SA Residents Special: New departures have become available (50% reduced rate) on mostly the Cape Town to Pretoria route, but also the reverse direction from PRY to CPT. Scroll up to see details or email Rovos Rob. For more info WhatsApp Rovos Rob (any time of day or night).

• Extra deal: ask for a free chauffeur transfer from Pretoria Station to be included.

Ask your questions on the Online Forum.

SA Residents Deals:

• INCLUDE Accommodation; all meals; all beverages on board; room service; limited laundry; guided excursions; preselected local wines, beers and soft drinks on excursions; entrance fees; government tax.
• EXCLUDE All other beverages; international sparkling wine; gratuities; personal expenses; visas; travel insurance; pre- and post-tour transfers, accommodation and flights. Single supplement +50%.T&C apply. Countries: South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Booking requires presentation of SA ID/passport. Short-term residency, diplomatic residency or work permits will not be accepted.

Scroll further down to see Rovos Rail Club specials. Also see Blue Train specials.

Great Train Race 2025

A few deluxe suites have become available on the Great Train Race special from Pretoria to Heidelberg and back on the 26th September 2025; return 28 Sep 2025. For R23300 pps. WhatsApp Rovos Rob to book (wont last long)

• INCLUDES Red-carpet reception at Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria; station tour; secure parking for guest vehicles; accommodation; all meals and beverages on board; excursion in Heidelberg including canapés and beverages in the RVR tent; entrance fee; limited laundry; government tax. EXCLUDES Pre- and post-tour accommodation, flights and transfers; travel insurance; visas; gratuities; international sparkling wine and personal expenses. Single supplement +50%.

PRETORIA~HEIDELBERG~PRETORIA
Friday 26 September – Sunday 28 September 2025
2 NIGHTS
DAY 1: PRETORIA FRIDAY 26.09
Please check-in a minimum of one hour before departure. Should you wish to join a tour of Rovos Rail Station or
visit our museum, we suggest arriving two hours prior to departure.
Depart Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria. Guests may freshen up in their suites before joining fellow travellers in the
lounges. The train will be hauled by two locomotives (one steam and one diesel), the first being steam locomotive
3360 ‘Shaun’, one of a batch of 50 built by the North British Locomotive Company in Scotland in 1948.
Lunch is served in the dining car as the train travels towards Heidelberg.
Tea in the observation car.
Dinner is served in the dining car. Overnight on board. Dress: Formal
DAY 2: TRIBUTE IN HEIDELBERG SATURDAY 27.09
Breakfast is served in the dining car until 09:30. The train departs for Heidelberg. Dress: Vintage Racewear/Attire
The train meets a procession of classic cars and motorcycles lead by a vintage Bentley while vintage aircraft
appear overhead. The locomotives stop next to the Bentley, waved to a halt by a chequered flag to signify the
‘end of the race’. The procession drives past the train then heads to a display area while the Bentley remains on
the platform. Guests may then disembark in the appropriate attire for photographs. Remember to hide your
phones as they could ruin the shots.
Guests are invited to the display area to have photographs taken with the other vintage cars and
motorcycles followed by canapés and drinks in the Rovos Rail tent. Anticipated activities: Various stalls, ginbeer-wine tents, live music and shows, a jumping castle and miniature steam tractor.
Guests are ferried back to the train. Lunch is served in the dining car.
Tea in the observation car as the train departs for Pretoria.
Dinner is served in the dining car. Overnight on board. Dress: 1920s/1930s Formal
DAY 3: PRETORIA SUNDAY 28.09
Arrive at journey’s end at Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria.

Exclusive Golf Safari incentives

To add some fun to the golfing, SA Travel Online will give you R100 in travel vouchers for each par or better you score on a Rovos Rail golf safari booking with us. To find out more about this special email "Rovos Rob" at rob@southafrica.to; or  WhatsApp Rob directly.

 

Click here to see the detailed itinerary for a Rovos Rail Cape Town to Pretoria trip; fill in your details on the last page and then email to rob@southafrica.to

Rovos Rail booking made via SA Travel Online qualify to take part in our exclusive travel vouchers for reviews program. After your trip booked with us, send us a writeup and photos and we'll send you travel vouchers to discount the cost of your next one.

