We only show fares and availability for the 4 night Pretoria to Victoria Falls journey as it's a better deal than the 3 nighter, which costs the same; but you can select the 3 night journey in the dropdown menu if you want to pay the same for less.
Availability last updated on 18 Sep 2025 for Rovos Rail; on 12 Sep 2025 for The Blue Train
Rovos Rail Departures (Pretoria to Victoria Falls)
Prices are shown based on your selection in the 'Travellers' filter. The default is per person sharing (PPS). A 50% single supplement applies for solo travellers. WhatsApp Rob (any time of night or day) for more info. Email rob@southafrica.to to firm up a booking.
No surcharge for Credit Card payments
Rovos Rail Price from Pretoria to Victoria Falls
Pro tip: A 4 night Pretoria to Vic Falls luxury train trip usually costs the same as a 3 night trip; but offers you a day's extra value. Pro tip 2: WhatsApp Rovos Rob (any time of night or day) for more info and to make a reservation.
A 3 Night vs a 4 Night Expedition
Both the 3 and the 4 night journeys are scheduled to cover 1400km from Pretoria to Victoria Falls on the same track, but the 3 night journey has a delicious potential twist in that if that railway line is too busy, it will go an alternative route through Botswana so it can get to Vic Falls in 3 nights:::
- It could go from Pretoria to Musina and Beitbridge to Bulawayo; but
- it could be routed through Botswana; starting in Pretoria and going to Mafikeng, Gaborone and Plumtree on its way to Bulawayo
On the 4 night journey there isn't the urgency to get to Bulawayo, as there's more time to spare if the railway is busy, so it goes along a set path (and not via Botswana):
- It goes from Pretoria to Bulawayo via the Musina and Beitbridge border towns.
Matobo National Park on the 4 nighter
The other major difference is that the 4 night journey has an excursion at Matobo National Park, which the 3 night journey does not have: At Matobo you can see caves where bushmen used to shelter and raw their rock art; as well as the grave of Cecil John Rhodes; which is a bit like seeing the grave of Napoleon on St Helena Island - not everybody belongs to his fanclub but it's interesting to learn about him nevertheless.
Close enough to feel the spray
Cecil John Rhodes's instructions were that the rail bridge be built sufficiently close to Victoria Falls that passing trains be soaked by "the smoke that thunders" - "Mosi-oa-Tunya" in the vernacular.
Pro tip 3: also check departures for the return journey, Victoria Falls to Pretoria with Rovos Rail. Pro tip 4: Click here to see whether there are any Rovos Rail specials to Victoria Falls or on other routes. Pro tip 5: if you are looking for something more adventurous we recommend a luxury train from Victoria Falls to Lobito (Angola).
The longer you take to book the greater the chance of train fares changing. Email Rovos Rob.
Email "Rovos Rob"rob@southafrica.to; or WhatsApp anytime for anything.
Rovos Rail bookings made with SA Travel Online qualify to earn travel vouchers for travel reviews.
The train takes you from Pretoria to Victoria Falls; via Warmbaths, Musina, Beitbridge and Hwange,
We recommend also booking a night at a hotel at Victoria Falls, so you don't have to stress about either your flight to Victoria Falls being delayed or the train being delayed at getting to Victoria Falls. Let us know if we can help with this.
3 night Rovos Pretoria to Victoria Falls
- DAY 1: PRETORIA BORDER: MUSINA, SOUTH AFRICA / BEITBRIDGE, ZIMBABWE
- Depart Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria.
- Travel through Warmbaths (Bela-Bela) – so named for its mineral waters – and
- Nylstroom, christened by the Voortrekkers as the source of the Nile River as the town’s river happened to be north flowing.
- Pass the edge of the escarpment where the Highveld drops precipitously.
- The train crosses the Tropic of Capricorn.
- The train crosses the Limpopo River to Beitbridge.
The 10h00 departure from Pretoria's for the 3 night journey; the 4 night journey departs at 18h00; check your booking to see whether times have changed fro mthe above.
- DAY 2: AT LEISURE ON BOARD
- The train travels baobab country.
- Travel towards Bulawayo: second city of Zimbabwe, capital of Matabeleland and industrial capital of the country.
- En route to Mpopoma.
- DAY 3: HWANGE NATIONAL PARK
- The train travels between Gwaai and Dete along one of the world’s longest stretches of straight railway line – 114 kilometres – and along the eastern edge of Hwange Park.
- Enjoy a game drive at The Hide in Hwange National Park.
- En route to Thompsons Junction.
- DAY 4: VICTORIA FALLS
- Arrive at journey’s end at the incomparable Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Click here to see the detailed itinerary for a Rovos Rail Pretoria to Victoria Falls train holiday (both the 3 night and the 4 night option)
Crossing the borders
SA/Zimbabwe border: Expect to take a couple of hours on the South African side and a couple of hours on the Zimbabwe side. But don't sweat, enjoy the luxury. Keep your eyes open when you cross the Limpopo River, as you can sometimes see crocodiles.
4 night Rovos Rail Pretoria to Victoria Falls
Main stations passed:
- Pretoria Capital Park Station
- Day 1 departure
- Warmbaths/Bela-Bela
- A small siding near the town famous for its mineral waters
- Nylstroom/Modimolle
- A historic Voortrekker town.
- Polokwane (Pietersburg)
- overnight stop
- Louis Trichardt
- Day 2, crosses Tropic of Capricorn
- Musina
- South African border station
- Beitbridge
- Zimbabwean border station, crosses Limpopo River)
- Gwanda
- overnight stop in Zimbabwe
- Bulawayo
- Matobo
- siding for Matobo National Park transfer
- Sawmills
- overnight stop
- Hwange area stations
- Hwange National Park
- siding for game drive
- Thompsons Junction
- Day 4
- Victoria Falls
- Day 5 arrival
Book to read
Without your gadgets; enjoy a book to read, like "Love in Transit - the last stop was you": which begins "Some stories begin with a hello. Others begin with a misunderstanding.When Amelia, a Black American solo traveler, boards a luxury train from Pretoria to Victoria Falls, she isn’t looking for love just a moment of stillness, and maybe a soft place to land. But everything shifts when she meets Luca, an Italian man with eyes like stories untold, and a charm that lingers like perfume in the air.Their connection is instant. Quiet. Magnetic. But not without complication. Because he isn’t traveling alone.As the train glides across golden landscapes and through velvet dining cars, what begins as possibility becomes a question of timing, truth, and what we’re willing to risk for a stranger who suddenly feels familiar." Read more on page 102 of the Aug/Sep 2025 edition of Her Voyage Mag. Even better than reading it, get your own rail romance going.
Address at Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls Hotel and Station, Mallet Drive, Victoria Falls
Connecting Flights
In addition to the train trip from Victoria Falls to Pretoria; connecting flights need to be booked: We strongly advise against flying on the same same day as your train departure or arrival days due to possible delays with airline flights or the train.
- Fly one-way to Victoria Falls so that there is plenty of time to spare to get to the train station by your train departure time.
- Fly/drive one-way from Pretoria to your home town at the end of the train trip; leave ample time to get to airport; as often the train is delayed.
Hotels in Victoria Falls
The most convenient option is to stay at the Victoria Falls Hotel itself; but they charge a hefty premium for that convenience and the picture postcard view from their lawns of the "smoke that thunders". There's nothing stopping you from staying a different hotel, there'll just be a longer walk from the hotel to the train station. Navigate to our list of Victoria Falls hotels for Rovos Rail passengers and find your favourite.
Other rail options
In August 3025 there was; a relaunch of The Blue Train trips from Pretoria to Victoria Falls.
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