Luxury Train Holiday in Cape Town in February 2027

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Cape Town to Pretoria (3 nights) on Rovos Rail

Cape Town to Pretoria (3 nights) on Rovos Rail

Day 1: Departure

Arrive at the Rovos Rail Lounge in Cape Town between 09h00 and 09h30; listen to the departure speech before boarding the train, which departs Cape Town Station at 11h00. Travel inland through the Winelands, ascending 750m through four tunnels (including the 13.5km Hex River tunnel) towards Worcester. Please remember there is no onboard WiFi; consider this a forced, yet highly luxurious, digital detox.

Day 2: Matjiesfontein

Disembark for a morning stroll through the historic Victorian village of Matjiesfontein, founded in 1884 by Scottish railwayman James Logan. Explore the Lord Milner Hotel, the vintage car and railway carriage collection, and the Laird's Arms Pub before reboarding the train to traverse the Great Karoo - a landscape so quietly beautiful you might actually forget to check your phone.

Day 3: Kimberley Diamond Mine

Enjoy breakfast as the train approaches Kimberley, the historic heart of South Africa's 1871 diamond rush. Disembark to tour the Kimberley Diamond Mine Museum and peer into the Big Hole (now partially filled with water) before returning to the dining cars for lunch and a final formal dinner on board.

Day 4: Arrival in Pretoria

Scheduled to arrive at 16h00 at the private Rovos Rail Capital Park Station in Pretoria. Take time to explore the working locomotive sheds and railway museum if you wish. When you book, ask us to include a complimentary chauffeur transfer to your destination in Gauteng.

Special Offer: Free chauffeur transfer
Upcoming Availability
Updated 4 Nov 2026
2 Feb 2027 (11h00) 1 Royal 22 Deluxe 7 Pullman
15 Feb 2027 (11h00) 4 Royal 15 Deluxe
16 Feb 2027 (11h00) 2 Royal 16 Deluxe 12 Pullman
23 Feb 2027 (11h00) 1 Royal 19 Deluxe 6 Pullman
PULLMAN: ZAR 54,000 per person sharing
DELUXE: ZAR 78,000 per person sharing
ROYAL: ZAR 104,000 per person sharing
Cape Town to Pretoria (2 nights) on Blue Train

Cape Town to Pretoria (2 nights) on Blue Train

Day 1: Departure

Enjoy a complimentary chauffeur transfer to The Blue Train Lounge at Cape Town Station. Registration and check-in take place while you enjoy pre-departure snacks and drinks. Board the train, settle into your luxurious suite, and depart the Mother City. The train glides through the Cape Winelands towards the majestic Hex River Valley. Stay connected to home using the train's complimentary onboard WiFi - though we strongly recommend looking out the window instead.

Day 2: Matjiesfontein

Disembark at Matjiesfontein, a perfectly preserved Victorian railway village. Enjoy a glass of sherry at the bar of the Lord Milner Hotel and soak in the historical charm of the 19th-century architecture before returning to the train to continue your journey through the starkly beautiful Karoo.

Day 3: Arrival in Pretoria

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and a light lunch as the train winds its way through the Highveld. The train is scheduled to arrive at the main Pretoria Train Station by late afternoon. Upon disembarking, enjoy a complimentary chauffeur transfer to your final destination in Pretoria or Johannesburg.

Special Offer: Complimentary night at The Capital 5 Star Hotel, before your 2-night Blue Train journey
Upcoming Availability
February 2027 11 (13h00), 18 (13h00), 25 (13h00)
De Luxe: ZAR 45,565 per person sharing
Luxury: ZAR 58,135 per person sharing
Pretoria to Cape Town (3 nights) on Rovos Rail

Pretoria to Cape Town (3 nights) on Rovos Rail

Day 1: Departure

Arrive at the private Rovos Rail Capital Park Station in Pretoria (this is a dedicated, privately owned station, distinct from the main Pretoria Train Station used by The Blue Train) for check-in between 08h00 and 08h30. Explore working loco sheds, coaches being restored by hand, and a museum of railway memorabilia. Listen to the departure speech before boarding the train, which is scheduled to depart at 10h00 (it is not uncommon for the train to depart late if there is traffic on the mainline - Africa operates on its own elegant clock). Your hostess will take you to your suite and get you settled in. Enjoy lunch as the train travels south through the goldfields of the Witwatersrand. Please note that to preserve the traditional golden-era atmosphere, there is no WiFi on board Rovos Rail; connectivity relies entirely on your mobile device passing close to cellular towers.

