The Pride of Africa 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 two or three-day jaunts in South Africa to 14-day trans-continental safaris.

There are no televisions, radios, newspapers or Internet access, so a pleasantly old-fashioned atmosphere prevails on board. This must be how Cecil Rhodes (English-born colonialist and founder of diamond company De Beers) travelled the country.

All rooms are wood-panelled with period Edwardian features, though with modern updates like air-conditioning, en-suites and complimentary mini-bar. The largest rooms, the Royal Suites, take up half a carriage, measuring 16sqm in total. They feature twin or double beds, a separate lounge and a full bathroom complete with chequerboard tiles and freestanding Victorian bathtub. The smallest, the Pullman Suites, convert from a lounge with sofa-seat to a double or twin sleeper for the evening

Meals 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

Most of the train 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 three-night Pretoria to Victoria Falls adventure passes through Warmbaths, a region known for its mineral springs, and into Modimolle (formerly Nylstroom). 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 micro light 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.

In July 2019 Rovos Rail will set off on a new 15-day expedition through Tanzania, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Angola. It will be the first time in history that a passenger train will travel the famous east-to-west copper trail on this route.