The opulent travelling hotel that is the Rovos Rail isn’t merely a means of delivering you to a locale, it’s a journey that invites you to inhabit time and appreciate the beauty in simplicity through the deliberate return to slow luxury. This is an ode to the golden age of rail travel – where meticulous craftsmanship and premium service meet comfort in ways rarely seen today. After all, receiving the 2025 Luxe Awards Train Experience of The Year and ranking third in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards in 2024 is no small feat.
While the Victorian-style train is exquisite and ornate in its own right, the amenities and thoughtful attention to detail earn Rovos Rail its unrivaled reputation. The train has been meticulously restored and maintained to give guests a glimpse into history as we explore the ever-changing surroundings of Africa – some of these being places you would never otherwise see.
There are several journeys to choose from. The Trail of Two Oceans, for example, is a 15-night passage from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, passing through Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo before arriving in Tanzania. An 11-night trip on The Southern Cross journey includes pit stops in Mozambique, eSwatini, and Zimbabwe. A short and sweet expedition worth taking is the four-night, 1 600km transfer from Pretoria to Zimbabwe. Here you traverse the Tropic of Capricorn, enjoy a safari drive in Hwange National Park, and visit the Bushmen caves in Matobo National Park before arriving at the Victoria Falls terminus.
I’m lucky enough to experience The Southern Cross trip, where the seamless check-in sets the tone for the journey ahead. Relieved of our luggage, a glass of champagne quickly follows, while a string quartet softly strums in the corner. Once all guests have been greeted, we are ushered onboard via the observation car and guided through the train to our cabins by a dedicated host. Along the way, we pass the small gift lounge, the lounge car, and the formal dining car before arriving at the accommodation carriages.
There are a range of sleeping carriages suited to the needs of every traveller. The Pullman Suites are ideal for solo travellers, where a cosy sofa-seat converts into a bed and is coupled with an en-suite bathroom and writing space. In the Royal Section of the train, there are only two suites which take up half a carriage each, offering a plush king-sized bed – and the special bonus of a bathtub. These are less train cabins and more moving five-star hotel suites. We’ve been booked into a Deluxe Suite which has a lounge and en-suite bathroom, and our bags are already waiting for us at the foot of a queen-sized bed.
When it comes to meals, like with the rest of the all-inclusive journey, those willing to surrender to the experience are handsomely rewarded. A ceremonial gong plays on the train’s speakers announcing dinner, and guests gather in their mandatory formal wear – ties and jackets are required. Both lunch and dinner are four-course meals that reflect the staple dishes of the areas we pass through. Think springbok carpaccio and game-stuffed ravioli, all paired with exclusive South African wines or French champagne.
Arriving back to a turned-down suite with the following day’s weather forecast on your pillow is just one of the many details that add to an altogether luxurious experience. The mini bar is stocked with snacks I specifically requested before the journey and is replenished daily. A list of passenger names is provided in each cabin, making it easier to mingle – made simpler still in the lounge car where there’s an array of parlour games should you wish to join.
Train travel is not for the rushed. It is for the connoisseur of experience, the traveller who understands that some of life’s richest moments cannot be bookmarked or captured, they must be lived. From the gleaming brass finishes to the rhythmic lull of steel wheels gliding along the tracks, everything aboard Rovos Rail is designed to make the in-between magical again.
