Rovos Rail Golf Safari: A 9-Night Luxury Train Adventure through Southern Africa's Premier Golf Courses

12:00 – Depart Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria. Guests settle into their suites before gathering in the lounge and observation cars. 13:00 – Lunch is served in the dining cars as the train travels en route to Rustenburg. 16:30 – Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars. 19:30 – Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal.

The journey begins from Pretoria, a city known for its historic charm. The train then makes its way towards Rustenburg, an old town that flourished as a church and administrative hub for a rich farming area. Rustenburg is also the gateway to the Pilanesberg Mountains, a volcanic valley that cradles the fantastical Sun City Resort. This resort, opened in 1979 in what was then Bophuthatswana, offered entertainment like gambling, which was banned in South Africa. Sun City became a hub for desegregated crowds in the 80s, hosting acts like the Beach Boys and Queen. Today, it boasts two championship golf courses – one with crocodiles guarding the 13th hole – bordered by the Pilanesberg National Park, home to the Big Five and a robust conservation programme.

06:00 – Breakfast is served in the dining cars. 07:45 – (Leisure Guests) Transfer (±60 min) to Sun City for a 09:00 Game drive in the Pilanesberg Reserve. 12:00 – Lunch with the golfers, followed by an afternoon at leisure at Lost City's Sun City. 17:30 – Return to the train. 20:00 – Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal.

(Golfers) 06:00 – 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 – Return to the train. 20:00 – Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Heidelberg. Dress: Formal.

Pilanesberg National Park, an ancient volcanic crater, is a wilderness wonderland rising from the dust. It is home to the Big Five and offers a vigorous conservation programme. The Gary Player Golf Course, an award-winning design by Gary Player, offers 8000 yards of golfing pleasure with mesmerising views. The Lost City Golf Course, also designed by Gary Player, spans over 100 hectares with 28,000 square metres of water features, including the famous 13th signature hole with a green shaped like Africa, bordered by a pond, and home to several large crocodiles.

Day at leisure on board. All meals enjoyed on board en route to Ladysmith. Dress: “Africa” Theme or Smart Casual.

The train climbs to Majuba Hill, the site of the decisive battle that ended the First Anglo Boer War. It then passes Newcastle, which boasts what is reputed to be the largest cella-dome Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere. The journey continues through Glencoe, site of the first battle of the Anglo Boer War and now the centre of the province’s coalfields.

06:00 – Breakfast is served in the dining cars. 09:00 – (Leisure Guests) Transfer (±30 min) to Spionkop Lodge to hear the historic tale of the Battle of Spionkop with lunch. 14:00 – Afternoon game drive in the 11,000-acre reserve OR relax at the lodge. Return to the train at 16:00. 16:30 – Tea in the lounge and observation cars. 19:30 – Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal.

(Golfers) 06:00 – Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Transfer (±60 min) to Champagne Sports Resort for tee off and lunch. 17:00 – Return to the train. 19:30 – 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.

Spionkop is steeped in Anglo-Boer War history, offering a poignant look at a decisive battle. The Champagne Sports Resort, nestled in the Drakensberg, boasts one of South Africa's most scenically memorable golf layouts, designed by Hugh Baiocchi and Kevin Curren. This mountain course, at 7,400m, undulates through a valley with well-appointed bunkers and enjoys gentle vistas.

06:00 – Breakfast is served in the dining cars. 09:00 – (Leisure Guests) Enjoy a Durban city tour, a visit to the botanical gardens and lunch at Umhlanga's beachfront with an afternoon at leisure. 16:30 – Tea in the lounge and observation cars. 19:30 – Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal. Please ensure that the Train Manager or Admin Deputy is in possession of your passport.

(Golfers) 05:30 – Continental breakfast is served until departure. Transfer to Durban Country Club (±15 min) OR Mt Edgecombe (±20 min) OR Cotswold Downs (±30 min) for tee off and lunch. 16:30 – Tea in the lounge and observation cars. 19:30 – Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal. Please ensure that the Train Manager or Admin Deputy is in possession of your passport.

