Tailor-made tours and safaris to Southern Africa

SAMPLE ITINERARY 8

Victoria Falls, and Rovos Rail

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Day 1

You arrive in Johannesburg at 07h50, and will be met at the airport by a representative from Illyria House. You will be transferred by private vehicle to the beautiful Illyria House in Pretoria, where you will overnight with breakfast included. Depending on how you feel, you might choose to spend the day relaxing around the villa, or you might take a tour of Pretoria (not included), the Administrative Capital of South Africa. It is a rather pretty city (chances are good that the famous Jacarandas will be in bloom in September), with an explosive history. To assist in overcoming jet-lag, we suggest you try not to sleep until after dinner.

Day 2

After breakfast you will be transferred back to Johannesburg International Airport for your flight to Victoria Falls. You will be met at Victoria Falls airport and transferred across the border into Zambia; your driver will assist you with the minor formalities involved. Once in Zambia, you will proceed to Tongabezi Lodge, on the banks of the great Zambezi River. The whole journey should take you about 75 minutes. On arrival at Tongabezi you will be met with a cold drink; at your leisure, you will be transferred to Sindabezi Island by canoe or banana boat. You will overnight at Sindabezi Island on a fully-inclusive basis (including accommodation, all meals, all activities, all non-imported drinks, laundry, and the services of a professional guide).

Day 3

Happy birthday to Mrs. McDavid! At your leisure, you will be transferred from Sindabezi Island to 'Honeymoon House' at Tongabezi. Having settled into your new room, you will be transferred to the great Victoria Falls, where you will enjoy a very special lunch on Livingstone Island, right at the edge of the Falls. After lunch you will return to Tongabezi for your afternoon activities or relaxation.

Days 3 to 5

You will spend 2 nights at Tongabezi on a fully inclusive basis (including accommodation, all meals, all activities, all non-imported drinks, laundry, and the services of a professional guide). Apart from the many activities available at the lodge, you might also consider some of the other highlights of Victoria Falls.

Day 5

After a leisurely morning, you will be collected and transferred to the Victoria Falls Hotel, where you will check in at 13h45 for your Rovos Rail journey.

Your schedule for Rovos will look something like this:

Day 5

14h00 Guests meet at Victoria Falls Hotel and transfer to Victoria Falls Airport

15h30 Take off from Victoria Falls Airport for Pietersburg on board an historic aircraft.

17h30 Arrive Pietersburg airport, and trasnsfer to Rovos Rail. Welcome on board the ‘Pride of Africa’

20h00 Depart Pietersburg in a north-easterly direction. Guests may freshen up in their suites before joining other guests in the midway lounge car or observation carriage at the rear of the train.

20h15 Dinner will be served in the Dining Car. More formal attire is worn in the evening on the "Pride of Africa". Collar & tie minimum, please. After dinner guests are welcome to return to the Observation Car for a night-cap before retiring.

Day 6

07h00 Breakfast is served from

07h00 to 10h00 as the train makes the spectacular descent down the Drakensberg Escarpment to the sub-tropical bushveld area of Mpumalanga.

12h30 Lunch will be served in the dining car

14h45 Arrive at Hoedspruit on the edge of the Kruger National Park and transfer in open vehicles for a game park excursion.

18h00 Depart Hoedspruit

20h00 Dinner will be served in the dining car. A gong will be sounded before each meal.

Day 7

07h00 The train begins the climb between Waterval Onder and Waterval Boven, via a series of tunnels and switch-backs. Breakfast is served in the Dining Car until 10h00. During the morning the train passes through Witbank, where young Winston Churchill, an escaped prisoner of war, jumped a freight train to Mozambique.

13h00 Lunch will be served in the dining car

14h15 At Rayton, the Pride of Africa is connected to the Rovos Rail Steam Locomotive for the last leg of the journey to Pretoria

16h00 Arrive at Capital Park Station, Pretoria.

Days 5 to 7

You will spend 2 nights aboard the 'Pride of Africa' in a Deluxe Suite on a fully inclusive basis (including accommodation; all meals and snacks on board; sightseeing excursions accompanied by a qualified tour guide; all alcoholic and other beverages; entrance fees to places of interest; 24 hour full room services and bar facilities).

Day 7

You will be met at Capital Park Station in Pretoria and transferred to Johannesburg International Airport in time for your 20h20 flight home. You will bid farewell to the most beautiful of all continents at the end of yet another great African adventure.

To find out more about this sample itinerary, or to start creating your own itinerary, call on 27-11-463-7889 or email us at info@Liyatshwa.com