THE GREAT ESCAPE
Your Great Adventure
- Includes
- Itinerary
- Tour Highlights
- Gallery
- Price & Dates
- Hotels
What's included
8 January 2024 - 29 October 2025
- Accommodation
- All meals and beverages
- Room service
- Limited laundry
- Guided excursions (where applicable)
- Government tax
- Off-train beverages
- International sparkling wine
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Visa
- Travel insurance
- Pre and post tour accommodation
- Flights and transfers
- DAY 1
- DAY 2
- DAY 3
- DAY 4
- DAY 5
- DAY 6
- DAY 7
- DAY 8
- DAY 9
- DAY 10
PRETORIA
12:00 pm Depart Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria. Guests may freshen up in their suites before meeting fellow passengers in the lounge car and observation car.
13:00 pm Lunch is served in the dining cars en route to Rustenburg.
16:30 pm Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 pm 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.
GARY PLAYER/LOST CITY
6:00 am 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 pm Return to the train.
20:00 pm Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Heidelberg. Dress: Formal
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.
CHAMPAGNE SPORTS
6:00 am Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure.
Transfer (±60 min) to Champagne Sports Resort for tee off and lunch.
17:00 pm Return to the train.
19:30 pm 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
DURBAN/EDGECOMBE/COTSWOLD
6:00 am Breakfast is served until departure.
Transfer to Durban (±15 min) OR Beachwood (±15 min) for tee off and lunch.
16:30 pm Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 pm Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Hluhluwe. Dress: Formal
Please ensure that the Train Manager or Admin Deputy is in possession of your passport.
HLUHLUWE-IMFOLOZI PARK
5:00 am Continental breakfast is served until departure.
6:00 am 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.
10:30 am Return to the train.
12:00 pm Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train travels towards eSwatini. Border formalities take place.
16:30 pm Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 pm Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Mpaka. Dress: Formal
ROYAL SWAZI SUN
6:00 am Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure.
Transfer (±90 min) to Royal Swazi Sun for tee off and lunch.
16:00 pm Return to the train.
18:00 pm Depart for Komatipoort, South Africa.
19:30 pm Border formalities take place.
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’.
KRUGER PARK
5:30 am Breakfast is served in the dining cars.
6:30 am Game drive in the Kruger National Park with tea, lunch and an opportunity for curio shopping.
15:00 pm Return to the train.
16:30 pm Tea is served. The train travels west across the Drakensberg Mountains and climbs the spectacular escarpment.
19:30 pm Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal
HIGHLAND GATE
7:00 am Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure.
8:45 am Transfer (±40 min) to Highland Gate for tee off and lunch.
16:30 pm Tea in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 pm Dinner is served in the dining cars.
Dress: “1920s” Theme or Smart Casual
PRETORIA
Please ensure luggage is ready for collection 15 minutes before arrival and that you have your passport.
7:00 am Breakfast is served in the dining cars.
10:00 am The train arrives at journey’s end at Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria
This safari travels the northeastern reaches of South Africa and will entertain the most discerning golfers with a delightful itinerary for non-playing guests. Travel from Pretoria to Sun City* in the hills of the Pilanesberg for game viewing. Cross the spectacular Drakensberg Mountains to Spionkop*, the perfect base for exploring the mountains, bush, birds and battlefields of the region. Traverse the scenic Valley of a Thousand Hills to Durban* for a tour of the city and botanical gardens. Interact with artisans as they create highly decorative and geometric-shaped candles. The game viewing continues at Hluhluwe in Zululand (one of the oldest reserves in the country), Mkhaya* (eSwatini’s refuge for endangered species) and the world-famous Kruger Park in Malelane*. See Dullstoom’s arts and crafts and visit the Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Centre. Enjoy a presentation on flyfishing and an introduction to whisky after which this memorable journey ends in Pretoria
Dates for all suites | Pullman Suite | Deluxe Suite | Royal Suite | Single Occupancy |
---|---|---|---|---|
8 Jan - 17 Jan 2024 | RM 23,940 | RM 36,360 | RM 47,730 | Deluxe: RM 50,900 / Pullman: RM 33,520 |
21 Feb - 1 Mar 2024 | RM 23,940 | RM 36,360 | RM 47,730 | Deluxe: RM 50,900 / Pullman: RM 33,520 |
11 Sep - 20 Sep 2024 | RM 23,940 | RM 36,360 | RM 47,730 | Deluxe: RM 50,900 / Pullman: RM 33,520 |
21 Oct - 30 Oct 2024 | RM 23,940 | RM 36,360 | RM 47,730 | Deluxe: RM 50,900 / Pullman: RM 33,520 |
6 Jan - 15 Jan 2025 | RM 25,990 | RM 39,380 | RM 51,980 | Deluxe: RM 55,130 / Pullman: RM 36,360 |
24 Feb - 5 Mar 2025 | RM 25,990 | RM 39,380 | RM 51,980 | Deluxe: RM 55,130 / Pullman: RM 36,360 |
10 Sep - 19 Sep 2025 | RM 25,990 | RM 39,380 | RM 51,980 | Deluxe: RM 55,130 / Pullman: RM 36,360 |
20 Oct - 29 Oct 2025 | RM 25,990 | RM 39,380 | RM 51,980 | Deluxe: RM 55,130 / Pullman: RM 36,360 |