Rovos Rail: Golf Safari Pretoria to Pretoria 9 Nights/10 Days - Deluxe

A trip aboard Rovos Rail is a journey like no other. Experience the opulent elegance of rail travel on one of Rovos Rail’s exceptional safaris through the heart of Africa. Combining some of the most magnificent scenery with the glamour and excitement of the golden age of rail travel, Rovos Rail will delight the most discerning traveller. With discreet and friendly service, five-star cuisine and a selection of South Africa’s finest wines, Rovos Rail harks back to a simpler, more elegant era – encompassing the timeless grace and high romance of African exploration. Trains depart regularly from Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria for Cape Town, Durban and Victoria Falls with longer journeys operated on an annual basis. These include two golf itineraries, of nine days, each with delightful programmes for non-golfers. There is another nine-day safari to Swakopmund as well as the two-week adventure to Dar es Salaam.

Day 1: Depart Rovos Rail Station, Capital Park in Pretoria.
12h00 Depart Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria. Guests may freshen up in their suites before meeting fellow passengers in the lounge car and observation car.
13h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars en route to Rustenburg.
16h30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal.
The old town of Rustenburg grew as the church and administrative centre for a rich farming area. It is here, in the centre of a volcanic valley surrounded by the dun slopes of the Pilanesberg Mountains, a wilderness wonderland rises from the dust, the fantastical Sun City Resort. It was a vision realised through one man’s unshakable faith in the religion of tourism, the South African hotel prodigy Sol Kerzner. It was officially opened on 7 December 1979 in what was then Bophuthatswana, which had been declared as an independent state by the apartheid government. This meant it could provide entertainment such as gambling, which was banned in South Africa. The UN had imposed a cultural boycott on South Africa in condemnation of apartheid. In the early 80s, several acts disregarded the boycott and performed (with substantial financial incentives from Kerzner) to desegregated crowds at the venue, such as the Beach Boys, Cher, Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra, Status Quo, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Queen. Today the resort is one of the world’s largest entertainment centres, a luxury theme park for grownup kids. The two championship golf courses – one with crocodiles at the 13th hole – are bordered by the Pilanesberg National Park, which contains the Big Five and has a vigorous conservation programme.
Day 2: Off Board Excursion
Pilanesberg
06h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars.
07h45 Transfer (±60 min) to Sun City.
09h00 Game drive in the Pilanesberg Reserve.
12h00 Lunch with the golfers.
Afternoon at leisure at Lost City’s Sun City.
17h30 Return to the train.
20h00 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal
Gary Player/Lost City
06:00 Breakfast is served until departure. Transfer (±60 min) to Sun City’s Gary Player/ Lost City Golf Course for tee off and lunch. Enjoy an afternoon of golfing and leisure.
17:30 Return to the train.
20:00 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Heidelberg. Dress: Formal
Day 3: At leisure on board
Day at leisure. All meals enjoyed on board en route to Ladysmith. Dress: “Africa” Theme or Smart Casual 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.
Day 4: Off Board Excursion
Spionkop
06h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars.
09h00 Transfer (±30 min) to Spionkop Lodge to hear the historic tale of the Battle of Spionkop with lunch.
14h00 Afternoon game drive in the 11 000-acre reserve OR relax at the lodge. Return to the train at 16:00.
16h30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal
Champagne Sports
06:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Transfer (±60 min) to Champagne Sports Resort for tee off and lunch. 17:00 Return to the train. 19:30 Dinner is served. Shortly after Chieveley, on the right of the track, stands a memorial to Churchill who was captured here in 1899. Dress: Formal
Day 5: Off Board Excursion
Durban
06h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars.
09h00 Enjoy a Durban city tour, a visit to the botanical gardens and lunch at Umhlanga’s beachfront with an afternoon at leisure.
16h30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal
Please ensure that the Train Manager or Admin Deputy is in possession of your passport. Durban/Edgecome/Cotswold
05:30 Continental breakfast is served until departure. Transfer to Durban Country Club (±15 min) OR Mt Edgecombe (±20 min) OR Cotswold Downs (±30 min) for tee off and lunch.
16:30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal
Please ensure that the Train Manager or Admin Deputy is in possession of your passport.
Day 6: Off Board Excursion Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
05h00 Continental breakfast is served until departure.
06h00 Transfer (±30 min) to Hluhluwe for a game drive. As the oldest proclaimed reserve in Africa, Hluhluwe consists 960km² of hilly topography and is known for its rich wildlife and conservation efforts.
10h30 Return to the train.
12h00 Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train travels towards eSwatini. Border formalities take place.
16h30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Mpaka. Dress: Formal
BORDER: GOLELA, SOUTH AFRICA / MPAKA, ESWATINI
Day 7: Off Board Excursions
Eswatini
05h30 Breakfast is served in the dining cars.
07h00 Transfer (±60 min) to Mkhaya Reserve. Board game vehicles for a game drive.
10h00 Transfer (±90 min) to Swazi Candles for a visit with lunch and an opportunity for curio shopping.
Transfer (±15 min) to Royal Swazi to join the golfers AND/OR return to the train (±90 min). 16h30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal.
Royal Swazi Sun
05:30 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Transfer (±90 min) to Royal Swazi Sun for tee off and lunch.
16:00 Return to the train.
18:00 Depart for Komatipoort, South Africa. Border formalities take place.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Malelane. Dress: Formal
The tiny Kingdom of eSwatini (Swaziland) covers only 17 000km2, 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. It is landlocked and borders South Africa and Mozambique. At Swazi Candles, guests are invited to interact with the artisans as they make a variety of candles. Woodcarvings, colourful textiles and superb basketwork are also on display. Mantenga Lodge is nestled in the mountains overlooking ‘Execution Rock’.
Day 8: Off Board Excursion: Kruger Prak
If available, golf at Leopard Creek may be booked on request for your own account
05h30 Breakfast is served in the dining cars.
06h30 Game drive in the Kruger National Park with tea, lunch and an opportunity for curio shopping.
15h00 Return to the train.
16h30 Tea is served. The train travels west across the Drakensberg Mountains and climbs the spectacular escarpment.
19h30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal
Day 9: Off Board Excursion
Dullstroom
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars. Enjoy a presentation on flyfishing followed by lunch at Walkerson’s Hotel.
15:00 Return to Dullstroom for an introduction to whisky distilling and a tour of the Arts & Crafts Centre.
19:30 Dinner is served. Dress: “1920s” Theme or Smart Casual Highland Gate
07:00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure.
08:45 Transfer (±40 min) to Highland Gate for tee off and lunch.
16:30 Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: “1920s” Theme or Smart Casual
Day 10: Please ensure luggage is ready for collection 15 minutes before arrival and that you have your passport.
07h00 Breakfast is served in the dining cars.
10h00 The train arrives at journey’s end at Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria.