Day 1 – Departure from Pretoria

After checking in at Pretoria Rail Station, you can visit Pretoria and Soweto. At the end of the afternoon, your journey on the Good Hope train will begin.

Day 2 - Nelspruit

The following day will be a full day of excursions after arriving in Nelspruit. You will visit Pilgrim’s Rest, an old mining village turned national monument, where you can experience a time when gold was being mined. Further along the tracks, you will pass the 800-meter deep Blyde River Canyon and Bourke’s Luck Potholes, amazing rock formations that have been formed by centuries of erosion. Afterwards, stand and gape at God’s Window, a stunning view that shows the foothills of the Dragon Mountains, Mozambique and the Indian Ocean.

Day 3-4 – Kruger Park / Swaziland

Spend the whole day wildlife spotting in the two million hectares of Kruger National Park. The next day, you will take a fabulous excursion through the small African kingdom of Swaziland. Take in the natural beauty, explore the daily life of the locals and visit the bustling Swazi market. In the early evening, you will return to the train.

Day 5 – Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park

You will depart early to go to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, the oldest wildlife park in Africa. The park is most famous for its rhino population. You will find the “Big Five” and several other animal types and a varied landscape here. In the afternoon, you will return to the train.

Day 6-7 - iSimangaliso Wetland Park / Durban

Spend a large part of the day in iSimangaliso Wetland Park. This protected swamp area consists of the St. Lucia Lake, several islands, reservations, and the highest sand dunes in the world. You will find a plethora of animal species here, such as elephants, hippos, buffalo, elk, crocodiles, flamingo, and a large variety of water birds.
You will arrive the next morning in Durban, the third largest city in South Africa and an important industrial hub and sea harbour. It is a great place to visit, due to its subtropical climate and long beautiful beaches. Durban offers a mix of old and new, east and west. After a tour of the city, you can visit PheZulu Safari Village, where you can view crocodiles and snakes of all kinds.

Day 8-9 – Ladysmith / Bloemfontein

Today you will learn a bit about the history of the three-year Boer War between the British and the Boers. You will pay a visit to the former battlefield at Ladysmith, which the Boers surrounded for 118 days. Lunch will be served on board the train.
The next morning, explore Bloemfontein (“Flower Fountain”) with an excursion to the Women’s Memorial, a memorial monument to the 26.000 black and Boer women and children who died in British camps during the Anglo-Boer War. In the Anglo Boer Museum, you can learn more about the history of South Africa. In the afternoon, you can visit Navall Hill, which gives you a fabulous view of the town, after which, you can visit the Oliewen House. The name of this white building with noticeable Dutch design stems from the olive trees that grow in the gardens surrounding the house. It was the home of the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa and is now a museum that displays work by South African artists.

Day 10-11 – Kimberley / Graag Reinet

The town of Kimberley sprung up in the late 19th century after a diamond was found. You can visit the Big Hole, an enormous dig site that used to be a diamond mine, and the diamond museum. After lunch (not included), you will have time to explore the William Humphreys Art Gallery and the McGregor Museum.
The next day begins easy with lunch on board the train. In the afternoon you will be able to explore the town of Graag Reinet, the third oldest town in South Africa with about 200 historical buildings.

Day 12 - Cango Caves

Explore the Cango Caves, where Bushmen lived until roughly 500 years ago. Its imposing limestone formations and colourful tunnels are now on display. A ride through the Outeniqua Pass will take you to the town George where the train will be waiting for you.

Day 13-14 – Featherbed Nature Reserve / Whale spotting

Start today in George, a small town located on the plateau between the mighty Outeniqua Mountains and the Indian Ocean. Passed the panoramic Old Passes Route you will go to Knysna, located between forests and a peaceful lagoon. You can take a boat trip to the gorgeous Featherbed Nature Reserve. This reserve is home to some very rare animals, including the Knysna Loerie – the smallest antelope species in the world.
On the next day, you will take a wonderful trip by car to Hermanus, a good location to spot some whales from the cliffs. Afterwards, you will return to the train for your last dinner on board the Good Hope.  

Day 15 – Arrival in Cape Town

You will arrive in Cape Town on the morning of your final tour day. Your luggage will be stored in the Rovos Rail Lounge, after which, you can take an excursion to explore the city highlights. You will visit the Company’s Garden, the oldest garden in South Africa. This garden provided the crew of VOC ships with fresh vegetables and herbs. You will also visit the Bo-Kaap museum, located in a neighbourhood with colourful houses. Have lunch at the Victoria & Albert Waterfront, the old VOC-era harbour. Today, it houses shops and restaurants, and offers a great view of the bay.
In the afternoon, you will explore the fascinating history of the District Six neighbourhood. In the late 19th century, it was a melting pot of many different cultures, but became known to the world during the height of the Apartheid due to “forced removals” that were carried out there. The excursion ends with a visit to Good Hope Castle; the most maintained fort of its kind, built in the 17th century. In the evening you will return home.