Cape to Cairo 2014
Rovos Rail has designed the ultimate African experience for this exclusive five-star journey, which includes the incomparable luxury of the Pride of Africa and a comfortable aircraft. This 28-day expedition will carry an elite band of intrepid adventurers through the heartlands of South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda, the Sudan and Egypt.
The northbound route begins with a four-night train journey from Cape Town to the Victoria Falls. Thereafter, guests join our air safari and continue north to Zanzibar, after which they fly into the heartland of Tanzania with a four-day visit to the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. Continue on to Entebbe, Uganda, where guests enjoy an optional visit to the chimpanzees and the source of the Nile. The journey then follows the Nile northwards to Khartoum in the Sudan and onto Abu Simbel in Egypt. A luxurious lake cruiser takes guests in a leisurely fashion over three nights to see the historical sights on the shores of Lake Nasser. Then it is on to Luxor for two nights to experience ancient Egypt in all its splendour with visits to temples, quarries and the Valley of Kings and Queens. Guests rejoin the aircraft for the last leg to Cairo where the adventure ends with a tour of the Pyramids, Sphinx and the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities from the Four Seasons First Residence Hotel.
The southbound air safari route begins in Cairo with a tour of the Pyramids, Sphinx and the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities from
the Four Seasons First Residence Hotel. Then it is on to Luxor for two nights to experience ancient Egypt in all its splendour with visits to
the temples, quarries and the Valley of Kings and Queens. A luxurious lake cruiser takes guests in a leisurely fashion over three nights to
see the historical sights on the shores of Lake Nasser. The journey then follows the Nile from Abu Simbel southwards to Khartoum in
the Sudan. After two days are spent exploring this ancient city guests continue on to Entebbe, Uganda, for an optional visit to the chimpanzees and the source of the Nile. Fly into the heartland of Tanzania for a four-day visit to the Ngorongoro Crater and the
Serengeti. Guests visit the exotic island of Zanzibar for two days before flying onto Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, to join the Pride of
Africa for a four-night train journey to Cape Town.
CAPE to CAIRO: 17 Jan – 13 Feb 2014 * CAIRO to CAPE: 4 Feb – 3 Mar 2014
Cape to Cairo
Arrive Cape Town. Transfer to the Cape Grace Hotel at the V&A Waterfront.
Welcome dinner and overnight at hotel.
At 08h30, a wine tasting at Groot Constantia and a visit to Table Mountain (weather permitting).
Lunch en route. Dinner at the V&A Waterfront. Overnight at hotel.
At 08h30, a full-day tour of Cape Peninsula including Fish Hoek, Simonstown, Cape Point, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Hout Bay and Kirstenbosch. Light lunch en route. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Transfer to Rovos Rail’s private lounge at Cape Town Station at 09h00. Depart at 11h00 for Pretoria.
Lunch is served in the dining car/s at 13h00. Visit the historic village of Matjiesfontein at 18h00.
Dinner is served at 19h30 in the dining car/s. Overnight on the train.
Breakfast is served between 07h00 and 10h00. Arrive in Kimberley at 14h30 for tour of the Big Hole and Diamond Mine Museum followed by dinner and overnight on the train.
Upon arrival at Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria at 12h00, enjoy a light lunch followed by a city tour of Pretoria.
Transfer to hotel at 18h00 for dinner and overnight.
Depart Pretoria on Rovos Rail at 10h00 for Botswana. Border formalities at Mafikeng and Gaborone.
Lunch, dinner and overnight on the train.
Travel through Botswana. Day at leisure on the train. Breakfast, lunch and dinner on board.
Breakfast and lunch on board. Arrive at Victoria Falls at 17h00.
Transfer from the station to the Victoria Falls Hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day at leisure. Optional tour of Falls, helicopter ride, river rafting, walk with the lions, craft village, etc.
Enjoy a sunset cruise at 16h00 on the Zambezi River. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
At 08h00, join your dedicated aircraft at Victoria Falls Airport for the flight to Zanzibar. Arrive Zanzibar at 12h00 and transfer to Zanzibar Serena Hotel for lunch. Enjoy an afternoon tour of Stone Town. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Island Spice Tour at 10h00 with lunch en route. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Transfer to airport at 08h00 for flight to Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Upon arrival, board vehicles for 2½-hour drive via Lake Manyara to Ngorongoro Farmhouse. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at lodge.
After breakfast, enjoy a game drive excursion to the Ngorongoro Crater with lunch on floor of crater.
Dinner and overnight at lodge.
