The train travels through South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania. (Image: Rovos Rail)
Luxury train tours are proving a big hit, as tourists with deep pockets seek out the ultimate travel experience. Railbookers say they have seen a 68% spike in luxury-level bookings over the last two years alone, as demand grows.
Some of the most famous luxury train journeys include the and India’s Maharajas Express. Another is Rovos Rail’s epic 16-day trip from to Dar es Salaam, that offers a unique safari experience along the way. Passengers are whisked across the , travelling through South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania.
The Royal Suite costs from £20,100 per person (Image: Rovos Rail)
Along the 3,600-mile route, passengers get an opportunity to visit some of the continent’s most spectacular sites and tourist attractions.
These include tours of Kimberley’s Diamond Mine Museum, the Madikwe Game Reserve bordering and the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
The Madikwe Game Reserve’s rich diversity of vegetation offers the perfect environment for a variety of species to thrive.
It is home to 66 mammal species, including the so-called Big Five – lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos and rhinos.
The journey includes a visit to the Madikwe Game Reserve (Image: Rovos Rail)
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More than 300 resident and migrant bird species also live in the Reserve, making it one of the most unique wild life sanctuaries in .
Passengers on the train are accommodated in exquisitely designed cabins, providing maximum comfort.
The rebuilt sleeper coaches contain the most spacious train suites in the world, offering every modern convenience.
They are fitted out with handsome wood panelling and period Edwardian features, as well as being air-conditioned.
The company offers three varieties of sleeping cabins – the Royal Suite that costs from £20,100 per person, the Deluxe Suite that starts at £15,400 per person and the Pullman Suite whose price begins at £12,000 per person.
The train has received rave reviews from many of its passengers, scoring a five-out-of-five.
One happy customer, E. Fogg, wrote in one online review: “There’s no comparison. This IS the trip of a lifetime.”
However, there are some who were less than impressed with their experience abroad the luxury train.
One disgruntled Tripadvisor reviewer, dandrews143, wrote: “Rovos Rail advertises itself as ‘the most luxurious train in the world.’ Simply put, it is not.”