A Luxury Safari – On a Train??
Posted on Thursday, September 30th, 2010
Pretty much everyone alive has forgotten that travel used to be adventurous. People looked forward to train journeys with excitement; it truly opened up the world to them, and for those who could afford the more luxurious carriages, train journeys were also very comfortable. Some of us, however, can remember when flying was exciting, before metal detectors, obsessive baggage checks, and privacy-invading questions and scanners, but as a result of all of these precautions it seems like flying is never going to be a thrill ever again, certainly not when so much about it is stressful.
Trains, on the other hand, can still capture that early exultation of speeding through the countryside towards that special destination on the coast. Train carriages for the wealthy were luxurious, back in the day, and now you can experience that for yourself. Instead of enduring the stress of yet another flight, why not relax and enjoy the superior service and comfort available on board one of Africa’s luxury trains? These can act as luxury safaris on their own, with stopping points for game drives and amazing views of wildlife in its natural element.
The most luxurious train suites available are on Rovos Rail, which has just two trains that carry a maximum of 72 passengers each. Rovos uses period furnishings to recapture that historical feel, so you might as well be embarking on a rail journey in the late nineteenth century instead of in the early twenty-first. The coaches are wood-panelled, carefully restored antiques, with sumptuous and spacious sleeper coaches that may just be more comfortable than the hotel room you eventually arrive at. You’ll feel like you’ve been through a time machine as your coach is pulled along by a steam locomotive with all the classic sounds and smells that have been lost in these days of boring electric trains.
Rovos trains are carefully designed to evoke the Edwardian period with all the conveniences of modern luxury. The suites are air-conditioned, with a bar fridge and room service 24 hours a day. Though the bathrooms retain some of their original fittings, they’re also fitted with modern hot showers and hair dryers. The nicer suites have their own lounge areas, while the smallest Pullman suites have beds which can be converted into couches for daytime use. The best place to watch the African countryside flying by is in the observation car at the end of the train, which has large windows and open air balconies to make it easier for you to look out. This is an amazing way to take Africa in and view far more of the countryside than you would have otherwise.
While you might imagine that dining on a train could get boring – after all, we’re mostly familiar with a rather boring selection of sandwiches, crisps, candy, and tea on British trains – Rovos has thought it through and hired professional chefs to make varied menus to satisfy many different guest palates day after day. Fresh local ingredients and game are sourced at every stop; breakfast is cooked to order, and both lunch and dinner offer choices for starters, main courses, desserts, and wines. To match its old world feel, all meals are served together in the Edwardian style dining cars, with crisp linen napkins, fine china, and real silverware, requiring some level of formality, which is ordinarily relaxed during the day, especially for the safari excursions which those on the six day journey will enjoy.
Traveling with Rovos rail is guaranteed to be an exciting escape no matter how long your journey – but we recommend the safaris. They’re amazing.
Stop by again for more reviews of luxury train journeys on safari!
The Vos family have done a great job of restoing the Rovos Rail and it is a superb way to do a South African safari.