Day 2: Kimberley Diamond Mine

Disembark in Kimberley for a tour of the city, the Diamond Mine Museum, and the Big Hole (now filled with water), which is the largest hand-dug excavation in the world - a rather impressive testament to humanity's glittering obsessions. Return to the train for lunch as it traverses the vast, ancient plains of the Karoo.

Day 3: Matjiesfontein

The train traverses a vast semi-desert region called the Karoo. Enjoy a morning visit to the historic village of Matjiesfontein (there is the opportunity to disembark at Whitehill Siding to walk the last 5km to the town, should you feel the sudden, inexplicable urge for actual exercise). At Matjiesfontein, visit the Lord Milner Hotel, the Marie Rawdon Museum, the Laird's Arms Pub, the historic church, and the post office. On leaving Matjiesfontein, the train descends through the spectacular Hex River Valley.

Day 4: Arrival in Cape Town

Scheduled to arrive at Cape Town Station at 15h00, marking the end of your luxurious journey. When you book, ask us to include a complimentary transfer to your destination in Cape Town. To continue the Rovos vibe in Cape Town, many clients request to stay at St James Manor, which is owned by Rovos Rail.

Special Offer: Free chauffeur transfer
Upcoming Availability
Updated 4 Nov 2026
12 Feb 2027 (10h00) 1 Royal 7 Deluxe 5 Pullman
23 Feb 2027 (10h00) 2 Royal 11 Deluxe 4 Pullman
PULLMAN: ZAR 54,000 per person sharing
DELUXE: ZAR 78,000 per person sharing
ROYAL: ZAR 104,000 per person sharing
Cape Town to Matjiesfontein (2 nights) on Ceres Rail

Cape Town to Matjiesfontein (2 nights) on Ceres Rail

Day 1: Departure to the Great Karoo

Check-in and boarding take place between 07h15 and 08h00 at the private train platform at the AC Hotel by Marriott, Cape Town Waterfront. Grab a strong coffee to reward your early start before the train departs at 08h00. Enjoy a full, deliberately unhurried day on the rails - please note this journey is hauled by reliable diesel and electric locomotives rather than steam, so you won't arrive smelling like a Victorian coal miner. The route climbs spectacularly out of the Hex River Valley, navigating four impressive tunnels. The longest of these runs for 13.5 kilometres and once proudly held the title of the longest railway tunnel in Africa (it finally opened in 1989 after over 40 years of intermittent digging). Arrive at Matjiesfontein between 16h00 and 19h00 (train schedules here are merely polite suggestions) to check in at the historic Lord Milner Hotel or Matjies Mews.

Day 2: Matjiesfontein - A Victorian Time Capsule

Enjoy a full day exploring a village practically frozen in 1884. Matjiesfontein was founded by Scottish railwayman James Logan, who initially sold water to passing steam trains before brilliantly marketing the dry Karoo air as a cure-all for Victorian lung complaints. Fun historical fact: thanks to Logan's booming railway refreshment empire, this tiny dusty outpost was the first village in South Africa to boast electric streetlights and a flushing toilet! Hop on the famous Matjiesfontein red double-decker bus for what is undoubtedly the shortest - and most entertaining - village tour in the country. In the evening, a guided stargazing session helps you make sense of the spectacularly clear Karoo night sky, entirely unpolluted by city lights.

