Sample Trail of Two Oceans - Rovos Rail

DAY 1: DAR ES SALAAM

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. To the train travels the fertile lands of Tanzania towards the Selous.
 

NOTES: 
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.
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: Formal

DAY 2: SELOUS GAME RESERVE

Enjoy a game visit in the Selous Game Reserve, the largest in Africa at 55 000km2 (time permitting). The train travels towards the jungled Udzungwa Mountains and negotiates the dramatic switchbacks, viaducts and tunnels of the escarpment.

NOTES:
05:30 - Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 07:00.
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 Mlimba for overnight. Dress: Formal

DAY 3: MAKAMBAKO (optional excursion)

Arrive at Makambako and enjoy a stroll through the town (time permitting). 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.

NOTES:
07:00 - Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00. 
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. Dress: Formal
PLEASE TURN YOUR WATCHES BACK BY ONE HOUR BEFORE RETIRING FOR THE EVENING

DAY 4: CHISIMBA FALLS
BORDER: TUNDUMA, TANZANIA / NAKONDE, ZAMBIA

Early morning the border formalities take place. 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.

Enjoy an afternoon 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.

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

NOTES:
07:00 - Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00.
13:00 - Lunch is served in the dining cars.
19:30 - Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal

DAY 5: AT LEISURE ON BOARD

The train travels from Serenje to Kapiri Mposhi. The train is turned at New Kapiri Mposhi. 

Most of the territory of Zambia forms part of the great plateau of south and east Africa displaying a gently rolling 
and somewhat monotonous surface, relieved at intervals by hills, small escarpments of resistant rock formations
and deep valleys that form part of the great African Rift system. The countryside, although high, is thick with 
Miombo woodland and Raffia palms. The Continental Divide, separating the drainage to the Atlantic and Indian 
oceans, forms the Zambia-DRC boundary as far as the southern tip where the DRC intrudes into Zambia. It then 
trends northeast to leave the country about halfway between lakes Tanganyika and Malawi. The railway, in fact, 
follows this line very closely. In this comparatively short section of the divide are the sources of the Congo and 
Zambezi rivers, two of the four largest rivers on the continent. 

NOTES:
07:00 - Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00.
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 Ndola. Dress: Formal

DAY 6: SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

At 09h00 you will have a transfer to Ndola Airport for a chartered flight (±60 min) to 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.

Transfer to respective camps. Enjoy lunch and check-in on arrival. You will enjoy an afternoon game drive in the Luangwa Valley (approximately 3 hours) & then dinner and overnight at the camps.

NOTES:
• 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. 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.

06:00 - Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 08:45.
Dress code for dinner: Casual

DAY 7: ON SAFARI IN SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

06:00 - Enjoy a continental breakfast.
06:30 - Early morning game drive (±180 min).
10:00 - Brunch is served. Afternoon at leisure.
15:30 - Afternoon game drive (±180 min).
19:30 - Dinner and overnight at the camps. Dress: Casual

DAY 8: SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK
BORDER: NDOLA, ZAMBIA / SAKANIA, DRC

Please ensure that your luggage is ready for collection. Breakfast, a morning game drive (±120 min) and check-out times will be confirmed.

Transfer to the airport for the chartered flight (±60 min) to Ndola. Transfer to Ndola Station to rejoin the train.
Please ensure the Train Manager or Administration Deputy is in possession of passport. 

 NOTES: 
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. Dress: Formal

DAY 9: LUBUMBASHI

Enjoy a drive through the city of Lubumbashi. Rejoin the train and travel towards Lukuni. The train passes Luishia, an old open-pit copper and cobalt mine.

NOTES:
06:00 - Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 08:00.
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 Kolwezi for overnight. Dress: Formal

DAY 10: COPPER MINE

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. Enjoy brunch at Katebi Lodge. Return to the train. Depart for Kasombo.

NOTES:
06:00 - Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 08:00.
15:30 - Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
19:30 - Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Mutshatsha for overnight. Dress: Formal

DAY 11: AT LEISURE ON BOARD

NOTES:
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 12: LUAU
BORDER: DILOLO, DRC / LUAU, ANGOLA

Border formalities take place, then after that you can enjoy a walking tour of Luau, the start of the Benguela line. 
The train departs for Luena, travelling 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.

NOTES:
07:00 - Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00.
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 Luena for overnight. Dress: Formal

DAY 13: LUENA

After breakfast enjoy a walking tour of Luena to learn more about the recent history of Angola. Depart for Tchicala Tcholohanga.

NOTES:
07:00 - Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00.
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. Dress: Formal

DAY 14: KUITO

Enjoy a stroll through the town of Kuito, built in the historical heart of the Ovimbundu kingdom. The train will depart for Huambo in the afternoon.

NOTES:
07:00 - Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09:00.
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. Dress: Formal
 

DAY 15: HUAMBO

Enjoy a tour of Huambo, the second largest city in Angola and one of the old kingdoms on the central plateau. Late morning the train will depart for Lépi.

NOTES:
07:00 - Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09:00.
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 16: 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