South Africa with Rovos Rail

This 18-night escorted tour with Riviera Travel offers a comprehensive exploration of South Africa’s diverse regions and experiences. The journey begins in Johannesburg with a visit to the Apartheid Museum, setting the tone with a sober reflection on the country’s history. The route moves on via the Panorama Route to Kruger National Park, where game drives in 4x4 vehicles promise sightings of elephants, warthogs, and possibly cheetahs against a backdrop of termite mounds and savannah.

From Eswatini’s rolling hills to the historic battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift, the tour delves into the scars and stories of the Zulu Wars. The coastal town of Knysna provides a change of pace with its lagoon and Featherbed Nature Reserve, while the Garden Route’s Winelands lead to Hermanus, noted for onshore whale watching. Cape Town follows, with visits to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, the Cape of Good Hope, and Boulders Beach to see African penguins.

The final leg includes a morning at leisure before boarding the Rovos Rail, a vintage train offering scenic travel through Matjiesfontein and Kimberley, the latter known for its diamond-mining heritage and the vast man-made Big Hole. The tour ends with a return to Johannesburg and the journey home.