Day 3: The Return Journey

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, the train departs Matjiesfontein at 09h00. Settle back into your seat and let the gentle rhythm of the rails do the work. The original railway line reached this area in the late 19th century as part of a frantic push to connect the Cape with the glittering diamond fields of Kimberley, transforming the Karoo forever. Today, your only job is to watch the changing landscape outside your window as lunch is served on board the return leg. The journey concludes with your arrival back in Cape Town between 17h00 and 20h00 - giving you plenty of time to reacquaint yourself with the modern world.

Special Offer: The best train deal that nobody knows about
Upcoming Availability
February 2027 12 (07h15)
Standard: ZAR 15,300 per person sharing
Pretoria to Cape Town (2 nights) on Blue Train

Pretoria to Cape Town (2 nights) on Blue Train

Day 1: Departure

Enjoy a complimentary chauffeur transfer from Pretoria or Johannesburg to arrive at your check-in in Pretoria; this will either be at Irene Farm (Nellmapius Drive, Irene, Centurion) or the main Pretoria Train Station (note this is separate from Rovos Rail's private station). Enjoy pre-departure beverages, canapes, and live entertainment. When checking in at Irene Farm, a shuttle transports guests the 1km to Irene Train Station. Your butler will welcome you on board and show you to your suite. The train is scheduled to depart at 13h00, after which you can enjoy a light lunch in the lounge car and observation car. Complimentary WiFi is available on board throughout your journey, should you feel the tragic need to check your emails whilst gliding past paradise. Note that departure times are subject to change. Let us know if you would like to extend your experience by staying at Irene Country Lodge the night before your departure.

Day 2: Kimberley

Breakfast is served on a first-come, first-served basis - a gentle reminder that the early bird gets the best bacon. Stop at Kimberley Station to explore the Railway Museum, from where you will be taken by bus for an exclusive off-train excursion to the Diamond Mine Museum (weather and time permitting), including viewing the Big Hole from an enclosed ramp. Back at Kimberley Station, guests are gifted a glass of sherry engraved with The Blue Train logo as a memento.

Day 3: Arrival in Cape Town

Enjoy breakfast and a light lunch before the train's scheduled arrival at 18h00 in Cape Town under the shadow of Table Mountain, concluding your magnificent journey. Note that arrival times are subject to change. Butlers will usher guests from the train to the Arrival Lounge. Enjoy a complimentary chauffeur transfer from the Arrival Lounge to your accommodation in Cape Town.

Special Offer: Complimentary night at the 5-star Irene Country Hotel before your 2-night Blue Train journey.
Upcoming Availability
February 2027 15 (13h00), 22 (13h00)
De Luxe: ZAR 45,565 per person sharing
Luxury: ZAR 58,135 per person sharing

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Which train fits you?

Rovos Rail The Blue Train

Suite Categories & Dimensions

Pullman Suite ±7 m²

Wood-panelled cabin with a daytime sofa that converts to twin or double beds (or upper/lower bunks on long hauls) and an en-suite shower, basin, and toilet.

Deluxe Suite ±10 m²

Permanent double or twin beds (no daytime conversion needed), a dedicated lounge seating area, bar fridge, and a spacious en-suite bathroom with shower.

Royal Suite ±16 m²

Occupies half a carriage. Features a permanent double or twin bed, private lounge area, and a full en-suite bathroom with both a Victorian claw-foot bath and separate shower.

Pacing from Pretoria to Cape Town

4 Days (3 nights). A deliberately unhurried, leisurely pace that allows for deeper immersion into the landscape (and the wine list).

Atmosphere

Victorian Edwardian elegance. Expect rich wood panelling, openable windows in the observation car, traditional silver-service dining, and a classic, romantic ambience where guests dress formally for dinner.

Connectivity

Intentionally devoid of WiFi, televisions, or onboard radios to preserve the historic golden-era atmosphere and encourage a true, inescapable digital detox.

Pretoria Station

Operates from its own magnificent, privately owned Capital Park Station, which functions as a working locomotive restoration depot, railway museum, and exclusive departure lounge.

