Rovos Rail: Timeless African Rail Journeys

The opulent design, vintage mahogany panelling, elegant dining cars, and the exclusive luxury suites aboard the Pride of Africa evoke a timeless spirit of slow travel and connect you to the nostalgic days of early 20th-century rail travel dominance. It may be surprising, however, that the inaugural journey of South Africa's flagship luxury train, Rovos Rail, was only 35 years ago.

Born from a lifelong fascination with mechanical engineering, Rohan Vos and his family have grown Rovos Rail into a world-renowned luxury rail experience, opening up Africa to globetrotters worldwide. Rovos Rail's network of short and long journeys promises unforgettable journeys across South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Travelling with Rovos Rail means embarking on a journey into the past, where you'll watch Africa's iconic scenery and rich history slowly unravel from the luxury of a bygone era of rail travel. Join us as we journey from Rovos Rail's humble beginnings to rail travel icons and discover how Rovos Rail redefined luxury travel across the continent.

From Dream to Departure

Rohan Vos instantly fell in love with rail travel after an eventful Magaliesberg train trip with his wife, Anthea Vos, in 1985. The journey ended with a bus ride back to town after the train broke down, symbolizing the unpredictable journey ahead for Rovos Rail. Despite this setback, Rohan became committed to obtaining a caravan of coaches for his family.

Rohan Vos bought several coaches from an auction later that year and began restoring them in Witbank, South Africa. His first locomotive—named BIANCA after one of his daughters—followed shortly after. Rohan's goal of a family caravan quickly became unaffordable after the tariff quoted by authorities for running his train on the national rail network was too high. This was another moment of adversity that Rohan would turn into an opportunity, as he turned his new dream of a family caravan into a dream of his own vintage train business.

It wouldn't be for another four years until Rovos Rail embarked on their inaugural journey to Transvaal, with plenty of painstaking restorations of the original seven coaches and BIANCA in between. On the 29th of April 1989, Rovos Rail set out for its first venture with four customers, forever changing South Africa's rail travel legacy. 

Setting New Standards in Luxury Rail Travel

Several locomotives, coaches, and carriages were bought and refurbished in the next decade when tourism across South Africa was at its lowest. Rovos Rail continued to expand its reach across the continent with the inaugural journeys from Pretoria to Cape Town, Cape Town to Dar es Salaam, and Pretoria to Victoria Falls departing throughout the 1990s, kickstarting some of the most famous journeys of the Rovos Rail legacy.

Rovos Rail's commitment to comfort and luxury helped establish it as one of Africa's most opulent rail journeys and a leader in luxury rail travel. It was one of the first trains to introduce fixed beds and ensuite bathrooms. Passengers departing from The Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria are immediately immersed in vintage luxury and history with an elegant lounge and comprehensive railway museum showcasing Africa's history of luxury rail travel as told by Rovos Rail.

The rich mahogany wood panelling, plush seating, vintage detailing, spacious suites, and classic dining cars set Rovos Rail apart from any other luxury rail journey on the continent. Restored steam locomotives and locally sourced products preserve the history of luxury rail travel and the heritage of the local communities along the Rovos Rail network. The rhythmic chugging of steam engines through golden grass savannahs, mountainous terrain, and open plains rich with wildlife is a Rovos Rail trademark. 

A Journey Alongside South Africa’s Transformation

Passengers are privy to more than a rolling 5-star hotel experience when travelling with Rovos Rail, as the company's journey is closely intertwined with South Africa's transformative history. The days before South Africa's democratic revolution, inspired by Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress (ANC), were financially stressful for the country's tourism industry and Rovos Rail.

Facing bankruptcy in 1993, a year before South Africa's first democratic general elections and the end of apartheid, Rovos Rail fought to stay on track by launching its route from Cape Town to Victoria Falls. This shot a bolt of energy and funds into the business that was barely breaking even at the time, allowing it to purchase 38 redundant carriages the following year and kickstart a new era for the company.

Rovos Rail has always been a love letter to vintage luxury rail travel, yet its evolution alongside South Africa after the tumultuous period of apartheid has incorporated a captivating focus on the country's past and future into its journeys. Passengers will discover the story of a country shaped by Indigenous and colonial histories, from Kimberley's diamond mines to the Cape's rolling vineyards. Rovos Rail now reaches nine other African countries, taking passengers on timeless journeys from the savannahs of Kruger National Park to the deserts of Namibia, the bustling streets of Dar es Salaam, and beyond.