The train is a collection of carriages dating from as far back as the 1920s, hand-sourced and painstakingly restored by owner and operator Rohan Vos. Four of these trains traverse the continent on trips ranging from two or three day jaunts in South Africa to 14-day trans-continental safaris. The trains have been a labour of love for Vos and he still endeavours to greet all departures and arrivals personally.

The Pride of Africa comprises a number of sleeping cars, two dining cars, a lounge car and an observation car with large windows and open-air balconies. It travels at a maximum speed of 60km/h so you can take in the views and, hopefully, see a few animals. There are no televisions, radios, newspapers or internet access, and mobile phones and laptops can only be used in your suite, so a pleasantly old-fashioned atmosphere prevails onboard. This must be how Cecil Rhodes (English-born colonialist and founder of diamond company De Beers) travelled the country.

As with most great train journeys, days are scheduled around meal times. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in single sittings in the Victorian dining cars with fine china, crisp linen and polished silver. Passengers are required to dress for dinner, with jacket and tie a minimum requirement. The focus is on fresh produce and local specialties accompanied by a selection of South African wines. Game is a popular inclusion, so the kudu or gemsbok that you can see out the window may also make an appearance on your plate.

There are three styles of plush suites onboard – Royal, Deluxe and Pullman. All are wood panelled with period Edwardian features, though with a few modern updates like air- conditioning, ensuite and complimentary mini-bar. The Royal Suites take up half a carriage, measuring 16 square metres in total. They feature twin or double beds, a separate lounge and a full bathroom complete with chequerboard tiles and freestanding Victorian bathtub. The 11 square metre Deluxe Suites offer similar features, including a private lounge, though with only a shower in the ensuite. The Pullman Suites convert from a lounge with sofa-seat to a double or twin sleeper for the evening.

Most of The Pride of Africa’s journeys depart from the private Capital Park Station in Pretoria, branching out in all directions to Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Durban, Namibia and even as far afield as Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania. The Cape Town and Victoria Falls itineraries are the most popular.

The 1,600-kilometre journey from Pretoria to Cape Town takes a leisurely 48 hours (the journey also operates in the opposite direction). The train departs Pretoria in the afternoon, making its way southwest towards Kimberly across the Highveld, a dry grassland plateau the size of Belgium. Just outside of the town of Kimberley it passes Kamfers Dam, a large, shallow lake on the outskirts of the city. It supports the largest population of Lesser Flamingos in southern Africa. At most times of the year huge flocks of around 23,000, and even up to 60,000, birds can be seen from the train, covering the surface of the water in a mass of pale pink feathers.

Passengers disembark at Kimberley and can spend the morning exploring the “diamond city”, home of the De Beers diamond mines. Kimberley’s other claim to fame is the aptly named Big Hole, the world’s largest hand dug excavation. 22.5 million tonnes of earth was taken out of the hole between 1871 and 1914, which is a lot of dirt when you’re only using picks and shovels.

The train continues across the semi-desert of the Great Karoo National Park towards Matjiesfontein. This is some of the most barren and unforgiving landscape in the country, but it is also home to fascinating wildlife including springbok, black rhinoceros and the Cape Mountain zebra.

The final leg of the journey travels through the Hex River Valley, passing through the Breede River wine region and the town of Worcester, to arrive in Cape Town in the early evening. The scenic wine lands, mountain ranges and ocean that surround Cape Town make for a fittingly grand end to the journey.

This three-night adventure heads north from Pretoria, winding through Zimbabwe and finishing at the magnificent ‘smoke that thunders’, Victoria Falls. The first leg of the route passes through Warmbaths, a region known for its mineral springs, and into Modimolle (formerly Nylstroom). The train reaches the Zimbabwean border by evening, crossing at the town of Beitbridge.

The train continues travelling northwest through Zimbabwe, passing through Bulawayo, the second largest city in the country. By lunchtime on the third day, the train is passing through the Hwange National Park, the largest in Zimbabwe. Passengers will be able to spot game from the windows and the park is known for its large elephant population, as well as buffalo, zebra, lion and wild dog. The train pauses for an afternoon game drive at The Hide, an exclusive camp within the park where herds of animals gather at the waterhole for an evening drink.

The next morning, the Pride of Africa crosses the Zambezi River and rolls into Victoria Falls Station. The station is adjacent to the historic Victoria Falls Hotel, dating back to 1904 and still one of the grandest luxury hotels in the country. Passengers can get up close to the falls on a helicopter or microlight flight, go whitewater rafting along the Zambezi River or take a dip in the Devil’s Pool, a natural rock pool set right on the edge of a sheer drop into the falls.

Start your journey

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