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2025 Africa Train

Experience 4 African Countries - Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland & South Africa!
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2025 Africa Train Tour

Experience 4 African Countries - Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland & South Africa! 16 day train tour - October 2, 2025

Experience 4 African Countries by Luxurious Train – Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Swaziland.
ADD 2 Additional Countries with Optional Tour Packages – Botswana & Lesotho.

Table Mountain sunset

Before we charter a train or ship, the owners have to experience it first, to check out the quality and itinerary. There were six things that convinced them they needed to charter trains in Africa for our passengers:

  • Rovos Rail:  Our exclusive Africa train charters are through Rovas Rail.  Considered by many to be the most luxurious train in the world!  Rovos Rail harks back to a simpler, more elegant era encompassing the timeless grace and high romance of African exploration.  With vintage wood-paneled coaches and open lounge areas, the train is its own highlight.  The train can carry up to 72 passengers in 36 superbly appointed suites.
  • Bathrooms and Showers: On our Africa luxury trains EVERY cabin has an attached private bathroom. On our Siberia and Silk Road Trains, that we have chartered, only a very few cabins included an attached bathroom and shower. the majority of the cabins did not have a private bathroom attached to their cabin. They did have shared public toilets and showers in each car. Having the luxury of having a bathroom attached to each train cabin was impressive.
  • Charter Pricing: They offered us huge savings if we chartered the whole train. Buying the Rovas train through other companies for a similar 15-day trip would run over $10,500 or more per person. With our private exclusive charter – your price for the same Elephant cabin with its own bathroom is only $8,495 per person.  That is a discount of over $2,000 per person!  Even on the train we do more.  We have included our educator and tour managers that will be with you for your whole trip.
  • Open Lounge Cars: The Siberia Trains and the Silk Road Trains, do not include a lounge car for socializing, reading or playing games. Our Africa Train has two lounge cars where guests can gather with large windows to look out. They also have an area where you can step outside onto an open-air deck to take pictures. Impressive is the best word to describe the luxury train.
  • Great Itinerary:  We stay two nights in Zambia.  Our hotel is located at Victoria Falls.  It has its own private entrance to the falls so our passengers can visit it more than once while staying at our wonderful hotel.  We then cross the border into Zimbabwe where we board our Luxury Train.  From there your luxurious train travels down through Zimbabwe into South Africa and the famous Kruger Park, before heading into the country of Eswatini (formally Swaziland), before heading to Johannesburg and Pretoria (the Capital of South Africa).

Optional Packages:  With some tweaking of the trains program, along with adding two option packages, we could include all of the important sites to visit in South Africa, while adding two additional countries:  Botswana and Lesotho!

Package Price Includes:

16 Day Private Luxury Train Package includes:

  • 2 nights 4-star in Avani Victoria Falls Resort
    • As close as you can get to Victoria Falls – the grounds have Zebras grazing on the lawn and Giraffes ambling by.
  • Private Luxury Train from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg in Elephant Cabins with private bathrooms.
  • Visiting 4 countries: Zambezi, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Swaziland.
  • Transfers are included if you booked our group airfare or your flight arrives on or before and departs on or after our group flights.
  • Three meals a day on the train.
  • All Safari’s off the train.
  • All tours, buses, guides, entrance fees, off of the train.
  • Option to upgrade to Leopard larger cabin.
  • Total Train Package Price: $8,495

 

7-Day / 6-Night Optional Train Tour Extension includes the countries of Botswana and Lesotho

Optional Extension Includes:

  • 6 additional nights hotel:
    • 1 night best hotel available St. Lucia.
    • 3 nights 4-star deluxe hotel Durbin.
    • 2 nights 4-star deluxe hotel Cape Town.
  • 2 flights:
    • Johannesburg to Durbin.
    • Durbin to Cape Town.
  • Full Day Safari to Botswana Chobe National Reserve while in Victoria Falls before boarding the train.
    • Includes buses, boat rides across the Zambezi River, open-air Safari vehicles and lunch.
  • Additional Safaris in Hluhluwe National Park and St. Lucia Estuary.
  • Two boat rides:
    • St. Lucia Estuary for Hippos and Crocodiles.
    • Cape Town area for seals.
  • Visit to the Zulu tribe with dance performance.
  • Full day Special 4-wheel drive trip to the country of Lesotho. Travel from Sea level to 11,000 feet through canyons that look like the Grand Canyon covered in moss – it is absolutely stunning.
  • All tours, buses, safaris, guides, national park fees, boat rides and all entrance fees.
  • Fun For Less Educator and staff throughout.
  • Transfers are included if you booked our group airfare or your flight arrives on or before and departs on or after our group flights.

Optional Train Tour Extension Price:  $2,495

Package Price: $8,495*

*Per person cash discount price, based on double occupancy. Does not include airfare, tips.

 

Cabin Categories

Every cabin has its own private bathroom with shower.

Here is the difference between the two Cabin Categories:

Elephant Cabins: Has two lower beds or one large bed. It is very important to know there are no sitting chairs or couches in the Elephant Cabins. The only place to sit is on your bed. It is important to remember that this train has two lounge cars with plenty of seating. So you can always go to the lounge car to find a couch or chair.

Elephant_cabin_WIN-1

Upgraded Leopard Cabin Category
Much larger than the Elephant cabin – with sitting area and more windows.
Note: There are two different floor plans for the Leopard Cabins (not shown).

Leopard_cabin1

This is a partial list, and subject to change as needed to accomplish everything we can in each area we visit. We will have local guides who will make sure we see the very best in the time we have.

Regular Tour Day by Day Schedule:

Day 1 & 2: October 2 & 3: Travel to Zambia
We do not know the flight schedules as they have not become available yet. We should know our routing around December of 2024.  (We will be overnighting somewhere on our travels into Zambia.  We do not know where until we know the exact routing with the airline.  This hotel is not included in the tour price and is optional.)  (Transfers are included if you booked our group airfare or your flight arrives on or before and departs on or after our group flights.)

Day 3: October 4: Livingston, Zambia
Today you arrive into Zambia and transfer to your Avani Victoria Falls lodge. This afternoon is free time to enjoy.

Day 4: October 5: Botswana
Free time to explore more of the grounds and visit Victoria Falls.  Note:  Those that have signed up for our OPIONAL EXTENSION PROGRAM you will do the following:  This morning early we travel into Botswana to Chobe National Park for our Morning game Drive. In the afternoon we will return in time to take the Zambezi River by boat. With luck, your day will be filled with Elephants, Lions, and hippos up close. Your evening ends back to your resort hotel.  Breakfast and lunch is included today.  Overnight: Avani Victoria Falls Lodge.

Day 5: October 6: Victoria Falls, the Smoke that Thunders
After breakfast, we will travel to the border and cross into Zimbabwe, you will have time to explore Victoria Falls from Zimbabwe.  In the afternoon, the crew of the African Explorer private train welcomes you on board. Overnight: Onboard (BD)

Day 6: October 7: Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s Largest Game Reserve
After an early breakfast, you go on a safari through Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe’s largest game reserve. With a bit of luck, you might encounter giraffes and lions and even the occasional wild dog. Here you can continue your safari in an open-top vehicle accompanied by a professional ranger. In the afternoon, you head back to your private train. Overnight: Onboard (BD)

Day 7: October 8: Matobo National Park and Cecil Rhodes’ Grave
The day begins with a short city tour of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, and the heartlands of Matabeleland. You can also visit the Natural History Museum or the Railway Museum. Later you head to Matobo National Park, where you can visit the grave of Cecil Rhodes, the British imperialist and politician who founded the territory of Rhodesia in today’s Zimbabwe. In the evening, you enjoy dinner onboard your private train. Overnight: Onboard (BD)

Day 8: October 9: Great Zimbabwe
The destination of today’s bus excursion is the stunning, thousand-year-old ruined city of Great Zimbabwe, Africa’s largest pre-colonial structure south of the Egyptian pyramids. In Rutenga, you board your private train to continue your journey. Overnight: Onboard (BD)