Durban, a vibrant coastal city, offers a blend of Indian, Zulu, and colonial influences. The Durban Botanical Gardens are a tranquil oasis, and Umhlanga's beachfront provides stunning ocean views. The Durban Country Club, established in 1922, is renowned for its classic Cape Dutch architecture and semi-links course. Mount Edgecombe Country Club boasts two 18-hole championship courses, The Woods and The Lakes. Cotswold Downs offers parklands golf with rolling hills and natural water features.

05:00 – Continental breakfast is served until departure. 06:00 – Transfer (±30 min) to Hluhluwe for a game drive. 10:30 – Return to the train. 12:00 – Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train travels towards eSwatini. Border formalities take place. 16:30 – Tea in the lounge and observation cars. 19:30 – Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Mpaka. Dress: Formal.

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, the oldest proclaimed reserve in Africa, spans 960km² of hilly topography. It is renowned for its rich wildlife and significant conservation efforts, particularly for white rhino. The journey then continues towards the Kingdom of eSwatini (formerly Swaziland), a small, landlocked country bordering South Africa and Mozambique, known for its mountainous terrain and absolute monarchy. Border formalities are conducted as the train approaches Mpaka, eSwatini.

05:30 – Breakfast is served in the dining cars. 07:00 – (Leisure Guests) Transfer (±60 min) to Mkhaya Reserve. Board game vehicles for a game drive. 10:00 – Transfer (±90 min) to Swazi Candles for a visit with lunch and an opportunity for curio shopping. Transfer (±15 min) to Royal Swazi to join the golfers AND/OR return to the train (±90 min). 16:30 – Tea in the lounge and observation cars. 19:30 – Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal.

(Golfers) 05:30 – Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. Transfer (±90 min) to Royal Swazi Sun for tee off and lunch. 16:00 – Return to the train. 18:00 – Depart for Komatipoort, South Africa. Border formalities take place. 19:30 – Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Malelane. Dress: Formal.

The Kingdom of eSwatini is a tiny but mountainous country known for its absolute monarchy and two capital cities. Mkhaya Game Reserve is a sanctuary for endangered species. Swazi Candles is a vibrant artisan workshop where guests can interact with artisans creating candles, woodcarvings, textiles, and basketwork. The Royal Swazi Sun Golf Course, opened in 1966, is a spectacular championship course laid out on the slopes of the Lebombo Range, featuring challenging lakes, gullies, and indigenous plants.

05:30 – Breakfast is served in the dining cars. 06:30 – Game drive in the Kruger National Park with tea, lunch and an opportunity for curio shopping. 15:00 – Return to the train. 16:30 – Tea is served. The train travels west across the Drakensberg Mountains and climbs the spectacular escarpment. 19:30 – Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal.

Kruger National Park is one of Africa’s most iconic wildlife destinations, famous for its incredible biodiversity and opportunities to see the Big Five. The game drive offers an immersive experience in this vast wilderness. After returning to the train, the journey takes a dramatic turn, ascending the spectacular Drakensberg Mountains escarpment, a geological marvel offering breathtaking views. Guests may also request to golf at Leopard Creek, if available, for their own account, with breakfast served until departure on that day.

07:00 – Breakfast is served in the dining cars. 07:00 – (Leisure Guests) Enjoy a presentation on flyfishing followed by lunch at Walkerson's Hotel. 15:00 – Return to Dullstroom for an introduction to whisky distilling and a tour of the Arts & Crafts Centre. 19:30 – Dinner is served. Dress: “1920s” Theme or Smart Casual.

(Golfers) 07:00 – Breakfast is served in the dining cars until departure. 08:45 – Transfer (±40 min) to Highland Gate for tee off and lunch. 16:30 – Tea in the lounge and observation cars. 19:30 – Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: “1920s” Theme or Smart Casual.

Dullstroom, nestled in the Steenkampsberg mountain range, is renowned for its fly-fishing and whisky. Walkerson's Hotel is a popular lodge in the area. Highland Gate Golf & Trout Estate boasts an Ernie Els signature course, offering a challenging yet fair 18-hole layout with dramatic elevation changes and strategic hazard placement, making it a truly memorable golf experience in a unique setting.

Please ensure luggage is ready for collection 15 minutes before arrival and that you have your passport. 07:00 – Breakfast is served in the dining cars. 10:00 – The train arrives at journey's end at Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria.