By luxury train from Cape Town to Victoria Falls – twelve days in southern Africa

Your flight to South Africa departs from Germany in the afternoon or evening of the first day. One of the renowned airlines we have exclusively selected for you will carry you towards your destination overnight. As you glide across the equator, you leave your daily routine behind, arriving in Cape Town the next morning or forenoon—refreshed and filled with anticipation.

Upon landing in Cape Town, you will receive a warm welcome at the airport—simply look for a sign with your name just past the customs area. After a short 30-minute transfer, you will check into your accommodation. Following your long flight, take a brief moment to settle in, unpack, and arrive in South Africa.

Afterwards, we recommend an inspiring stroll along the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. With its countless shops and cafés, it serves as the city's vibrant heart. From here, a short detour to Greenmarket Square is well worth your while: its small Art Deco shops and extensive selection of unique art from all over South Africa define the unmistakable charm of this historic spot.

Today, we invite you to discover the spectacular beauty of the Cape Peninsula. After breakfast at your hotel, your private guide will meet you to begin the journey toward the lower cable station. From here, you will ascend Table Mountain via cable car, where the observation deck offers breathtaking 360-degree views over Cape Town.

Following this, your guide will lead you further along the peninsula: driving past Hout Bay, you will admire the majestic Twelve Apostles mountain range before the world-renowned Chapman’s Peak Drive captures your imagination with its dramatic cliffs.

At the Cape of Good Hope, you will have the opportunity for an unforgettable walk in the nature reserve. On the return journey, we stop at Boulders Beach to observe the charming African penguins in their bustling colony, followed by a visit to the romantic fishing village of Kalk Bay. To conclude the day, we have reserved a table for you at 'Seelan' restaurant directly at the Waterfront, where you can reflect on the day’s impressions over a fine meal and a glass of South African wine.

After breakfast, your private guide will take you to explore the most beautiful side of the wine region. Stellenbosch is the heart of this area, home to South Africa’s world-renowned, award-winning wines. Your guide will lead you through the center of this vibrant town before visiting Franschhoek, famous worldwide for its picturesque houses built in the typical Cape Dutch style.

And what would a visit be without a wine tasting? Today, you will enjoy two of them: a chocolate and wine pairing at Boschendal and a second tasting at an estate carefully selected by us based on the day's weather and ambiance. For lunch, indulge in an exquisite 2-course meal at one of the region’s most stunning wine estates.

Expert Tip: Remember that you can bring home up to 4 liters of wine per person duty-free as a souvenir of your journey!

After several days filled with discovery, today is yours to relax by the pool or explore further sights at your own pace. We highly recommend a visit to Robben Island, the prison island where Nelson Mandela spent 27 years of his life—tours depart directly from the Waterfront near your doorstep. The Castle of Good Hope, the oldest colonial building in South Africa, also invites you on a fascinating journey through time.

Later, you can immerse yourself in the colorful Malay Quarter of Bo-Kaap or visit the Old Biscuit Mill, a lovingly redesigned biscuit factory now home to vibrant restaurants and local handicrafts. To round off the day, head to Long Street or Kloof Street—have you ever tried springbok, crocodile, or snake? Be bold and enjoy the local flavors!

After your final breakfast in Cape Town, we will transfer you to the station. There, at 11:00 AM, a true highlight begins: your journey aboard the world-famous Rovos Rail. Allow yourself to be transported back to a different era. Within beautifully restored, classic luxury carriages, you will enjoy the finest cuisine in a rolling five-star restaurant while dreamlike landscapes drift past your window.

Around 6:00 PM, you will reach Matjiesfontein, a Victorian village on the edge of the Karoo. The Scotsman James Douglas Logan once developed this site into a premier health resort—prominent guests such as Cecil Rhodes and Rudyard Kipling stayed here at the "Lord Milner Hotel." It is a place straight out of a history book, declared a National Monument in 1970.

Today’s excursion takes you to the famous "Big Hole" in Kimberley, the capital of the Northern Cape Province. The Big Hole is often cited as the largest hand-dug excavation in the world, competing for this record status with Jagersfontein, an open-pit mine 110 kilometers southwest of Bloemfontein.

Located right in the heart of the city, the Big Hole is impressive not only for its vast dimensions but also for the insight it provides through the Mine Museum and open-air exhibition at its edge. Here, you will gain a fascinating glimpse into the history of diamond mining and the origins of the town.

A historic tram still operates between the City Hall and the museum, adding to the nostalgic atmosphere. You will spend the remainder of the day relaxing on board the train, enjoying fine dining, stunning landscapes, and perhaps another glass of excellent wine.

Upon your arrival in Pretoria, you will be warmly welcomed at the station and driven to your hotel. Please look out for your driver, who will be holding a sign with your name.

Your hotel is located in the heart of the vibrant Melrose Arch district. Take advantage of the numerous excellent shopping opportunities in the immediate vicinity and end the day in one of the fantastic restaurants—for example, at 'Moyo', where you can enjoy traditional African cuisine of exceptional quality.

Immerse yourself in this center of South African lifestyle! Your hotel is right in the middle of it all.

Today requires an early start, as you will be picked up from your hotel at 8:30 AM for your transfer to the airport. The two-hour flight to Victoria Falls will pass by in no time! Upon arrival, a representative from the Ilala Lodge will welcome you and transfer you to the hotel.

Once you have checked in and settled into your room, prepare for another spectacular highlight in the late afternoon. Just in time for sunset, you will be taken to the jetty on the riverbank. We invite you aboard the 'Ra-Ikane' to experience a magnificent Southern African sunset. Relax on the tranquil Zambezi River, enjoying snacks and drinks as the landscape drifts by. Keep your eyes peeled—you might spot hippos, crocodiles, or elephants, not to mention a vast array of exotic birdlife.

Perhaps the most spectacular highlight of your journey awaits you on this penultimate day. The Victoria Falls—known in the local Kololo language as "Mosi-oa-Tunya," or "The Smoke that Thunders"—can be recognized from a distance of 30 km by the visible cloud of mist. Here, the Zambezi plunges 110m into a gorge barely 50m wide, which creates this legendary spray. While not the deepest, at 1,708m, the Victoria Falls are the widest waterfall in the world.

Should you wish to gain a better perspective of the full scale of this natural wonder, you have the opportunity to view this UNESCO World Heritage site from the air aboard a helicopter.

For dinner, we invite you to the hotel’s "Palms" restaurant to celebrate your final evening at the falls.

On this final day before your journey home, we have prepared a special glimpse into the soul of Africa: After breakfast, we will take you to Botswana, where you will board a boat to discover Chobe National Park from the water. Cruising along the Chobe River, a tributary of the Zambezi, you can observe vast herds of elephants coming to the water's edge to drink, bathe, and play. The boat brings you incredibly close!

After a picnic, you will encounter Africa's wildlife on a safari in an open-top vehicle through the national park. Keep a lookout for the "Big Five" and other majestic animals: lions, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, and zebras. Perhaps you will be lucky enough to see them all!

After your final breakfast on this trip under the African morning sun, we will transfer you to Victoria Falls Airport, where you will begin your flight back to Germany in the midday or early afternoon. It is the moment when the silence of the wilderness and the thunder of the falls make way for the countless images in your mind. South Africa says: "Auf Wiedersehen!" – or are you saying: "Goodbye, South Africa!"? It is not a farewell forever, but a promise to return.