Photo credit to Rovos Rail

Exclusive Rovos Rail Club Specials

The Rovos Rail Club offers the opportunity for "repeat offenders" (club members) to get discounted train trips with Rovos. When you are on your second trip with Rovos, you can apply to join the club, and so on your third trip you'll finally start getting club discounts. The club was previously known as the Rovos Shongololo Club.

Discounts for club members

• 1 completed trip (maximum 48 months prior to registration) : zero discount
• 2 completed trips : you are now allowed to register for the club (in fact it's compulsory if you want to claim club discounts).
• 3 completed trips : 10% discount on a SHORT train trip OR 12% discount on a LONG train trip
• 4 completed trips : 15% discount on a SHORT train trip OR 14% discount on a LONG train trip
• 5 completed trips : 20% discount on a SHORT train trip OR 16% discount on a LONG train trip
• 6 completed trips : 25% discount on a SHORT train trip OR 18% discount on a LONG train trip
• 7 completed trips : 1 complimentary Deluxe suite on a SHORT train trip OR 20% discount on a LONG train trip
• 8 completed trips : 15% discount on a SHORT train trip OR 20% discount on a LONG train trip
• 9 completed trips : 20% discount on a SHORT train trip OR 20% discount on a LONG train trip
• 10 completed trips : 25% discount on a SHORT train trip OR 20% discount on a LONG train trip
• 11 completed trips : 30% discount on a SHORT train trip OR 20% discount on a LONG train trip
• 12 completed trips : 1 complimentary Deluxe suite on a SHORT train trip OR 20% discount on a LONG train trip
• More than 12 :
  • An automatic 20% discount on all SHORT train trips OR 20% discount on all LONG train trips
  • 1 complimentary Deluxe suite on a SHORT train trip every 5th trip, e.g. number 17, 22, 27, 32 etc.

Restrictions on discounts

• "Subject to availability", so you may be told, when booking, that the discount is not available on the travel date of your choice.
• Not available when booking train specials, charters or events
• Only available for "Collections" if booked directly with Rovos Rail.
• Available for Combinations if booked with travel agents or directly with Rovos Rail.
• Credit for journeys travelled towards club discounts must be claimed within 2 years of the departure date.
• When you register for the club, you can only claim credit for train trips you've been on within 2 years before registration date.
  

Short train trips

• Cape Town Escape: 3 nights • Pretoria to Cape Town • Approximately 70 departures per year
• Durban Safari: 2 nights • Pretoria to Durban • Approximately 16 departures per year
• Victoria Falls Adventure: 3 or 4 nights • Pretoria to Victoria Falls • Approximately 90 departures per year

Long train trips

• Golf Safari: 9 nights • Pretoria to Pretoria • Approximately 4 departures per year
• Namibia Safari: 11 nights • Pretoria to Walvis Bay • Approximately 6 departures per year
• Southern Cross: 11 nights • Pretoria to Victoria Falls • Approximately 10 departures per year
• African Collage: 12 nights • Pretoria to Cape Town • Approximately 4 departures per year
• African Trilogy: 15 nights • Pretoria to Walvis Bay • Approximately 2 departures per year
• Copper Trail: 14 nights • Victoria Falls to Lobito • Approximately 2 departures per year
• Trail of Two Oceans: 15 nights • Dar es Salaam to Lobito • Approximately 2 departures per year
• Dar es Salaam Journey: 15 nights • Cape Town to Dar es Salaam • Approximately 8 departures per year

Accommodation discounts

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

Register for club

Fill in registration form and email it to club@rovos.co.za (phone 012 315 8242 for assistance). The form requires you to submit the details of your previous Rovos Rail train trips (including trips on the former Shongololo Express); so that they have the history of your train trips (this determines the discounts you are eligible for - see below).

Referral program

Refer a friend from an eligible country, get a R500 luxury rail voucher to discount your trip, when they complete theirs

Members of Serandiplans

"Rovos Rail are members of this exclusive community. When Serandipians guests arrive, they will receive additional welcome amenities and other bespoke items as benefits for being part of this members-only platform"

Other Rovos Rail deals

• Click here to see the best Rovos Rail prices on each route.
  • Click here to see the best Rovos Rail prices on each route in 2026
  • Click here to see the best Rovos Rail prices on each route in 2027
• Click here to see which Rovos Rail expeditions only have 1 pullman suite available.

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