DAY 1: DAR ES SALAAM
12:00
Depart from Tazara Station in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Guests may freshen up in their suites before joining fellow travellers in the lounge car and observation car, which will be at the front of the train for the first 72 hours – a different aspect that our rail enthusiasts enjoy. Please ensure the Train Manager or Administration Deputy is in possession of passport. Lectures will take place throughout the journey during the morning and/or afternoon in the lounge car. (Please consult Lecture Sheets for details.)
13:00
Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train travels the fertile lands of Tanzania towards the Selous.
16:30
Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30
Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Fuga Halt for overnight.
DRESS
- Days on board are smart casual: Neat, conventional yet relatively informal in style combining casual and formal clothing pieces.
- Evening attire is more formal: For gentlemen a jacket and tie is a minimum requirement while for ladies we suggest cocktail/evening dresses or suits.
On long journeys we enjoy themed evenings where guests can dress up accordingly or opt for smart casual:
• Golf Safari, African Collage, Dar es Salaam and Lobito Journeys: 1 x “AFRICA” evening and 1 x “1920s” evening. See itineraries. See itineraries.
- Off- train excursions: We recommend comfortable walking shoes, sun lotion and hats. If required, blankets and rain capes are available.
- Game drives are on open vehicles so please dress accordingly: mornings can be cool then warm up considerably; afternoons can be warm then cool down considerably. Please see average temperatures as a guide.
DRESSING GOWNS: We provide a comfortable one-size-fits-all gown plus slippers for each guest for use on board the train. If you wish to take one home, they are available to purchase from the Gift Shop.
DAY 2: SELOUS GAME RESERVE
05:30
Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 07:00.
07:00
Enjoy a game visit in the Selous Game Reserve, the largest in Africa at 55 000km2 (time permitting).
13:00
Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train travels towards the jungled Udzungwa Mountains and negotiates the dramatic switchbacks, viaducts and tunnels of the escarpment.
16:30
Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30
Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Mlimba for overnight.
AY 3: MAKAMBAKO (optional)
07:00
Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00.
09:00
Arrive at Makambako and enjoy a stroll through the town (time permitting).
13:00
Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train passes baobab forests and ascends the Rift Valley to the border, almost exactly the midpoint between Africa’s two Great Rift Valley lakes.
16:30
Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30
Dinner is served in the dining cars.
PLEASE TURN YOUR WATCHES BACK BY ONE HOUR BEFORE RETIRING FOR THE EVENING.
DAY 4: CHISIMBA FALLS - BORDER: TUNDUMA, TANZANIA / NAKONDE, ZAMBIA
07:00
Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00. Border formalities take place.
13:00
Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train travels the TAZARA railway line, an engineering tour de force and one of Africa’s best-kept secrets as it passes through remote territory.
14:30
Enjoy a visit to Chisimba Falls where guests can take a pleasant walk down to the rock pools at the base of the falls or admire them from various viewpoints. Return to the train by 18:00.
19:30
Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Mpika for overnight.
Chisimba Falls is a series of three waterfalls named Mutumuna, Kaela and Chishimba (Chisimba), which are separated over 300m along the Luombe River. According to Bemba tradition, the nature spirit “Chishimba” lives in a cave behind the falls therefore no bad behaviour (including fights, insults and arrogance) is allowed in this area. Though the Bemba people arrived here in the 17th century, they weren’t the first as the land surrounding the falls is dotted with evidence of Iron Age activities including kilns, smelting pipes and iron ore deposits.
DAY 5: SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK
07:00
Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00.
10:00
Transfer to Mpika Airstrip for a chartered flight to the South Luangwa National Park, initially founded as the Luangwa Game Park in 1904 and converted to one of three game reserves in 1938. The impressive park covers about 9050km2 of the Luangwa Valley floor and lies anywhere from 500-800m above sea level. With its western and northwestern edge bounded by the Muchinga Escarpment, and the southern border lined with the meandering Luangwa River, there is no shortage of dramatic and fascinating topography in this beautiful game- rich park.
12:00
Transfer to respective camps. Enjoy lunch and check-in on arrival.
15:30
Afternoon game drive in the Luangwa Valley (approximately 3 hours).
