Specials on Rovos Rail Luxury Trains

Note: Discounts are subject to availability and cannot be combined with SA Resident Specials, charters, or events.

• 1 completed trip: Zero discount (Must be within 48 months prior to registration).
• 2 completed trips: Eligible to register for the club.
• 3 completed trips: 10% discount on a SHORT trip OR 12% on a LONG trip.
• 4 completed trips: 15% discount on a SHORT trip OR 14% on a LONG trip.
• 5 completed trips: 20% discount on a SHORT trip OR 16% on a LONG trip.
• 6 completed trips: 25% discount on a SHORT trip OR 18% on a LONG trip.
• 7 completed trips: 1 complimentary Deluxe suite on a SHORT trip OR 20% on a LONG trip.
• 8 to 10 completed trips: 15% - 25% discount on a SHORT trip OR 20% on a LONG trip.
• 11 completed trips: 30% discount on a SHORT trip OR 20% on a LONG trip.
• 12 completed trips: 1 complimentary Deluxe suite on a SHORT trip OR 20% on a LONG trip.
• More than 12 trips: An automatic 20% discount on ALL trips. Plus, 1 complimentary Deluxe suite on a SHORT trip every 5th trip (e.g., 17, 22, 27).

Bonus: Club members are also eligible for a 10% discount on accommodation at St James Manor in Cape Town.

No. The discount is strictly applied on a per-person basis.

Rovos Rail requires a copy of the passport or ID for every passenger at the time of booking. For a mixed-nationality couple sharing a suite, the South African citizen will pay the 50% discounted SA Resident rate, while the UK citizen will be billed the standard international rack rate for their half of the suite. You cannot use one SA ID to cover the whole cabin.

Far fewer.

December through February is the absolute peak season for international tourism in South Africa. During these months, Rovos Rail suites are often sold out a year in advance to foreign visitors paying full price in foreign currency. The 2-for-1 specials are a yield-management tool used to fill empty cabins during the shoulder and winter months (typically May through September).

No, specials are only released at the last minute.

Because Rovos Rail prioritises full-fare international bookings, they only release discounted resident rates when they have unsold cabins close to a departure date. You will typically only see these specials announced 4 to 8 weeks before the train departs. If you want to plan a trip for next year, you will have to pay the standard rate.

Absolutely not.

There is no such thing as a "budget" or "locals only" departure. When you book a resident special, you are simply filling an empty suite on a standard, premium Rovos Rail journey alongside international guests who paid full price. The strict dress code (smart casual during the day, jacket and tie for gentlemen and formal evening wear for ladies at dinner) is strictly enforced to maintain the 1920s atmosphere for everyone on board.

The 2025 Great Train Race ran from Pretoria to Heidelberg and back (26 - 28 September 2025).

• Day 1: Departed Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria. The train was hauled by two locomotives (one steam and one diesel), the first being steam locomotive 3360 ‘Shaun’, built in 1948.
• Day 2: In Heidelberg, the train met a procession of classic cars and motorcycles led by a vintage Bentley, with vintage aircraft overhead. Guests disembarked in 1920s/1930s vintage racewear for a festival featuring gin tents, live music, and classic car displays.
• Day 3: Arrived back in Pretoria.