After breakfast, transfer to Masek Tented Camp in Ndutu area, Serengeti Plains.
Arrive at the camp for lunch at 12h00 and an afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at camp.
Breakfast at the camp. Morning and afternoon game drives in the Serengeti. Lunch, dinner and overnight at camp.
Transfer to airstrip at 07h00 for domestic flight to Kilimanjaro Airport.
After immigration and customs formalities, depart for one-hour flight at 10h00 to Entebbe, Uganda.
Upon arrival, passengers will be split into two groups. Group 1: Visit the chimpanzees on Ngamba Island.
Group 2: Enjoy excursion to Jinja, source of the Nile. Each group will enjoy lunch en route. Dinner and overnight at the Lake Victoria Serena Resort.
At 08h00 Group 1: Enjoy excursion to Jinja, source of the Nile. Group 2: Visit the chimpanzees on Ngamba Island.
Dinner and overnight at hotel.
After breakfast, transfer to Entebbe Airport for flight to Khartoum, Sudan.
Transfer to the Burj Al Fateh Hotel for lunch. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
09h00 Option 1: Full-day tour to the sites of Masawwarat es-Sufra and Naqa (packed lunch provided).
Option 2: Half-day tour of Khartoum with lunch at hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Transfer to Khartoum Airport at 08h00 for flight to Abu Simbel, Egypt. Upon arrival, visit the Abu Simbel Temples.
Board Kasr Ibrim for Lake Nasser cruise. Afternoon at leisure with lunch, dinner and overnight on board.
Breakfast is served while cruising to Kasr Ibrim – tour conducted from sun deck (entrance to site not permitted).
Lunch en route to Amada. Visit the temples of Amada and Derr as well as the Tomb of Penout.
Afternoon cruise to Wadi El Seboua. Dinner and overnight on board.
07h00 visit to Wadi El Seboua, the temples of Dakka and Maharakka.
Cruise to Aswan with lunch, dinner and overnight on board.
Transfer at 08h00 by road to Luxor. Visit Edfu Temple en route (packed lunch provided).
Arrive Luxor and visit Karnak Temple. Dinner and overnight at the Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa.
At 08h00, enjoy a morning tour to the West Bank of Luxor including Valley of Kings, Valley of Queens, the Temple of Hatshepsut and a photo stop at Colossi of Memnon. Lunch at hotel. Afternoon visit to Luxor Temple.
Dinner and overnight at hotel.
At 08h00, transfer to Luxor Airport for flight to Cairo. Upon arrival, transfer to Al Azhar Park for lunch followed by an afternoon visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. Transfer to the Four Seasons First Residence Hotel with views of both the Nile and the Great Pyramids. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
08h00 tour of Giza Pyramids and Sphinx. Lunch en route. Afternoon tour of Saqqara and Memphis.
Farewell dinner and overnight at hotel.
Transfer to airport at 10h00 for flight home OR extend your stay with own arrangements.
Cairo to Cape
Arrive Cairo. Transfer to the Four Seasons First Residence Hotel with views of both the Nile and the Great Pyramids.
Day at leisure. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
09h00 tour of Giza Pyramids and Sphinx. Lunch en route. Afternoon tour of Saqqara and Memphis.
Welcome dinner and overnight at hotel.
After breakfast, visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. Lunch at Al Azhar Park. Transfer to Cairo Airport at 13h30 for a flight to Luxor. At 15h30, visit Karnak Temple. Dinner and overnight at the Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa.
After breakfast, enjoy a morning tour to the West Bank of Luxor including Valley of Kings, Valley of Queens, the Temple of Hatshepsut and a photo stop at Colossi of Memnon. Lunch at hotel. Afternoon visit to Luxor Temple.
Dinner and overnight at hotel.
At 08h00, depart Luxor by road to Aswan. Visit Kom Ombo Temple en route.
Board Kasr Ibrim at 12h30 for Lake Nasser cruise. Visit to Kalabsha Temple, Beit El Wali and the Kiosk of Kertassi.
Afternoon tea in lounge. Dinner and overnight on board.
Cruise to Wadi El Seboua, passing the Tropic of Cancer. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight on board.
Breakfast followed by a visit to Wadi El Seboua and the temples of Dakka and Maharakka. Enjoy lunch while cruising to Amada. Visit the temples of Amada and Derr as well as the Tomb of Penout. Dinner and overnight on board.
Morning visit to citadel of Kasr Ibrim – tour conducted from sun deck (entrance to site not permitted).
After lunch, visit Abu Simbel Temple before transferring to Abu Simbel Airport.
