Explore Southern Africa: Pretoria to Victoria Falls by Private Train

Southern Africa aboard the African Voyager

14 Day Railway Journey from Pretoria (South Africa) to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

Our route: Pretoria, The Kingdom of Eswatini, Maputo, Kruger National Park, Great Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, Hwange National Park, Victoria Falls

Upcoming Dates:

August 31-September 13, 2026

September 28-October 11, 2026

Rates starting at $10,995 per person (shared cabin)

Embark on an extraordinary adventure through four captivating African countries in just one unforgettable train journey! Experience the breathtaking diversity of South Africa, The  Kingdom of Eswatini, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe, as you delve into a tapestry of remarkable sights and wonders. This exclusive expedition guarantees a seamless and hassle-free exploration of this fascinating route, eliminating the need for inland flights or daily suitcase repacking.

Prepare to be enthralled by the legendary Kruger National Park, where you’ll encounter the majesty of Africa’s wildlife up close. Marvel at the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls, a magnificent cascade on the mighty Zambezi River. But the journey doesn’t stop at these renowned attractions. Your African Expedition Train grants you the opportunity to venture beyond the standard tourist trail and discover hidden gems like Maputo, the vibrant capital of Mozambique, the untamed wilderness of Matobo National Park, and the enigmatic ruins of the Great Zimbabwe city.

As you slumber peacefully in your private compartment, your private train covers longer distances overnight, maximizing your time for memorable excursions during the day. Explore the enchantment of these four captivating countries, immersing yourself in their rich cultural heritage, breathtaking landscapes, and extraordinary wildlife encounters. Embark on extended wildlife safaris and witness the untamed beauty of Africa’s diverse ecosystems.

DAY 1 – WELCOME TO SOUTH AFRICA

Arrive at O.R. Tambo Johannesburg Airport and transfer to your hotel in Sandton. Enjoy a refreshing welcome drink upon arrival and settle in your room for an evening at leisure.

Overnight: DaVinci Hotel or similar

Meals Included: Dinner (Buffet/Voucher for guests who travel on the CPT Pre-Tour*)

DAY 2 – ALL ABOARD

Today join your fellow travellers for a panoramic tour of Pretoria before embarking the train later in the day. As you step aboard the train, allow yourself to become acquainted with your home for the next 12 days. The dedicated train staff warmly welcomes you and strives to ensure your utmost comfort throughout the journey. Take a moment to settle in and prepare for the remarkable adventure that lies ahead.

Your journey commences in the afternoon as the train sets off in an eastbound direction, bound for the captivating destination of The Kingdom of Eswatini. As the landscape gracefully unfolds outside your window, immerse yourself in the anticipation of the experiences awaiting you in this vibrant country.

Overnight onboard African Voyager

Meals included: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

DAY 3 – ACROSS SOUTHERN AFRICA

All day today is spent in the luxurious environs of your train. Enjoy informative lectures, marvel at the landscape and socialize with your fellow travellers.

Overnight on board African Voyager

Meals included: (Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner)

DAY 4 – THE KINGDOM OF ESWATINI

The day’s programme begins as you depart by coach for a visit to The Kingdom of Eswatini. This sovereign state ruled by King Mswati III is the second smallest country in Africa, and only half the size of Switzerland. You pass the Ezulwini valley, the capital Mbabane, Piggs Peak and enjoy a visit to Mantega Cultural Village. The lively markets with their wealth of hand carved wooden artefacts and fine raffia craft products are ideal to find souvenirs for your loved ones at home! In the evening, your private train is waiting for you at Mpaka station. While you enjoy your dinner on board, the train continues towards Maputo. The border formalities are conveniently arranged for you on board.

Overnight onboard African Voyager

Meals included: (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 5 – MAPUTO & THE INDIAN OCEAN

In the morning, your private train is already in Maputo. The station building, which dates to 1910, is ranked as the most attractive in all of Africa. According to legend, the station is supposedly the work of none other than Gustav Eiffel. The sights on your bus tour of Mozambique’s capital include the Catholic Cathedral, the Botanical Gardens, the statue of Samora Machel, the country’s first and still much venerated president, and the oddly shaped Case Do Ferro, the Iron House. Naturally, a stop at one of Maputo’s bustling markets is also a must! Set directly on the Maputo Bay (formerly Delagoa Bay), the city has a vibrant yet relaxed, almost Caribbean atmosphere. In Maputo, from the colonial Portuguese buildings to the socialist apartment blocks, the traces of the past are still very much in evidence. As the sun climbs into the heavens, your bus drives on to the palm-lined beach – not only offering a contrast to urban life, but also perfect for a delicious lunch time platter of freshly caught fish and shellfish. Back on board in the late afternoon, your private train continues on its journey, heading for the South African border to the north. The border formalities are conveniently arranged for you on board.

Overnight onboard African Voyager

Meals included: (Breakfast, Seafood Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner)

DAY 6 – KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

Armed only with camera and binoculars, enjoy the thrills of this extensive full day safari in an open vehicle with picnic lunch! With an area close to 5,000,000 acres, this national park is home to a stunning variety of wildlife, including the big five game animals. During your stay at the lodge, your main luggage remains securely aboard your private train. Kick back and relax with an ice-cold Castle (South African beer) on the lodge terrace. A truly memorable day ends with a bush dinner under the African night skies.

