Rovos Rail & Chobe Princesses
27 Aug –
2 Sep 2026
- 7 Days
- Luxury Accommodation
- 17 Meals
- Group size: 15
SOLD OUT
From Pretoria to Victoria Falls, uncover raw beauty, rare wildlife, and quiet.
Itinerary
We meet at Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria. Mahogany panelling, pressed linen and the quiet elegance of the observation car set the tone for a journey that moves at the pace of a different time.
Settle into your suite, then make your way to the lounge or observation car. As we travel north, the landscape opens: Bela Bela, known for its natural springs, and Nylstroom, once mistaken as the Nile’s source by early Voortrekkers. We cross the Tropic of Capricorn and pass the edge of the escarpment, where the Highveld drops away into open country.
Lunch and tea are served on board. By evening, we reach the Limpopo River and cross into Zimbabwe at Beitbridge. The rhythm of the train continues into the night.
Highlight:
Wake to baobab-dotted plains as we continue north. Breakfast is served in the dining car until 10:00.
The train moves towards Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second city – a place shaped by industry, history and the heart of Matabeleland.
Lunch and tea are served on board. By evening, we approach Mpopoma for an overnight stop.
Highlight:
Start your day with breakfast in the elegant dining cars as the train glides through the early light.
We continue our journey between Gwaai and Dete, travelling one of the world’s longest straight railway stretches—114 kilometres of untamed landscape skimming the edge of Hwange National Park.
After lunch on board, we disembark at The Hide for an unforgettable game drive through Hwange’s raw wilderness.
As evening falls, return to the train for a formal dinner served en route to Thompsons Junction.
Highlights:
This morning, we arrive at the colonial-era station in Victoria Falls and check in at the Victoria Falls Hotel. Built in 1904, its shaded verandas and arched colonnades carry a quiet kind of grandeur.
Lunch is served at the Lookout Café, perched high above the gorge. The afternoon is yours to explore, wander, or simply listen to the thundering water in the distance. Dinner is at your leisure.
Highlight:
We begin the day with a guided walk along the edge of Victoria Falls. The local name, Mosi-oa-Tunya, captures it perfectly: the smoke that thunders. Rainbows arc through the mist. The sound rolls like distant drums.
Later, we cross into Botswana and board our private houseboat on the Chobe River. Life slows here. Watch elephants gather at the water’s edge or drift closer on a small boat. You may choose to fish, read, or simply enjoy the gentle movement of the water.
Highlights:
There’s no rush. Wake to birdsong, fresh coffee, and the stillness of the river. This is your day.
Take a tender boat out for guided water-based game viewing and birding, try your hand at catch-and-release fishing, or join a photographic safari with one of our guides. You can also visit a nearby village on the Namibian bank for a cultural tour, or simply stay on board and let the river come to you. Watch for bee-eaters, open-billed storks, and herons. In the evening, herds of elephants often return to bathe before nightfall.
Dinner is served on board as we settle in for a final night on the water.
Highlights:
After breakfast, we disembark and transfer to Kasane Airport for our return flight to Johannesburg.
The rhythm of the river stays with you.
Highlight:
We meet at Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria. Mahogany panelling, pressed linen and the quiet elegance of the observation car set the tone for a journey that moves at the pace of a different time.
Settle into your suite, then make your way to the lounge or observation car. As we travel north, the landscape opens: Bela Bela, known for its natural springs, and Nylstroom, once mistaken as the Nile’s source by early Voortrekkers. We cross the Tropic of Capricorn and pass the edge of the escarpment, where the Highveld drops away into open country.
Lunch and tea are served on board. By evening, we reach the Limpopo River and cross into Zimbabwe at Beitbridge. The rhythm of the train continues into the night.
Highlight:
Wake to baobab-dotted plains as we continue north. Breakfast is served in the dining car until 10:00.
The train moves towards Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second city – a place shaped by industry, history and the heart of Matabeleland.
Lunch and tea are served on board. By evening, we approach Mpopoma for an overnight stop.
Highlight:
Start your day with breakfast in the elegant dining cars as the train glides through the early light.
We continue our journey between Gwaai and Dete, travelling one of the world’s longest straight railway stretches—114 kilometres of untamed landscape skimming the edge of Hwange National Park.
After lunch on board, we disembark at The Hide for an unforgettable game drive through Hwange’s raw wilderness.
As evening falls, return to the train for a formal dinner served en route to Thompsons Junction.
Highlights:
This morning, we arrive at the colonial-era station in Victoria Falls and check in at the Victoria Falls Hotel. Built in 1904, its shaded verandas and arched colonnades carry a quiet kind of grandeur.
Lunch is served at the Lookout Café, perched high above the gorge. The afternoon is yours to explore, wander, or simply listen to the thundering water in the distance. Dinner is at your leisure.
Highlight:
We begin the day with a guided walk along the edge of Victoria Falls. The local name, Mosi-oa-Tunya, captures it perfectly: the smoke that thunders. Rainbows arc through the mist. The sound rolls like distant drums.
Later, we cross into Botswana and board our private houseboat on the Chobe River. Life slows here. Watch elephants gather at the water’s edge or drift closer on a small boat. You may choose to fish, read, or simply enjoy the gentle movement of the water.
Highlights:
There’s no rush. Wake to birdsong, fresh coffee, and the stillness of the river. This is your day.
Take a tender boat out for guided water-based game viewing and birding, try your hand at catch-and-release fishing, or join a photographic safari with one of our guides. You can also visit a nearby village on the Namibian bank for a cultural tour, or simply stay on board and let the river come to you. Watch for bee-eaters, open-billed storks, and herons. In the evening, herds of elephants often return to bathe before nightfall.
Dinner is served on board as we settle in for a final night on the water.
Highlights:
After breakfast, we disembark and transfer to Kasane Airport for our return flight to Johannesburg.
The rhythm of the river stays with you.
Highlight:
Back in Time
Step aboard Rovos Rail in Pretoria and begin a rail journey that winds through Botswana’s dry heartland and into Zimbabwe’s wild open spaces. Pause for a game drive in Hwange, then continue to the edge of Victoria Falls for a stay at the iconic Victoria Falls Hotel. After a walk beside the thundering gorge, drift into the slower rhythm of life on the Chobe River aboard a private houseboat. Expect rich landscapes, quiet luxury, and moments of stillness along the way.
We care about our guests
Seagull Travel & Tours crafts small group tours that offer luxury, convenience, and spontaneous moments of joy.
Seagull travels around the world
Seagull curates and facilitates exceptional travel experiences to premium destinations worldwide.
We are here to help
The tour leader collects a set amount from each member of a tour. This kitty is then used to tip the local tour guide and city guides, bus drivers, any other assistants, and restaurant staff. We believe in tipping for good service as a token of appreciation, especially as many workers in tourism rely on tips to supplement their income.
Although we cannot apply on your behalf, we are more than willing to give guidance and assistance with completing forms. We do this for many clients on a near-daily basis. It does, however, remain the responsibility of the client to ensure that they get the correct visa on time.
Remember that we limit the number of guests on our tours. This means more time at stops and sites. We definitely do not do groups of 30 pax, where guests are rushed from one site to the other. There is enough time to explore on your own.
We always suggest USD/Euro 50 to USD/Euro 100 per person per day. As we mostly include two meals per day on our tours, this will be enough for lunch/dinner, some snacks, and memento shopping. Should you want to buy larger items, we suggest taking along your credit card. Remember to advise the bank that you will be travelling.
Once you have completed the form, you will receive an email with the itinerary which includes pricing, inclusions and flight options.
You can contact us at info@seagulltours.co.za or +27 42 296 0475