19:30
Dinner and overnight at the camps.
Please pack a small overnight bag for a two-night stay in South Luangwa National Park. For your convenience we have placed bags in your suite.
Please ensure you have warm clothing for the game drives and evening dress at dinner is casual.
Walking safaris are available so please ensure you have the correct shoes if you would like to participate.
Time of game drives confirmed on arrival.
See inclusions/exclusions.
Please ensure you have obtained your passport from the Train Manager or Administration Deputy.
DAY 6: SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK
06:00
Enjoy a continental breakfast.
06:30
Early morning game drive (approximately 3 hours).
10:00
Brunch is served. Afternoon at leisure.
15:30
Afternoon game drive (approximately 3 hours).
19:30
Dinner and overnight at the camps .
DAY 7: SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK - BORDER: NDOLA, ZAMBIA / SAKANIA, DRC
Please ensure that your luggage is ready for collection.
Breakfast, a morning game drive (approximately 2 hours) and check-out times will be confirmed.
12:00
Transfer to the airport for the chartered flight to Ndola, Zambia. Transfer to Ndola Station to rejoin the train. Please ensure the Train Manager or Administration Deputy is in possession of passport.
13:00
Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train travels towards the border.
16:30
Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30
Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Lubumbashi.
DAY 8: LUBUMBASHI
06:00
Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 08:00.
08:00
Enjoy a drive through the city of Lubumbashi.
11:00
Rejoin the train and travel towards Lukuni.
13:00
Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train passes Luishia, an old open-pit copper and cobalt mine.
16:30
Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30
Dinner is served in the dining cars en-route to Kolwezi for overnight.
DAY 9: COPPER MINE
06:00
Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 08:00.
08:00
Disembark at Kolwezi for a visit to a copper mine in an area that holds one of the world’s largest known copper and cobalt resources.
10:30
Enjoy brunch at Katebi Lodge.
13:00
Return to the train. Depart for Kasombo.
16:30
Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30
Dinner is served in the dining cars en-route to Mutshatsha for overnight.
DAY 10: AT LEISURE ON BOARD
07:00
Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00.
13:00
Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train passes Kakopa en-route to Malonga.
16:30
Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30
Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Dilolo.
Dress: “Africa” Theme or Smart Casual
PLEASE TURN YOUR WATCHES BACK AN HOUR BEFORE RETIRING FOR THE EVENING.
DAY 11: LUAU - BORDER: DILOLO, DRC / LUAU, ANGOLA
07:00
Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00. Border formalities take place.
11:00
Enjoy a walking tour of Luau, the start of the Benguela line.
12:00
The train departs for Luena.
13:00
Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16:30
Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars as the train travels alongside the Cassai River. The catchment of the Cassai River encompasses a vast eco-region of 900 000km2 with an incredibly rich fish fauna. As the train passes the villages of Cassai and Cameia, there is sometimes an opportunity to see the local fishermen at work.
19:30
Dinner is served in the dining cars en-route to Luena for overnight.
DAY 12: LUENA
07:00
Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00.
10:00
Enjoy a walking tour of Luena to learn more about the recent history of Angola.
11:00
Depart for Tchicala Tcholohanga.
13:00
Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16:30
Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30
Dinner is served in the dining cars en-route to Kuito for overnight.
DAY 13: KUITO
07:00
Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09:00.
09:00
Enjoy a stroll through the town of Kuito, built in the historical heart of the Ovimbundu kingdom.
11:00
Depart for Huambo.
13:00
Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16:30
Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30
Dinner is served in the dining cars en-route to Huambo for overnight.
DAY 14: HUAMBO
07:00
Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09:00.
09:00
Enjoy a tour of Huambo, the second largest city in Angola and one of the old kingdoms on the central plateau.
11:00
Depart for Lépi.
13:00
Lunch is served in the dining cars.
16:30
Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30
Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Cubal for overnight.
Dress: “1920s” Theme or Smart Casual
DAY 15: LOBITO
Please ensure that your luggage is ready for collection by 09:45 and that you have your passport.
07:00
Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09:30.
10:00
Arrive at journey’s end, Lobito Station, Benguela Province, Angola.
Bon Voyage and thank you for travelling with us!
