Rovos Rail & Wilderness Safari Experience

13 May –
18 May 2025
Experience the ultimate safari, luxury, and history, from Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge and uMhlanga’s ocean views to Rovos Rail’s breathtaking landscapes and fine dining.

What to expect

Itinerary

Day 1-2
Luxury safari, Big 5, and relaxation

  • Meet us at KSI Durban Airport (about 11:00) for a two-night stay at the beautiful Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge in Africa’s oldest game reserve, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.
  • Engage in mindful luxury with daily game drives through a Big 5 wilderness, known for its commitment to rhino conservation. Explore a sanctuary that is home to rhinos, elephants, leopards, and wild dogs, all under the guidance of expert rangers.
  • Enjoy bird watching, with over 400 species to discover. Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park is home to about half of all bird species in the Southern Hemisphere, with 16% classified as red data species.
  • Relax at the spa, lounge by the pool, enjoy a cosy campfire, or simply bask in the tranquillity of Zululand’s natural beauty.

 

Highlight: Daily game drives through a stunning Big 5 wilderness

Day 3
Safari adventure, ocean views, gourmet dining

  • Begin your day with breakfast, soaking in the spirit of Africa.
  • Afterward, we make our way to a prestigious luxury hotel in uMhlanga, where you can enjoy a delightful three-course dinner paired with stunning ocean views and a refined atmosphere.

 

Highlight: A three-course dinner with stunning ocean views

Day 4
Durban sights, ceramics, and the countryside

  • The Rovos Rail journey begins with an early transfer from the Beverly Hills Hotel to Durban Station, followed by a welcome speech.
  • Depart from Durban, passing through cultural sights, botanical gardens, and shark-protected beaches. Enjoy views of the Valley of a Thousand Hills as you relax in the lounge and observation cars.
  • Lunch is served in the dining cars, with a four-course meal accompanied by outstanding South African wines.
  • Explore the Ardmore Ceramics Gallery, then take a leisurely stroll through the gorgeous views of the Piggly Wiggly country market and its inviting restaurants.
  • Enjoy a formal dinner on board as you journey towards Ladysmith, passing the Winston Churchill memorial near Frere, the historic site of the Boer War ambush.

Highlights: Durban’s cultural sights and Ardmore Ceramics.

Day 5
Drakensberg views, historical landmarks, and a scenic journey

  • Breakfast is served in the dining car at your leisure.
  • Savour lunch in the dining cars while taking in the breathtaking views of the Drakensberg Mountains, which were named by the Voortrekkers for their dragon-like peaks, as you travel through this beautiful region.
  • Enjoy a formal dinner as you head towards Vooruitsig. You’ll pass Glencoe, the location of the first battle of the Anglo-Boer War and now a central hub for coal mining, followed by Newcastle, which boasts the largest cella-dome Hindu temple in the Southern Hemisphere. Your journey then makes its descent down Majuba Hill, the site of the pivotal battle that concluded the First Anglo-Boer War.

Highlights: Durban’s cultural sights and Ardmore Ceramics.

Day 6
Witwatersrand goldfields, Highveld landscapes, and arrival in Pretoria

  • Enjoy breakfast as the train travels through the Witwatersrand goldfields, passing Balfour and Heidelberg, where the first Rand gold strike occurred.
  • Lunch is served in the elegant dining cars.
  • Arrive at Roves Rail Station, Pretoria, marking the end of your journey of time and elegance.

Highlights: The journey through the historic Witwatersrand goldfields, passing the site of the first Rand gold strike.

  • Meet us at KSI Durban Airport (about 11:00) for a two-night stay at the beautiful Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge in Africa’s oldest game reserve, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.
  • Engage in mindful luxury with daily game drives through a Big 5 wilderness, known for its commitment to rhino conservation. Explore a sanctuary that is home to rhinos, elephants, leopards, and wild dogs, all under the guidance of expert rangers.
  • Enjoy bird watching, with over 400 species to discover. Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park is home to about half of all bird species in the Southern Hemisphere, with 16% classified as red data species.
  • Relax at the spa, lounge by the pool, enjoy a cosy campfire, or simply bask in the tranquillity of Zululand’s natural beauty.

 

Highlight: Daily game drives through a stunning Big 5 wilderness

  • Begin your day with breakfast, soaking in the spirit of Africa.
  • Afterward, we make our way to a prestigious luxury hotel in uMhlanga, where you can enjoy a delightful three-course dinner paired with stunning ocean views and a refined atmosphere.

 

Highlight: A three-course dinner with stunning ocean views

  • The Rovos Rail journey begins with an early transfer from the Beverly Hills Hotel to Durban Station, followed by a welcome speech.
  • Depart from Durban, passing through cultural sights, botanical gardens, and shark-protected beaches. Enjoy views of the Valley of a Thousand Hills as you relax in the lounge and observation cars.
  • Lunch is served in the dining cars, with a four-course meal accompanied by outstanding South African wines.
  • Explore the Ardmore Ceramics Gallery, then take a leisurely stroll through the gorgeous views of the Piggly Wiggly country market and its inviting restaurants.
  • Enjoy a formal dinner on board as you journey towards Ladysmith, passing the Winston Churchill memorial near Frere, the historic site of the Boer War ambush.

Highlights: Durban’s cultural sights and Ardmore Ceramics.

  • Breakfast is served in the dining car at your leisure.
  • Savour lunch in the dining cars while taking in the breathtaking views of the Drakensberg Mountains, which were named by the Voortrekkers for their dragon-like peaks, as you travel through this beautiful region.
  • Enjoy a formal dinner as you head towards Vooruitsig. You’ll pass Glencoe, the location of the first battle of the Anglo-Boer War and now a central hub for coal mining, followed by Newcastle, which boasts the largest cella-dome Hindu temple in the Southern Hemisphere. Your journey then makes its descent down Majuba Hill, the site of the pivotal battle that concluded the First Anglo-Boer War.

Highlights: Durban’s cultural sights and Ardmore Ceramics.

  • Enjoy breakfast as the train travels through the Witwatersrand goldfields, passing Balfour and Heidelberg, where the first Rand gold strike occurred.
  • Lunch is served in the elegant dining cars.
  • Arrive at Roves Rail Station, Pretoria, marking the end of your journey of time and elegance.

Highlights: The journey through the historic Witwatersrand goldfields, passing the site of the first Rand gold strike.

Experience the vibrance of Rovos Rail & Wilderness Safari Experience

A journey of time and elegance

Take a sensory trip to the tranquil Rhino Ridge Safari Lodge in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, where you’ll experience daily game drives through the Big 5 wilderness, guided by expert rangers, and witness rhinos, elephants, and leopards in their natural habitat. Continue your journey to a prestigious luxury hotel in uMhlanga, where you’ll indulge in a delightful three-course meal paired with stunning ocean views and a refined atmosphere.

Onboard Rovos Rail, enjoy breathtaking Drakensberg views, the taste of fine dining, and the historical landscapes of the Anglo-Boer War. Finish with the golden glow of the Witwatersrand goldfields, completing a journey for all the senses.

 

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FAQs

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.

You can contact us at info@seagulltours.co.za or +27 42 296 0475