Excursions

Includes two off-train excursions in both directions - a visit to the historic Victorian village of Matjiesfontein and a tour of Kimberley's Diamond Mine Museum and the Big Hole.

Operational Adaptability

During the July 2026 floods, Rovos Rail demonstrated high adaptability by rerouting affected journeys to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), providing guests with a viable luxury travel alternative alongside refund options.

Suite Categories & Dimensions

De Luxe Suite ±8 m²

Elegant daytime lounge that converts into twin beds (with en-suite shower) or a double bed (with three-quarter bath and handheld shower), complete with 24-hour personal butler service.

Luxury Suite ±10 m²

Extended suite offering an extra metre of cabin length, twin or double bed configurations, a full-sized en-suite bathtub with overhead shower, and a private digital entertainment system.

Pacing from Pretoria to Cape Town

3 Days (2 nights). A slightly faster journey, ideal for fitting into a tighter travel schedule without sacrificing five-star luxury.

Atmosphere

Contemporary five-star luxury. Think of a modern boutique hotel on wheels with soundproofed carpeted carriages, gold-tinted picture windows, personal butlers, and a dedicated post-dinner Cuban cigar lounge car.

Connectivity

Complimentary WiFi and in-suite entertainment screens are available throughout the train for guests who wish to stay connected (or who simply cannot bear to be parted from their inbox).

Pretoria Station

Departs from the main Pretoria Train Station (or occasionally Irene Station in Centurion), where guests are hosted with canapes and live music in a dedicated VIP pre-departure lounge.

Excursions

Features a single focused off-train excursion depending on direction - the Kimberley Diamond Mine Museum (southbound to Cape Town) or historic Matjiesfontein (northbound to Pretoria).

Operational Adaptability

During the July 2026 floods, The Blue Train maintained a firm focus on its primary Cape mainline schedule, cancelling affected Pretoria - Cape Town services while offering guests full refunds or alternative dates.

Arrive in Cape Town in Unrivalled Luxury

Travelling to the Mother City by luxury rail offers a perspective that simply cannot be replicated by air. As the stark beauty of the Great Karoo transitions via the Hex River Valley into the lush Cape Winelands - culminating in the iconic Table Mountain - guests are treated to a magnificent visual feast.

Aboard iconic locomotives like Rovos Rail and The Blue Train, guests are immediately immersed in five-star elegance, creating a striking contrast between the rugged African wilderness outside and the refined luxury inside.

An Unhurried Cape Journey

The on-board experience is designed to be completely effortless. You can expect spacious, wood-panelled suites with en-suite bathrooms, dedicated room service, and impeccable attention to detail. Dining is a grand affair, featuring multi-course meals prepared by top chefs using fresh, locally sourced ingredients - all expertly paired with award-winning South African wines.

The pace of the journey is deliberately unhurried, encouraging you to disconnect from modern distractions and savour the passing scenery from a dedicated observation car, perhaps with a classic gin and tonic in hand. Depending on your chosen route, the itinerary often includes curated off-train excursions, such as private game drives or historical town tours, adding rich context to your holiday.

How to Secure Your Suite

Securing your suite on these high-demand routes requires careful planning. Cabins - particularly the premium Royal and Deluxe suites - are strictly limited and often book out many months in advance. To make securing your journey as straightforward as possible, we manage all enquiries through a direct, personalised booking service via WhatsApp and email.

When you find a route and date that aligns with your travel plans, simply click the "Book on WhatsApp" button on the relevant itinerary card above. This will automatically open a pre-filled message directly to our dedicated booking team. If you prefer, you can also reach out via email with your preferred travel dates and cabin class.

From that initial contact, we take care of all the logistics. We personally verify real-time availability with the train operators, confirm the exact pricing per person sharing (pps), and place a provisional hold on your suite. Once you review the details and are completely satisfied to proceed, we will guide you through the secure payment process and issue your official travel documents. You pay the exact public rates set by the train operators - there are no hidden markups or booking fees. Our goal is to provide honest, efficient support from your very first enquiry until the moment you disembark.

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