Overnight: Kruger Gate Hotel or similar

Meals included: (Breakfast, Gourmet Picnic Lunch in Kruger National Park, Boma Dinner)

DAY 7 – DRAKENSBERG MOUNTAINS

By means of safari jeeps you cross the Kruger National Park for another game drive. After leaving the park you will enjoy the Panorama Route through the rugged Drakensberg Mountain range by bus. This legendary route winds along the steeply sloping Drakensberg escarpment, offering spectacular views across the plains of the Lowveld over three thousand feet below. The Blyde River Canyon, a gorge carved into the rock by the Blyde River over millions of years, is also quite simply breathtaking! Afterwards you get back to your train and continue in the direction to Zimbabwe.

Overnight onboard African Voyager

Meals included: (Breakfast, Afternoon Tea, Dinner)

DAY 8 – MAKALALI GAME RESERVE

In the morning you leave your train for a game drive in the Makalali Game Reserve. The area hosts many animal species in its diverse habitat including Lion, Elephant, Leopard, Black and White Rhino, Spotted and Brown Hyena, Cheetah and Wild Dogs. After the game drive, enjoy delicious lunch in the boma.

Overnight onboard African Voyager

Meals included: (Breakfast, Boma Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner)

DAY 9 – ACROSS THE LIMPOPO

Your train continues through the Soutpansberg mountains and the land of the legendary Rain Queen Modjadji. The day is dedicated to relaxation on your private train as it passes through the fascinatingly varied countryside o this stretch of your journey. During the night you cross the border at the bridge over the Limpopo river. The border formalities are conveniently arranged for you on board.

 Overnight onboard African Voyager

Meals included: (Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner)

DAY 10 – GREAT ZIMBABWE

The next highlight on your program is today’s bus excursion to the stunning ruined city of Great Zimbabwe. Over 1000 years old and once a settlement housing up to 18000 people, Great Zimbabwe is Africa’s largest pre-colonial monument south of the pyramids in Egypt. Even today, the massive mortarless walls of perfectly interlocking granite slabs still stand towering upwards into the sky. Great Zimbabwe, now inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage, also gave its name to the present-day country of Zimbabwe. At the tiny Bannockburn Station, your private train awaits to carry you on north in direction to Victoria Falls.

Overnight onboard African Voyager

Meals included: (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 11 – CECIL RHODE’S GRAVE & MATOBO NATIONAL PARK

The day begins with a visit to either  the remarkable collections at the Natural History Museum or the Railway Museum. For train fans, the Railway Museum’s display of old steam engines and Rhodes’ personal carriage is a must. The program continues with a short city tour of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city and the heartlands of Matabeleland Time where time is set aside at leisure. In the afternoon, you’ll have an opportunity to visit the Matobo National Park, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park, whose name means “bald heads”, is renowned for its bare whaleback hills with weathered granite rocks set on top, often balanced in strange formations. This is also the location of the grave of Cecil Rhodes, who founded the colonial territory of Rhodesia, today’s Zimbabwe. It was his last wish to be buried on the hilltop known as World’s View, a magical place with a stunning panorama of the hills around it. There is also a stopover to view some fine rock paintings by the San hunter-gatherers. With over 3,000 known rock art sites, the Matobo Hills have the world’s largest collection of rock paintings… Back on board for dinner after sunset, your private train journey continues on to the north.

Overnight onboard African Voyager

Meals included: (Breakfast, Sundowner Drinks incl. Canape’s, Dinner)

DAY 12 – HWANGE NATIONAL PARK

The proverbial early bird must also have loved safaris… At sunrise, you disembark the African Voyager train which is stationed within Hwange National Park and step onto the open vehicle’s for your morning safari. Hwange National Park, renowned for its herds of elephants and Cape buffalo, is Zimbabwe’s largest and most important game reserve.. With a little luck, that early start could yield sightings of elephants, giraffes and lions, as well as the rare wild dogs and sable antelopes.

By mid-morning, everyone is back on board as your private train continues in the direction of Victoria Falls.

Evening arrival into Victoria Falls and a short transfer to Victoria Falls Safari Lodge. Evening & Dinner at leisure.

Overnight: Victoria Falls Safari Lodge

Meals included: (Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea)

DAY 13 – VICTORIA FALLS

This day is dedicated to the Victoria Falls. Numerous vantage points provide stunning views of the waters of the Zambezi River pouring into the canyon below. The columns of spray and clouds of mist rising from the world’s largest waterfall led the indigenous Kololo people to call this Mosi-oa-Tunya, “the mist that thunders”. Scottish missionary explorer David Livingstone first set eyes on the waterfall in 1855 on an expedition from the Cape to Luanda, and his written account made the falls world famous. After enjoying the falls Transfer to your lodge. Enjoy the view from your private balcony of the lodge’s on-site waterhole, which attracts many wild animals, and the magnificent panorama of the Zambezi National Park. In the afternoon, explore the Zambezi River by boat – with the chance of viewing elephants and hippos from close quarters. The evening ends with a farewell dinner of a different kind – a true African Braai, better known as a barbecue of African specialties around a flickering camp fire.

Overnight: Victoria Falls Safari Lodge

Meals included: (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 14 – DEPART AFRICA

Enjoy a day at leisure until your transfer to the airport for your return flight or for onward journey.

Meals included: (Breakfast)

Journey Highlights

• Unique routing through South Africa, The Kingdon of Eswatini, Mozambique and Zimbabwe
• Pretoria City Tour with a visit to the Voortrekker Monument incl. Traditional lunch
• Safari Game Drives in Kruger National Park, Makalali Game Reserve, Motobo National Park & Hwange National Park
• Sunset Cruise on the Zambezi River
• Traverse through the Panorama Route in South Africa with visits to Blyde River Canyon & Three Rondawels
• Visit the Great Ruins of Zimbabwe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Visit the grave site of Cecil John Rhodes, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Visit Victoria Falls, one of the 7 natural wonders of the world!