Depart for flight at 16h00 to Khartoum, Sudan. Transfer to Burj Al Fateh Hotel for dinner and overnight.
09h00 Option 1: Full-day tour to the sites of Masawwarat es-Sufra and Naqa (packed lunch provided).
Option 2: Half-day tour of Khartoum with lunch at hotel. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Transfer to Khartoum Airport at 07h30 for flight to Entebbe, Uganda. Upon arrival at 11h30, passengers will be split into two groups. Group 1: Visit the chimpanzees on Ngamba Island. Group 2: Enjoy excursion to Jinja, source of the Nile.
Each group will enjoy lunch en route. Dinner and overnight at the Lake Victoria Serena Resort.
08h00 Group 1: Enjoy excursion to Jinja, source of the Nile. Group 2: Visit the chimpanzees on Ngamba Island.
Dinner and overnight at hotel.
After immigration and customs formalities, depart for flight at 08h00 to Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
Upon arrival, board vehicles for 2½-hour drive via Lake Manyara to Ngorongoro Farmhouse.
Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at lodge.
After breakfast, game drive excursion to Ngorongoro Crater with lunch on floor of crater. Dinner and overnight at lodge.
After breakfast, transfer to Masek Tented Camp in Ndutu area, Serengeti Plains.
Arrive at the camp for lunch and afternoon game drive. Dinner and overnight at camp.
Breakfast at camp. Morning and afternoon game drives in the Serengeti. Lunch, dinner and overnight at camp.
Transfer to airstrip at 08h30 for domestic flight to Kilimanjaro Airport.
Board aircraft at 11h30 for the flight to Zanzibar, flying past Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Arrive Zanzibar at 12h10 and transfer to Zanzibar Serena Hotel for lunch. Afternoon tour of Stone Town. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Island Spice Tour at 09h00 with lunch en route. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Transfer to Zanzibar Airport at 08h00 for flight to Victoria Falls. Upon arrival at 12h00, transfer to the Victoria Falls Hotel for lunch. Sunset cruise at 16h00 on the Zambezi River. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
Day at leisure. There is an activities desk in the foyer of the hotel.
Optional tour of Falls, helicopter ride, river rafting, walk with the lions, craft village, etc. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
After breakfast, transfer to the station at 10h00 and board Rovos Rail’s Pride of Africa.
Lunch, dinner and overnight on the train.
Travel through Botswana. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and overnight on the train.
At 17h00, arrive at Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria. Transfer to the Sheraton Hotel for dinner and overnight.
09h00 tour of Pretoria. Return to Rovos Rail Station for a lunch and a tour of the premises.
At 15h30, depart for Cape Town on Rovos Rail. Dinner and overnight on the train.
Arrive in Kimberley at 10h00 and tour the Big Hole and Diamond Mine Museum.
Depart Kimberley at 13h00. Lunch, dinner and overnight on the train.
At 08h30, visit the historic village of Matjiesfontein before departing for Cape Town. Arrive in Cape Town at 18h00 and transfer to the Cape Grace Hotel at the V&A Waterfront. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
At 09h00, a wine tasting at Groot Constantia and a visit to Table Mountain (weather permitting).
Lunch en route. Dinner at the V&A Waterfront. Overnight at hotel.
At 08h30, a full-day tour of Cape Peninsula including Fish Hoek, Simonstown, Cape Point, Chapman’s Peak Drive,
Hout Bay and Kirstenbosch. Light lunch en route. Farwell dinner at 20h00 and overnight at hotel.
Transfer to Cape Town Airport for flight home or extend your stay with own arrangements.
