionkop)
- Lunch + nature drive
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
Golfer Track
- Golf at Champagne Sports Resort
- Return to train
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
Day 09
DURBAN/MT EDGECOMBE/COTSWOLD
Leisure Track
- City tour + botanical gardens
- Lunch at Umhlanga beachfront
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
Golfer Track
- Durban Country Club
- Mt Edgecombe
- Cotswold Downs
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
Day 10
HLUHLUWE PARK / ESWATINI BORDER
Leisure Track
- 05:00 – Continental breakfast
- Game drive in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
- 12:00 – Lunch onboard
- Border crossing to Eswatini
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
Golfer Track
- Same as leisure.
Day 11
ESWATINI
Leisure Track
- Cultural visit: Swazi Candles & Mantenga Village
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
Golfer Track
- Golf at Nkonyeni or Royal Swazi
- 19:30 – Dinner (Formal)
Day 12
Kruger National Park / Kambaku
Leisure Track
- Kruger National Park game drive
- 19:30 – Dinner (1920s Theme / Smart Casual)
Golfer Track
- Golf at Kambaku (Leopard Creek optional)
- 19:30 – Dinner (1920s Theme / Smart Casual)
Day 13
PRETORIA (END OF JOURNEY)
Leisure Track
- 07:00 – 10:00 – Breakfast
- Travel via Middelburg & eMalahleni
- 13:00 – Lunch
- 16:30 – Tea
- 18:00 – Arrival in Pretoria
📌 Optional
- Station & museum tour (+90 mins)
The Golfer Track
Championship Greens.
General Information
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
- 1 Adderley Street, Cape Town
- 1 Transnet Ave, Capital Park, Pretoria
Fancourt Country Club
George
- Type: Parkland (Montagu & Outeniqua)
- Length: 6,714m / 6,312m
Signature 17th par 3 over water on Montagu.
Pezula
Knysna
- Type: Links/Parkland
- Length: 5,963m
Clifftop views over Indian Ocean. Signature 13th par 5 drops 200 ft.
Simola
Knysna
- Type: Jack Nicklaus Signature
- Length: 6,401m
Views of Knysna Lagoon. Five par 5s, five par 3s.
Humewood
Port Elizabeth
- Type: True Links
- Length: 6,225m
Walking course on the dunes of Algoa Bay.
Champagne Sports Resort
Drakensberg
- Type: Mountain
- Length: 7,400m
Beneath Champagne and Cathkin Peaks.
Durban Country Club
Durban
- Type: Semi-links
- Length: 6,157m
Established 1922, Cape Dutch architecture.
Mt Edgecombe
Durban
- Type: Parkland (Woods & Lakes)
- Length: 5,885m
Two beautiful parkland courses.
Cotswold Downs
Durban
- Type: Parkland
- Length: 6,193m
Designed by Peter Matkovich.
Nkonyeni
Eswatini
- Type: Bushveld
- Length: 5,810m
18th hole crosses the Great Usuthu River.
Royal Swazi
Eswatini
- Type: Parkland
- Length: 6,166m
Opened 1966 on Lebombo Range slopes.
Kambaku
Komatipoort
- Type: Bushveld/Parkland
- Length: 5,903m
At confluence of Crocodile and Komati Rivers.
Leopard Creek
Kruger Park
- Type: Bushveld
- Length: 6,631m
On request, own account. Designed for Johan Rupert.
Accommodation
Restored Edwardian Elegance
Royal Suite
±16 m² / ±172 ft²
- Double or split twin
- Minibar, writing desk
- Victorian bath, shower, basin, toilet
Deluxe Suite
±10 m² / ±108 ft²
Spacious with a lounge area, en-suite, and bar fridge.
- Double or split twin
- Minibar, writing desk
- Victorian bath, shower, basin, toilet
Pullman Gold
±7 m² / ±76 ft²
- Double (convertible sofas)
- Minibar, writing desk
- Shower, basin, toilet
Pullman Suite
±7 m² / ±76 ft²
- Bunks or crosswise double
- Minibar, writing desk
- Shower, basin, toilet
The Experience
Life on Board
The 12-coach 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
- "Africa" and "1920s" themed evening dinners
- 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 (10 items/day)
- Guided excursions
- Preselected drinks on excursions
- Entrance fees per itinerary
- Golf green fees and carts
- Government tax
What's Excluded
- International sparkling wine
- Other beverages off-train
- Gratuities & personal expenses
- Visas & travel insurance
- Pre/post-tour transfers
- Pre/post accommodation
- Flights