Palace Tours - Luxury Tours Collection 12000 Biscayne Blvd suite 107, Miami, Florida 33181 USA Telephone: +1 786 408 0610 Call Us 1-800-724-5120 Cape Town to Dar Es Salaam - An Authentic African Adventure: Rovos Rail (Northbound) This epic 14-day journey travels through South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania and is one of the most famous train journeys in the world. Starting in Cape Town, this magnificent sojourn will take guests through the historic village of Matjiesfontein, the diamond town of Kimberley and the capital city of Pretoria, then for a two-night stay at the Madikwe Game Reserve. The train then passes through Botswana into Zimbabwe where guests overnight at the Victoria Falls Hotel. After crossing the mighty Zambezi River, the train travels northeast through Zambia where guests can enjoy a bush walk at Chisimba Falls. The train continues the climb towards the Zambian/Tanzanian border, almost the midpoint between Africa's two Great Rift Valley lakes. Descend into the Rift Valley itself and witness spectacular scenery as the train negotiates the tunnels, switchbacks and viaducts of the escarpment. Early on the last day, the train passes through the Selous Game Reserve – the largest on the continent and a vision of timeless Africa – shortly before the bustling arrival in Dar es Salaam. * Please note that depending upon the railway's capacity this journey could be routed northwards through Beitbridge and Zimbabwe. Itinerary Day 1 - Board Rovos Rail, the "Pride of Africa" Depart from the Cape Town Station at Platform 23. You will visit the historic village of Matjiesfontein. Day 2 - Kimberley city tour Today, you will arrive Kimberley. There will be tours of the Big Hole and Diamond Mine Museum. Departure from Kimberley in the afternoon. Day 3 - Pretoria city tour The tour arrives in Pretoria. A light Lunch will be provided. You will then take a city tour of Pretoria. Departure is in the evening from Pretoria. Day 4 - Arrive at the private game lodge Arrive Zeerust for full-board two-night stay at five-star Tau Lodge in the Madikwe Game Reserve. Your belongings are safe inside your Rovos Rail suites under the guard of the train staff. Day 5 - The African wildlife experience In the early morning game drive, and an evening game drive. Guest activities will be available all day to spend at your own leisure. Overnight will be spent at the lodge. Day 6 - Enjoy a morning game drive before traveling to Zimbabwe There will be an early morning game drive. Transfer to the train with border formalities en route to Botswana. Please ensure that the train manager is in possession of your Passports before retiring to your suite for the night. Day 7 - Enjoy a day on board followed by a Boma dinner Border formalities will take place. You will then travel through Zimbabwe with lectures by the on-board historian. Day 8 - Enjoy the breathtaking view of Victoria Falls Cape Town to Dar Es Salaam - An Authentic African Adventure: Rovos Rail (Northbound)(© www.palacetours.com) 1/11 The tour arrives at Victoria Falls. You will be transferred to the Victoria Falls Hotel. Relax on a sunset cruise along the Zambezi River. Enjoy dinner at your hotel. Day 9 - Spend your day at leisure before traveling to Zambia The day is yours to spend at leisure. There are several activities included such as: Tour of Falls, Flight of the Angels, whitewater rafting, golf. The train will depart the Victoria Falls Station for Zimbabwe/Zambia with border formalities. Day 10 - Day on board through Zambia The tour passes through Lusaka. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be on board. All day lectures are provided by the on board historian. Day 11 - Enjoy an excursion to Kundalila Falls, Zambia The day is yourt to spend at your own leisure. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be on board the train. All day lecutures are provided by the on board historian. Day 12 - Spend the day on board through Tanzania Please ensure that the Train Manager is in possession of your passports and completed forms. Disembark from Kasama for a morning excursion to Chisimba Falls. There will be Zambia/Tanzania border formalities at Nakonde/Tunduma at 16h30. Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be on the train. Day 13 - Journey through the wilderness to Dar es Salaam You will arrive in Makambako. Descend on a spectacular pass to Mlimba. The tour will travel through the Selous Game Reserve. Day 14 - Departure day Please ensure that you have obtained your passport from the Train Manager. Arrive at journey’s end at Tazara Station in Dar es Salaam. Destination Information Beit Bridge Zimbabwe formalities take place at Beit Bridge. Although the distance from Beit Bridge to Bulawayo is 322kms by road, the rail distance is 521kms - a full 200kms extra - as a result of first traveling northeast to Rutenga, then traveling northwest to Gweru, before redirecting southwest and finally arriving at Bulawayo. This line was only completed in 1971 to assist Ian Smith's Rhodesia break international sanctions. Between 1965, when he declared UDI (Unilateral Declaration of Independence) and 1980, when Rhodesia became Zimbabwe, little Messina and Beit Bridge became centers of world espionage focused on the maintenance or avoidance of sanctions. Prior to 1971, the only way to travel by train from Bulawayo to Pretoria was via the western Transvaal and Botswana along the Cape-to-Cairo line built by Rhodes to bypass Kruger's republic. Cape Town Cape Town is the most beautiful and popular tourist destinations in South Africa due to its good climate, natural setting, and relatively well-developed infrastructure. It is the provincial capital of the Western Cape, as well as the legislative capital of South Africa, where the National Parliament and many government offices are located. Also famous for its harbor as well as, its natural setting in the Cape floral kingdom, including such well-known landmarks as Table Mountain and Cape Point. Many tourists visit Cape Town's beaches, which are popular with local residents. Dar es Salaam Cape Town to Dar Es Salaam - An Authentic African Adventure: Rovos Rail (Northbound)(© www.palacetours.com) 2/11 Dar es Salaam is the largest city and the political and economic capital of Tanzania. Located in a quiet bay off the Indian Ocean coast, the city has grown in economic importance to become a prosperous centre of the entire East African region. Its bustling harbor is the main port in Tanzania. Restaurants, shops, office buildings, and government buildings are all a common features of Tanzania's urban centre. Dar es Salaam has many attractions that are well worth a visit, such as; the National Museum, the Village Museum, and its many colorful markets. Numerous historical landmarks, including St. Joseph's Cathedral, the White Father's Mission House, the Botanical Gardens, and the old State House make for an interesting walking tour around the waterfront and city centre. Hoedspruit Hoedspruit is a town situated at the foot of the Klein Drakensberg, in the Limpopo province of South Africa. The town, while still small, has grown in recent years due to its proximity to the private game reserves to the West of the Kruger National Park. The general area is renowned for the game reserves that surround it, as well as the residential wildlife estates that have been recently developed, and the environmentally oriented school called Southern Cross Schools. Known for its amazing lodges, wildlife and private reserves, Hoedspruit is South Africa's undiscovered gem! Hoedspruit is also home to the Timbavati which is where the White Lions reintroduction program was introduced. Kasama The large bustling town of Kasama (1 332ms) is the capital and supply centre of the Northern Province, Zambia. The Germans sacked Kasama in November 1918. Shortly afterwards, the great German General Von Lettow Vorbeck, first received word of the Armistice in Europe, after capturing a British dispatch rider. The countryside rises towards the frontier with Tanzania where it then drops towards the Great Rift Valley, one of the most interesting geological areas in the world. Kimberley The capital of the Northern Cape, located near the Orange River. Kimberley is synonymous worldwide with diamonds. In 1871, diamonds were found on a small hill that became known as Colesberg Koppie (later Kimberley). Within a few months there were over 30,000 men toiling in an area roughly 300m by 200m. When the hill had been dug away, they simply carried on digging. The result was "The Big Hole", in fact the largest man-made hole in the world, and now a prominent tourist attraction in Kimberley. The Big Hole is dormant now, but the Kimberley Mine Museum recreates what it was like in its heyday. Livingstone Named after the famous Victorian missionary explorer, Dr. David Livingstone, the town was established in 1905. The town was made the capital of Northern Rhodesia, in 1935 the capital was moved to Lusaka and the bustling city has become a quiet town, but still retaining a special charm. The proximity to the Zambezi River and the spectacular Victoria Falls "the Smoke that Thunders" has led it to become a base for travelers from all over the world. The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya is a waterfall situated between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Mosi-oa-Tunya is the name given to the fall by the local people and Victoria Falls is the name that David Livingstone gave them when he discovered them between 1852 and 1856. The Falls are, by some measures, the largest waterfall in the world, as well as being among the most unusual in form, and having arguably the most diverse and easily-seen wildlife of any major waterfall site.