# of trips
3
Type
Local operator
Service level
luxury
Travelers age
18 — 65
Trip prices
$0 — 0
Tour languages
Unknown
Trips other travelers liked
See all 3 trips
Member Savings
Sign in to see which companies give additional
savings to Travelstride Members (it’s free)
Overview
All-lnclusive, elegant and luxurious train journeys with no technology aboard. Relaxing and slow-paced journeys through South Africa.
Tour Types
Regions
How well do you know the world?
Play the game
Editoral Review of Rovos Rail Journeys
Founded in 1989, Rovos Rail has been internationally known for its world class travel. Experience what it’s like to travel back in time to a simpler, more elegant era, combined with exploration in one of the most extraordinary parts of the world.
What Makes Rovos Rail Stand Out?
- All-inclusive luxury train journeys
- No TVs or radios on board
- Rail journeys through South Africa
- 48 hours to 15 day journeys
Who Will Enjoy Travelling with Rovos Rail?
- Lovers of nature and wildlife
- Ages 40+
- Luxury travelers
These trips are made for those that are willing to splurge. Considering the quality of service, wines, and meals you are given, it’s well worth the price (especially for being all inclusive). All ages are welcome, but these trips are the most popular with travelers ages 40+.
Those looking to reconnect with nature and have a tech-free holiday will also very much enjoy Rovos Rail journeys. Although personal phone and laptop use are allowed in the privacy of your room, wifi and phone service are practically non-existent - making it the perfect breeding grounds for an old-fashioned conversation. You’ll also be so busy absorbing all the incredible landscapes, sunrises, sunsets, and safari animals that you won’t even have time to think about picking up your phone!
Top Destinations
- Cape Town
- Victoria Falls
- Durban
- Namibia
- Dar Es Salaam
Rovos Rail specializes in journeys through various regions of South Africa. You could choose to follow the old pioneering trail of the Karoo in Cape Town, or embark on an epic desert or safari adventure in Durban.
Rovos Rail Travel Style
During daytime the dress code is smart casual, and formal during the evenings. If you enjoy putting on your finest suit or evening gown, well made cocktails, and top notch service, then Rovos Rail is right for you!
There are several different train cars for your enjoyment: the sleeper, smoking and non-smoking lounges, dining, club,and observation cars. Meals are scheduled for set times, with an emphasis on using fresh local ingredients and serving traditional South African cuisine.
All Rovos Rail journeys start and end in Pretoria, in a colonial-style railway station. Just the station itself is a highlight for many, with the vintage red brick buildings and comprehensive facilities - it rivals the efficiency and details of a world-class hotel.
Why Choose a Tour with Rovos Rail?
If you’re looking for a digital detox tour that provides world class service, cuisine, and wine, Rovos Rail ticks all the boxes.
Unlock Community Benefits
Travel better together
- Save favorite trips and itineraries
- Get insider insights
- Receive personalized recommendations
- ... and much more
More Details
Solo friendly
Activities
About the company
As so often happens, it was a combination of influences and events that led to the purchase of the first coach, the start of what would become Rovos Rail. A Wilbur Smith heroine with her own private railway coach, a man called Phil Acutt with a passion for trains and the presence of the Witbank Steam Railway in the coal-mining town where Rohan Vos ran his successful auto spares business, all played a part.
“Rohan has always been obsessed with things mechanical,” remembers Anthea Vos, who has been at his side throughout and has raised a family in and around developing the railway business. “In fact, he started his first business with the capital derived from the sale of a 1940 Packard and a 1928 Austin that he had rebuilt. Rohan was involved in so many ventures, but I didn’t see this one coming.”
In 1985, Rohan and Anthea took up a last-minute invitation on a Magaliesberg train trip for business suppliers. “I became a train widow on that day,” says Anthea. “I sat all dressed up by myself; Rohan spent most of the time in the engine with the driver. The irony was that we should have seen then how difficult it would be – the train broke down and we were bussed back to town.”
The same year, influenced by his friend Phil Acutt’s love of trains and the work done by the Railway Preservation Society in Witbank, Rohan attended an auction to buy a coach or two – the intention was to restore four carriages and hitch them to a South African Railways train as a family caravan. Steam-train enthusiast, Geoff Pethick, was present at the auction and assisted him. “It was the 26th of September – a cold day with rain in the air – and I’d hoped Rohan wasn’t another penniless lunatic with grand ideas,” he recalls. “As we chatted, I quickly realised that here was a man of vision.”
Rovos Rail Journeys Trips & Specials
See all 3 trips
Want a tailor-made trip instead?
Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:
- You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
- Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Top Rovos Rail Journeys Trip Categories
Rovos Rail Journeys Company Ranking by Category
Tour Companies