Rovos Rail

Rovos Rail is a private railway company operating out of Capital Park Station in Pretoria, South Africa. The Society of International Railway Travelers has regularly named the Pride of Africa, as the train is called, as one of the World’s Top 25 Trains because of its excellent accommodation, public spaces, service, dining and off-train sightseeing.

Rovos Rail runs its train-hotel to a regular schedule on various routes throughout Southern Africa, from South Africa to Namibia and Tanzania. The trains consist of restored Rhodesia Railways (NRZ) coaches with two lounges, two restaurant cars, private sleeping compartments, each with private ensuite facilities. The train has three types of accommodation on board, the smallest being a Pullman, at 76 square feet; the largest being the Royal Suite, which is half a train car, and 172 square feet. All types of cabins have ensuite shower, sink and toilet. The Royal also has a Victorian-style bathtub.

The company was started in 1989 by Rohan Vos and is still family owned.

Rovos Rail operates the following routes:

• Golf Safari: Pretoria, Kruger Park, Swaziland, Durban, Drakensberg, Sun City
• Golf Collage: Pretoria, Kruger Park, Durban, Bloemfontein, George, Cape Town
• Pretoria to Cape Town or vice-versa
• Pretoria to Durban or vice-versa
• Pretoria to Victoria Falls or vice-versa
• Cape Town to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and vice-versa
• Pretoria to Swakopmund, Namibia or vice-versa as well as golf safaris and private train charters.

Every two years Rovos Rail runs a Cape to Cairo route (using private chartered aircraft and lake cruiser for parts of the journey).