- Cape Town and peninsula, the Hex River Valley and winelands
- Matjiesfontein in the Karoo
- Kimberley Big Hole Diamond Museum
- Pretoria – Jacaranda City with the Magaliesberg Mountain Range
- Botswana and Zimbabwe
- Victoria Falls, Zambezi River cruise
- Zanzibar, Stone Town and Spice Tour
- Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro
- Entebbe, Uganda, chimpanzees on Ngamba Island, Jinja – source of the Nile
- Khartoum, Sudan
- Abu Simbel, Egypt
- Cruise on the Nile River, Lake Nasser
- Luxor, Cairo, Wadi El Seboua
- Valley of the Kings and Queens etc
- Four Seasons First Residence Hotel
- Pyraminds, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum of Antiquities
| 2014 | Pullman Suites | Deluxe Suites | Royal Suites |
|---|---|---|---|
| CT – CAIRO 28 days17 Jan – 13 Feb 2014 | US$48 500 (*US$8 200) | US$52 000 (*US$9 500) | US$55 000 (*on request) |
| CAIRO – CT 28 DAYS04 Feb – 03 Mar 2014 | US$48 500 (*US$6 200) | US$52 000 (*US$7 200) | US$55 000 (*on request) |
| Train tour price per person sharing includes accommodation, meals and excursions, as well as alcoholic beverages whilst on the train.* Single supplement |  |
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| DATES REGULAR TRIPS 1 OCTOBER 2011 – 20 SEPTEMBER 2012 | ||||||
| Dates are specific. Please reconfirm with reservations@rovos.co.za. See Downloads below for further dates. | ||||||
| DESTINATION | PTA – CT | CT – PTA | PTA – VF | VF – PTA | PTA – DBN | DBN – PTA |
| OCT 2011 | 5,7,14,19,28 | 8,10,17,22,24,31 | 13,27 | 2,16,30 | 7,21 | 10,24 |
| NOV 2011 | 4,11,18,25 | 7,12,14,21,28 | 10,24 | 13,27 | 4,18 | 7,21 |
| DEC 2011 | 2,9,16,23,28,30 | 5,12,19,26,31 | 22 | 25 | n/a | n/a |
| JAN 2012 | 6,13,20,27 | 2,9,23,30 | 5,19 | 8,22 | 27 | 30 |
| FEB 2012 | 3,10,17,22,24 | 6,13,15,20,27 | 2,16 | 5,19 | 10,24 | 13,27 |
| MAR 2012 | 2,7,9,16,30 | 5,10,12,19,26 | 1,15,29 | 4,18 | 9,23 | 12,26 |
| APR 2012 | 6,13,20,27 | 2,9,16,23,30 | 12,26 | 1,15,29 | 6,20 | 9,23 |
| MAY 2012 | 4,11,18,25 | 7,14,21,28 | 10,24 | 13,27 | n/a | n/a |
| JUN 2012 | 1,8,15,22,27,29 | 4,11,18,25 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| JUL 2012 | 6,13,20 | 2,9,16,23,30 | 26 | 29 | n/a | n/a |
| AUG 2012 | 3,8,10,17,24,31 | 6,13,20,27 | 9,23 | 12,26 | 31 | n/a |
| SEP 2012 | 14,21,26,28 | 3,10,17,24 | 6,20 | 9,23 | 14,28 | 3,17 |
| DATES ANNUAL TRIPS 2012 | ||||||
| Dates are specific. Please reconfirm with reservations@rovos.co.za. See Downloads below for further dates. | ||||||
| CT – DAR | DAR – CT | Golf Safari | Namibia PTA – SWA | Namibia SWA – PTA | Collage Golf PTA-CT | Collage Golf CT-PTA |
| 16 – 29 Jan | 12 – 25 Mar | 22 Feb – 1 Mar | 26 Apr - 4 May |
6 – 14 May | 17 – 25 May | 26 May - 3 June |
| 30 Jun – 13 Jul | 16 – 29 Jul | 10 – 18 Oct | 08 – 16 Nov | 19 – 27 Nov | ||
| 29 Sep – 12 Oct | 15 – 28 Oct | 28 Nov – 6 Dec | ||||
St James Manor and St James Seaforth Guesthouses in Cape Town
Before or after a journey on the Pride of Africa, guests can stay at one of our five-star seaside guesthouses in Cape Town. The St James Manor and St James Seaforth overlook the vibrant fishing village of Kalk Bay with majestic views across False Bay and the Indian Ocean. Historically known as ‘millionaire’s mile’, St James is making its comeback as one of the trendiest places to stay in Cape Town. The main road through to Kalk Bay Harbour is Mediterranean in style and a trove of novel antique shops, delis, sidewalk cafés, boutiques and art galleries. A mere five-minute walk away, fresh fish can be bought from the local fishermen and the harbour itself has charming restaurants offering home-style cuisine and fine-dining experiences. The area still boasts the colourful Victorian bathing boxes and grand old houses reflecting the splendour of the early gold- and diamond-mining era. In front of the guesthouses, across the road, you will find the famous tidal pools and swimming beaches. A favourite pastime is the early morning swim in the temperate waters of St James. The area also offers interesting walks along the historic promenade and up the imposing mountains, which provide an impressive backdrop to both houses. Perhaps the biggest attraction is the land-based whale watching. In season they appear literally metres from the shoreline and can be seen clearly from both properties. Breakfasts in both houses are a speciality offering a wide choice of interesting fare and are inclusive, as are all beverages. Dinners and lunches are available by arrangement.