Day 9: October 10: Realm of the Rain Queen
On its way through the Limpopo Province, your African Explorer private train passes the Soutpansberg mountains and the lands of South Africa’s Rain Queen. Later you enjoy a biltong (traditional beef jerky) tasting. Overnight: Onboard (BLD)

Day 10: October 11: Makalai Game Reserve
In the morning, you leave the African Explorer private train for a safari through the Makalali Private Game Reserve. As part of a wildlife resettlement program, many animals were brought here for conservation, including the famous Big Five game animals: the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo. Afterward, you can see rare wild dogs and cheetahs on a visit to the Moholoholo Animal Rehabilitation Centre. Lunch is served on board the African Explorer. Overnight: Onboard (BLD)

Day 11: October 12: the Drakensberg in the Great Escarpment
Today you enjoy a scenic bus ride on South Africa’s Panorama Route, which includes the gorgeous Drakensberg, the highest region of the Great Escarpment, as well as Blyde River Canyon. Afterward, you can enjoy a safari in the world-famous Kruger National Park. You end the night in style with a dinner under the starry African sky. Overnight: Hotel Kruger Gate (BD)

Day 12: October 13: Kruger National Park
In the morning, you head out for a full-day safari in open-top vehicles through Kruger National Park. After lunch, the safari continues, and you return to your train in the late afternoon. Overnight: Onboard (BLD)

Day 13: October 14: Swaziland
We will do a tour from the train in Swaziland.

Day 14: October 15: Train Day
Today is a train day as we travel to Pretoria.  We will arrive sometime during the night into Pretoria.

Day 15: October 16: Johannesburg area
We will tour the Rovos Rail station in Pretoria this morning and then do additional touring in Johannesburg and Pretoria if time permits.  Early afternoon – those not doing the extension will go to the airport for their flight home this evening.  (Transfers are included if you booked our group airfare or your flight arrives on or before and departs on or after our group flights.)

Day 16: October 17: The regular tour group arrives home.

 

Extension Group Day by Day Itinerary:

Day 15: October 16: Johannesburg area
After doing the tour in Johannesburg area if time permits.  We will transfer to the Johannesburg airport for your flight to Durbin.  Upon arrival into Durban we will transfer to our hotel where we will overnight.

Day 16: October 17: Durban – Lesotho – Durban
Today is a wonderful highlight day. We drive through what looks like the Grand Canyon, up steep unpaved roads going from just above sea level to 11,000 feet. At the top, we will be in the small country of Lesotho. The drive is stunning and the visit is something few tourists have ever done. At the end of the day, we return back to Durban.

Day 17: October 18: Durban – Zulu Tribe – St Lucia
Today we will take a scenic boat safari to look for Hippos and crocodiles. After we head to our visit with the Zulu tribe, where we will enjoy a cultural tour and dancing show put on by the Zulu’s. We then continue our drive to St Lucia to overnight.

Day 18: October 19: Hluhluwe Game Reserve
Early morning departure for the gates of the Hluhluwe Game Reserve. In open air vehicles, enjoy a day in the wilds exploring, this is the oldest Wild Animal Park in South Africa. This was once the private hunting grounds of King Shaka. A Lunch Barbeque included. We then travel approximately 2 hours back to Durban where we overnight. (B, L)

Day 19, 20, 21: October 20, 21 & 22: Durban – Cape Town – fly home
This morning we transfer to the Durban airport for our flight to Cape Town.  Today your journey begins by visiting Cape Town one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We will spend the next three days around the Cape Town area. Your tour will include visits to Table Mountain (if weather permits), Hout Bay boat trip to Seal Island, Peninsula Tour to Cape Point, and Cape of Good Hope (one of the most southern points in Africa). We will also spend time visiting a local penguin colony and more. On day 21 October 22, 2025 early evening, we depart Cape Town for our flight back to the US.  (Transfers are included if you booked our group airfare or your flight arrives on or before and departs on or after our group flights.)

Day 22: October 23: US – Home
This morning we arrive back into the US where we will board our flights back to your home.