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| Rovos Rail Suite |
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| Rovos Dining Car |
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| Rovos - Transvaal |
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| PeruRail |
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| PeruRail |
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| Rocky Mountaineer |
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| Eurostar |
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| Orient Express |
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| Orient Express |
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THE PRIDE OF AFRICA
Rovos Rail started life as a hobby and family project for its owner, Rohan Vos, who in 1989 turned his collection of railway carriages into an enterprise - converting and refurbishing them into luxury passenger coaches. In doing so, he resurrected the bygone era of rail travel in the African continent, which has rightly earned Rovos Rail its nickname, “The Pride of Africa”. Rovos Rail’s passenger trains may be hauled by steam, diesel or electric locomotives at various stages of the journey. Each wood panelled coach has been remodelled and refurbished to provide modern luxury and comfort whilst retaining its original charm and character. There are three suites in each coach, and each suite is named after a place in Africa or its previous owner. From the outside, it’s hard to believe that Rovos has ‘the most spacious train suites in the world’, and it was not until I entered my suite, the ”Zambezi” (after the fourth longest river in Africa), that I understood why. A double-size bed fitted perfectly between the wood-panelled wall and the window. There was a reasonably sized sitting area with a table and two chairs, a mini fridge, wardrobe - and amazingly, a spacious en-suite bathroom with a separate shower. All suites have air conditioning and heating, but the huge glass windows can be opened if one preferred fresh air. Wooden shutters replace curtains to provide total privacy and safety. Those who have experienced the Orient-Express as I did cannot help but make comparisons. Rovos Rail may not have the status, pedigree and opulence of the Orient-Express, but it certainly gets two thumbs up for modern comforts. The last thing you want is to have to leave the suite to use the toilet, as we had to do on the Orient-Express. On Rovos Rail, the en-suite bathrooms have heated towel rails and floors. And when the temperature drops at night, the heater switches on, and an electric blanket is on standby for extra warmth. Our 1600km journey took us from Cape Town to Pretoria in two days, passing through Worcester towards the vast semi-arid plains of the Karoo in the Northern Cape. It was like a scene from a Wild West flick, although some passengers were reminded of the Australian outback. Running a few hours late, we reached the small town of Matjiesfontein after dark. Next to the platform is a museum dedicated to Victorian memorabilia. The tables in the restaurant cars seated either four or two diners, giving couples the option to dine on their own or join other couples. The menu included typical African cuisine like Bobotie, a delicious Cape Malay dish made of ground meat, spices and sultanas, complemented by a selection of fine South African wines. The next morning, we stopped in Kimberley to visit the diamond mines once owned by the De Beers Mining Company. The tour around the museum explained how kimberlite was mined from the Big Hole, the world’s largest man-made excavation. And no diamond mining museum would be complete without its own jewellery shop where diamonds compete for attention with tanzanite (a cross between sapphire and amethyst), considered rarer than but not as tough as diamonds. They are mined only in Tanzania and supplies are predicted to run out in 10 years. Whether this is true or not, a high quality tanzanite ring surrounded by diamonds is hard to resist. From Kimberley, we stopped and watched thousands of flamingos feeding on the lake with the sunset as backdrop. From the observation car at the rear of the train, we watched these graceful birds turn from pink to purple to shadows against orange, blue and indigo skies. The next day, we arrived at Centurion where one of the Rovos locomotive beauties hauled us on the last leg of our journey to Pretoria. ROVOS RAILRovos Rail offers a series of spectacular journeys, lasting anywhere from 24 hours to a fortnight. These journeys can take passengers from Cape Town all the way to Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania, stopping at Victoria Falls. Other routes include journeys through Namibia’s desert, South Africa’s scenic Garden Route and KwaZulu-Natal. For more information, visit www.rovos.co.za PERUSING THE ANDESWhat could be more breathtakingly romantic than exploring the Andean wonders of Machu Picchu, Cusco and The Sacred Valley, on board PeruRail’s trains? There are four types of train services to suit every budget. The Backpackers trains are ideal for adventurous honeymooners and also the most pocket-friendly journey to Machu Picchu. The route from The Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo) is the fastest way to reach Machu Picchu. Snacks can be purchased on board and there is additional storage space for backpacks. As the name suggests, the Vistadome trains provide panoramic windows so you don’t have to miss those jaw-dropping scenes. Passengers are surrounded by glass on all sides, which is perfect for avid photographers. On departing Cusco, the Vistadome train makes a series of zig zags up the hill. Passengers can alight the train at Poroy, a small station just outside of Cusco. Another route leaves from The Sacred Valley. Snacks and hot and cold refreshments are included in the journey. The Hiram Bingham is the most luxurious train, taking its name after the explorer who discovered the remains of Machu Picchu on 23rd July 1911. Its luxurious blue and gold carriages are decorated in the style of the 1920’s Pullman trains. There are two dining cars and an observation bar car. Cocktails and a gourmet dinner are served on return to Cusco. The Andean Explorer takes you on a 10-hour journey through mountains and rolling plains between Lake Titicaca (Puno) and Cusco. There is an open-air observation bar car, and a three-course lunch is served on board. Passengers are advised to wear warmer clothing when ascending towards higher altitudes at Lake Titicaca. For more information on these exciting journeys, visit www.orient-express.com ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGHThe Whistler Mountaineer (www.whistlermountaineer.com) is a three-hour train journey that takes you through the most spectacular views in British Columbia using the famous Sea-to-Sky corridor from Vancouver to Whistler, British Columbia. Travel through deep valleys, snow-capped mountain peaks and seascapes. Combine this trip with the Fraser Discovery Route for a two-day, all-daylight journey through British Columbia’s historic gold-rush region to Jasper, Alberta, the Jewel of the Canadian Rockies. The award-winning Rocky Mountaineer (www.rockymountaineer.com) offers unique train journeys through the Canadian Rockies and other holiday packages across Canada.
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