The Best African Rail Journeys

Rovos Rail (‘Pride of Africa’)

Known as the 'Pride of Africa', Rovos have earned a reputation as one of the world's most luxurious trains, carefully recapturing the romance and adventure of bygone years. Exciting new itineraries now cover most of Southern Africa - coast to coast, east-west and north-south. Guests enjoy classic Edwardian decor. Spacious suites combine traditional comfort and elegance with modern technology. Crisp linen and silver service prevail.

The Blue Train

Combining the luxury of a world's leading hotel with the charm of train travel, the famous Blue Train is quite unique. It offers the opportunity to view South Africa's spectacular landscapes, with interesting attractions along the way. Personal butlers attend to your every need. Gourmet cuisine in the dining car is complimented by the finest South African wines from boutique vineyards. By night, suites are transformed into subtly-lit bedrooms.

Shongololo Express

This train (now owned by Rovos Rail) represents a more casual version of luxury travel, with additional emphasis on the destinations rather than the ‘on-train’ experience itself. Exciting long-distance Shongololo itineraries range across the countries of Southern Africa - Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia. On-board the train, enjoy comfortable dining, lounge and observation carriages, plus a well-stocked bar, good food and South African wines.

Desert Express

Although not as famous or sophisticated as the other luxury options, this is Namibia’s unique first-class train, travelling through amazing landscapes. Enjoy high levels of comfort, safety and service - elegant dining, lounge and bar cars, and an interesting modern interior, designed in the colours and motifs of the country. These journeys provide an insight into the cultural and geographical mix that makes Namibia so vibrant and exciting to explore.

Royal Livingstone Express

Board the restored Pullman carriages of the Royal Livingstone Express, and traverse a short section of what Cecil Rhodes hoped would become the Cape to Cairo Railway. Journey in stately comfort into the Victoria Falls World Heritage site, pulled by a steam loco to the world-famous Victoria Falls Bridge. This is a classy combined sightseeing/fine dining adventure to witness an African sunset, and observe one of the world’s largest waterfalls.

Mukuba Express

Linking the rich Zambian Copperbelt with the Indian Ocean port of Dar es Salaam, this journey is covered by two passenger trains per week in each direction. The trains have seen better days - they are for intrepid travellers not concerned about luxury or punctuality. For the more adventurous, it is a great way to experience the people and lifestyles beyond the city, see central African landscapes, rivers and gorges, and perhaps spot some African wildlife.

Shosholoza Meyl

Comfortable and affordable, the Shosholoza Meyl trains come in two classes. Premier Classe deluxe trains are a touch of luxury on a budget! Economy/Tourist trains are amazingly affordable. But, on the 1,600 km Johannesburg to Cape Town route they all pass exactly the same beautiful scenery as the more expensive luxury options.

Umgeni Heritage Steam Rail

For those with a holiday itinerary that includes Durban, this little heritage railway (not-for-profit, run by volunteers) operates from Kloof to Inchanga (and return) on the last Sunday of every month. A treat for ‘steam enthusiasts’ and anyone wanting to enjoy some old-fashioned sightseeing, with wonderful views of the country side.

Madaraka Express

Few journeys have such a contrast as this one - dropping 1,800 metres from Nairobi in the mountains, over some rough hilly terrain, to Mombasa on the Indian Ocean coast. Chinese-built and funded, the Madaraka Express rail journey is Kenya’s most expensive infrastructure project since independence. Modern air-conditioned carriages offer first and standard class seating. Big windows allow excellent viewing of the landscape, local villages, and game viewing of Kapiti Plains and Tsavo National Park (zebra, giraffe, elephants, ostriches).

Morocco

Al-Boraq

The fastest (and first of its kind) rail service on the African continent, Al-Boraq operates over a dedicated high-speed line along 323 kms of the Atlantic coast. Double-decker air-conditioned passenger carriages (two 1st-class and five 2nd-class) plus a futuristic-looking cafe car with sandwiches and snacks, can accommodate 530 passengers. Interiors are distinctly Moroccan, with reclining seating in rich red fabrics - comfortable, plenty of leg room, tray table, and power socket access.

Egypt

Overnight Deluxe Sleeper

The daily all-year-round deluxe sleeper trains are a genuine Egyptian experience - saving time (and saving the hotel cost), safe, air-conditioned and relatively comfortable. Departing each evening, this is the most efficient way to travel to Egypt’s renowned archaeological destinations at Luxor and Aswan. There are ‘cosy’ one and two berth compartments with a hand-basin and tray table, and usually a bar/lounge car - bedding and towels supplied. There’s also an air-conditioned daytime express train which is safe, cheap a

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe Rail

This daily 472km overnight journey is not a ‘high-quality’ rail journey - the train shows neglect, reflecting the post-Mugabe economic circumstances in Zimbabwe. There are 1st and 2nd class sleeper coupes/compartments and economy class seats. Each compartment has a fold-out wash basin, and windows that open for fresh air and clear viewing. All kinds of wildlife can be seen, with the spray of the Falls on the horizon. It’s the morning game-viewing that compensates for the relatively poor-quality train.

Cameroon

Camrail

This journey crosses over a dozen metal bridges, and exposes some of the native cultures in Cameroon (mostly indigenous Mbum & Fulini), with vendors balancing trays of fruit and other food on their heads at each stop - passengers just lean from the windows to purchase. The route passes through some beautiful scenery and lots of forest greenery in the early morning. The railway’s northern terminus is at Ngaoundéré, where the station is always sprawling with life - the dominant goods are tropical fruits, mainly bananas.

Mauritania

Desert Train (Train du Desert)

A really unique adventure has been provided by the Desert Train in seldom-visited Mauritania since 1963. It showcases the remote lifestyle and cultures of the vast desert interior - a rail journey across the Sahara! A single old European-built passenger carriage is attached to the 2 km-long freight trains (among the largest in the world) that snake their way through the Saharan heat on a 700 km route from the Atlantic port of Nouhadibou to distant desert communities, and the iron ore mining centre of Zouerate - via Choum and Fderik.

Tunisia

Red Lizard (Lezard Rouge)

Built in the 19th century, this train was originally a gift from the King of France. It carried phosphate from the Tunisian mines, was then abandoned after independence in 1956, and finally restored as the Red Lizard. This antique tourist train makes a narrow-gauge journey that follows the natural path carved along the 15 km Selja Gorge in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains of southwestern Tunisia, near Tozeur. The central western desert area around Tozeur is noted for it’s beautiful Saharan dune scenery.