Rovos Rail African Golf Safari

This morning, leisure guests will transfer to Sun City and embark on a game drive in the Pilanesberg Reserve, followed by lunch.  This afternoon will be at leisure at Sun City.

The fantastical Sun City Resort is a luxury theme park for grown-ups, with two championship golf courses, shows, casino and high-end shopping.

Golfers option: Tee off at Sun City’s Gary Player Course or Lost City Course. All guests will have lunch together. 

Day at leisure on board. The train climbs to Majuba Hill – site of the decisive battle that ended the First Anglo Boer War – then passes Newcastle, which has what is reputed to be the largest cella-dome Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere, and Glencoe, site of the first battle of the Anglo Boer War and now the centre of the province’s coalfields. All meals on board, including special African-themed dinner.

After lunch, transfer to Spionkop Lodge to hear the historic tale of the Battle of Spionkop and walk in the footsteps of Churchill and Gandhi, followed by lunch at the lodge.  This afternoon, take a game drive in the 11,000-acre reserve or relax at the lodge.  Return to the train for dinner.

Golfers: Transfer to Champagne Sports Resort for 18 holes at this lovely course with the Drakensberg Mountains as a backdrop. Lunch at the resort. Return to the train for dinner.

Leisure guests will have a Durban city tour, including a visit to the botanical gardens and lunch at Umhlanga’s beachfront, with an afternoon at leisure. Durban is the third largest city in South Africa and enjoys great importance due to its industry and very large port. Afternoon tea and dinner on board.

Golfers: Tee off and lunch at Durban Country Club or Beachwood. Afternoon tea and dinner on board. 

An early morning wake-up call this morning as we head out to Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park for a game drive. As the oldest proclaimed reserve in Africa, Hluhluwe consists of 370 square miles (960km²) of hilly topography in central Zululand. It has all the Big Five game animals and is also a prime birding destination. Due to conservation efforts, the park now has the largest population of white rhino in the world.

Return to the train and travel to eSwatini, with border formalities taking place before dinner.

Morning game drive in Mkhaya Reserve in eSwatini, followed by a stop at Swazi Candles for lunch and an opportunity for curio shopping.

The tiny Kingdom of eSwatini (Swaziland) covers only 6,700 square miles (17,000 km²), most of which is mountainous. For such a small country, it is surprising that it sustains two capital cities: Mbabane is the administrative capital and Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital. In April 2018, Swaziland changed its name to the Kingdom of eSwatini (meaning “place of the Swazi”) and is an absolute monarchy.

Golfers: Transfer to Royal Swazi Sun for a round and lunch. 

We’ll set out for another early-morning game drive in the world-renowned Kruger National Park, with 2 million hectares of unrivaled diversity — and another chance to spot the Big Five. Lunch and time for shopping in the park.

Back on board, afternoon tea is served in the lounge car as the train travels west across the Drakensberg Mountains and climbs the spectacular escarpment.

Golfers: If available, golf at Leopard Creek may be booked for today at your own account.

Leisure guests set out this morning for a visit to the Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Centre, followed by a flyfishing demonstration and lunch. After lunch, enjoy an introduction to whisky distilling and tour the Arts & Crafts Centre in Dullstrom.

Golfers: Tee off and lunch at Highland Gate. Return to the train for afternoon tea and dinner on board. 

Enjoy breakfast as the train departs for Pretoria. Arrive at journey’s end at Rovos Rail’s Capital Park station late morning.