Rovos Rail: Golf Safari

Day 1 : Pretoria

Depart from Rovos Rail Station, Pretoria and you enjoy lunch en route to Rustenburg. The old town of Rustenburg grew as the church and administrative centre for a rich farming area. It is here, in the centre of a volcanic valley surrounded by the dun slopes of the Pilanesberg Mountains, a wilderness wonderland rises from the dust, the fantastical Sun City Resort. It was officially opened on 7 December 1979 in what was then Bophuthatswana, which had been declared as an independent state by the apartheid government. This meant it could provide entertainment such as gambling, which was banned in South Africa. Today the resort is one of the world’s largest entertainment centres featuring two championship golf courses – one with crocodiles at the 13th hole. Both courses are bordered by the Pilanesberg National Park, which is home to the Big Five and has a vigorous conservation programme.

Day 2 : Pilanesberg or Gary Player/Lost City

Today you may opt to enjoy a game drive in the Pilanesberg Reserve, meet with the golfers for lunch then enjoy an afternoon at leisure at Lost City’s Sun City. Golfers can enjoy a round of golf at Sun City’s Gary Player/Lost City golf course.

Day 3 : At leisure on board

Enjoy a day at leisure as the train climbs to Majuba Hill – site of the decisive battle that ended the First Anglo Boer War – then passes Newcastle, which has what is reputed to be the largest cella-dome Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere, and Glencoe, site of the first battle of the Anglo Boer War and now the centre of the province’s coalfields.

Day 4 : Spionkop or Champagne Sports Resort

Today you may opt to transfer to Spionkop Lodge to hear the historic tale of the Battle of Spionkop with lunch, followed by an afternoon game drive. Meanwhile, golfers will enjoy a round at the Champagne Sports Resort.

Day 5 : Durban or Durban/Beachwood

Golfers transfer to Durban Beachwood or Durban Country Club for tee off and lunch. Leisure guests enjoy a Durban city tour with a visit to the botanical gardens and lunch at Umhlanga’s beachfront. Durban is the third largest city in South Africa and enjoys great importance due to its industry and very large port.

Day 6 : Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park

Transfer to Hluhluwe for game drive. As the oldest proclaimed reserve in Africa, Hluhluwe consists of 960km2 of hilly landscapes, known for their rich wildlife and conservation efforts. After lunch the train travels towards eSwatini.

Day 7 : Eswatini or Royal Swazi Sun

Leisure guests transfer to Mkhaya Rserve for a game drive, then transfer to Swazi Candles for a visit with lunch and an opportunity for curio shopping. Golfers instead transfer to the Royal Swazi Sun for tee off and lunch. The tiny Kingdom of eSwatini (Swaziland) covers only 17,000km2, most of which is mountainous. For such a small country, it is surprising that it sustains two capital cities: Mbabane is the administrative capital and Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital. In April 2018, Swaziland changed its name to the Kingdom of eSwatini (meaning “place of the Swazi”) and is an absolute monarchy. It is landlocked and borders South Africa and Mozambique. At Swazi Candles, guests are invited to interact with the artisans as they make a variety of candles. Woodcarvings, colourful textiles and superb basketwork are also on display. This evening the train departs for Komatipoort, South Africa, and on to Malelane.

Day 8 : Kruger Park

Today everyone enjoys a game drive in the famed Kruger National Park, with tea, lunch and an opportunity for curio shopping. Return to the train this afternoon to travel west across the Drakensberg Mountains, climbing the spectacular escarpment. If available, golf at Leopard Creek may be booked on request at your own expense.

Day 9 : Dullstroom or Highland Gate

Today visit the Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Centre, then transfer to Walkerson’s Hotel for a presentation on fly-fishing, and lunch. Return to Dullstroom for an introduction to whiskey distilling and a tour of the Arts & Crafts Centre. Meanwhile, golfers transfer to Highland Gate for tee off and lunch, returning to the train late afternoon.

Day 10 : Pretoria

This morning enjoy your last breakfast in the dining cars before the train arrives at journey’s end at Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria around 10am.