I am beyond fortunate to experience the most luxurious train in the world, Rovos Rail, also known as the Pride of Africa. As I planned my journey to the continent, I wanted to experience the best South Africa had to offer: Rovos Rail has topped that list for decades, and I can see why.
The experience started when we arrived at Rovos Rail’s private station in Pretoria. We were pleasantly greeted by staff. They took our bags out of the car and tagged them with our names. Service! We were guided into the lounge and served light appetizers and bubbly champagne. The lounge has free wifi to check your e-mail as well as a shower in the restroom to freshen up. There’s a small gift shop to buy mementos.
The owner of Rovos Rail, Rohan Vos, gave an elegant farewell speech to all the passengers. When we boarded the train, we were greeted by out hostess – she explained all the amenities of the suite (the meal schedule, itinerary for the day, how to request beverages and snacks, turn down service, the safe, etc.)
LUXURY ON BOARD
Our deluxe suite included all the modern conveniences: mini fridge, en suite bathroom with shower, desk with two chairs, plenty of storage space. We were given tags to hang on the door regarding room service. I took advantage of the laundry service offered – best decision ever.
I’m a huge foodie, so I enjoyed the afternoon tea with light snacks. For breakfast and lunch, the attire was casual, but the dinners were formal (blazer and tie for the men and formal dress for the women). The food was delicious and they have a huge selection of wine from around the world.
The train itself was spacious – there were a lounge car, two dining cars, and an observation area at the back of the train with a bar. On the final evening, the staff hosted a cocktail party.
The journey to Capetown took two days. There were two stops when we got off the train to explore the towns of Kimberly and Matjiesfontein. Both towns had its own character and charm as we visited the Diamond Mine Museum and the Marie Rawdon Museum.
I had a fabulous time on the train from the quality service to the views of the countryside. If you’re interested in booking a trip, visit www.rovos.com.