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Since its first trip to Dar Es Salaam in 1989, Rovos Rail has established itself as one of the best luxury experiences in Africa, with the 36th Annual Condé Nast Traveller Choice Awards in full agreement after naming the train experience as one of the best train trips in the world.

With a series of bespoke train journeys lasting from 48 hours to 15 nights, Rovos Rail links some of the continent’s greatest destinations with a variety of off-train excursions, all while it “harks back to a simpler, more elegant era encompassing the timeless grace and high romance of African exploration”.

36th Annual Condé Nast Traveler Choice Awards is a list of travel experiences that the publication’s readers love best, and South Africa has been appearing on the list more frequently these last few years.

Rovos’ magnificently restored trains, either drawn by diesel or electric engines, can carry up to 72 passengers in 36 luxuriously decorated rooms, while their Events Train can accommodate up to 250 guests and is perfect for daytime travels.

“The experiences start before you even board—when departing from Pretoria, Rovos Rail travelers are granted exclusive access to a private lounge, where Champagne and canapés greet them—and a strict “no cellphone” rule is maintained for your own good.”

You had us at “no cellphone” rule.

 

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All Rovos Rail tours include “off-train cultural, historical, and safari excursions, allowing passengers to discover all that Southern Africa has to offer”.

The three-night Cape Town trip is a classic, but if you’re feeling extra adventurous and have a few extra nights (and ZAR) to spare, consider the newer fifteen-day “Trail of Two Oceans” itinerary, which begins in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, crosses Zambia, crosses a sliver of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and ends in Lobito, Angola.

“It’s wonderful to see that, despite ups and downs, Rovos Rail is doing well and has helped preserve much of our railway history.”

If you’ve always been keen to do a Rovos Rail trip, but never had the chance, now might just be a good time to experience Africa as you’ve never seen it before. You can check out their website here for more info.

[source:rovosrail&cntraveller]