Trail of Two Oceans

A pioneering 15-night east-west African adventure

Overview

15 NIGHTS • 4300km
This voyage sets off from the Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam (a city familiar to Rovos Rail as it has been running its Cape to Dar trip there since 1993), and includes a game visit in the Selous Reserve, a fly-in two-night safari in the South Luangwa National Park (Zambia) and a city tour of Lubumbashi (DRC). Thereafter it joins the Benguela line for short walking tours detailing Angola’s recent history with journey’s end in Lobito. Available in reverse.

Itinerary

DAY 1: DAR ES SALAAM

  • Depart from Tazara Station in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Guests may freshen up in their suites before joining fellow travellers in the lounge car and observation car, which will be at the front of the train for the first 72 hours – a different aspect that our rail enthusiasts enjoy. Please ensure the Train Manager or Administration Deputy is in possession of passport. Lectures will take place throughout the journey during the morning and/or afternoon in the lounge car. Please consult Lecture Sheets for details. It will be returned to you before the end of the trip.
  • Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train travels the fertile lands of Tanzania towards the Selous.
  • Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
  • Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Fuga Halt for overnight. Dress: Formal

DAY 2: SELOUS GAME RESERVE

  • Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 07:00.
  • Enjoy a game visit in the Selous Game Reserve, the largest in Africa at 55 000km2 (time permitting).
  • Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train travels towards the jungled Udzungwa Mountains and negotiates the dramatic switchbacks, viaducts and tunnels of the escarpment.
  • Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
  • Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Mlimba for overnight. Dress: Formal

DAY 3: MAKAMBAKO (optional)

  • Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00.
    Arrive at Makambako and enjoy a stroll through the town (time permitting).
  • Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train passes baobab forests and ascends the Rift Valley to the border, almost exactly the midpoint between Africa’s two Great Rift Valley lakes.
  • Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
  • Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal

PLEASE TURN YOUR WATCHES BACK BY ONE HOUR BEFORE RETIRING FOR THE EVENING.

DAY 4: CHISIMBA FALLS

  • Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00. Border formalities take place.
  • Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train travels the TAZARA railway line, an engineering tour de force and one of Africa’s best-kept secrets as it passes through remote territory. Enjoy an afternoon visit to Chisimba Falls where guests can take a pleasant walk down to the rock pools at the base of the falls or admire them from various viewpoints. Return to the train by 18:00.
  • Dinner is served in the dining cars. Dress: Formal

Chisimba Falls is a series of three waterfalls named Mutumuna, Kaela and Chishimba (Chisimba), which are separated over 300m along the Luombe River. According to Bemba tradition, the nature spirit “Chishimba” lives in a cave behind the falls therefore no bad behaviour (including fights, insults and arrogance) is allowed in this area. Though the Bemba people arrived here in the 17th century, they weren’t the first as the land surrounding the falls is dotted with evidence of Iron Age activities including kilns, smelting pipes and iron ore deposits.

DAY 5: AT LEISURE ON BOARD

  • Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00. The train travels from Serenje to Kapiri Mposhi.
  • Lunch is served in the dining cars.
  • Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars. The train is turned at New Kapiri Mposhi.
  • Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Ndola. Dress: Formal

Most of the territory of Zambia forms part of the great plateau of south and east Africa displaying a gently rolling and somewhat monotonous surface, relieved at intervals by hills, small escarpments of resistant rock formations and deep valleys that form part of the great African Rift system. The countryside, although high, is thick with Miombo woodland and Raffia palms. The Continental Divide, separating the drainage to the Atlantic and Indian oceans, forms the Zambia-DRC boundary as far as the southern tip where the DRC intrudes into Zambia. It then trends northeast to leave the country about halfway between lakes Tanganyika and Malawi. The railway, in fact, follows this line very closely. In this comparatively short section of the divide are the sources of the Congo and Zambezi rivers, two of the four largest rivers on the continent.

DAY 6: SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

Please pack a small overnight bag for a two-night stay in South Luangwa National Park. For your convenience we have placed bags in your suite. Please ensure you have warm clothing for the game drives. Walking safaris are available so please ensure you have the correct shoes if you would like to participate. Time of game drives confirmed on arrival. See inclusions/exclusions. Please ensure you have obtained your passport from the Train Manager or Administration Deputy.

  • Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 08:45.
  • Transfer to Ndola Airport for a chartered flight (±60 min) to South Luangwa National Park, initially founded as the Luangwa Game Park in 1904 and converted to one of three game reserves in 1938. The impressive park covers about 9050km2 of the Luangwa Valley floor and lies anywhere from 500-800m above sea level. With its western and northwestern edge bounded by the Muchinga Escarpment, and the southern border lined with the meandering Luangwa River, there is no shortage of dramatic and fascinating topography in this beautiful game-rich park.
  • Transfer to respective camps. Enjoy lunch and check-in on arrival.
  • Afternoon game drive in the Luangwa Valley (approximately 3 hours).
  • Dinner and overnight at the camps. Dress: Casual

DAY 7: SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

  • Enjoy a continental breakfast.
  • Early morning game drive (±180 min).
  • Brunch is served. Afternoon at leisure.
  • Afternoon game drive (±180 min).
  • Dinner and overnight at the camps. Dress: Casual

DAY 8: SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

Please ensure that your luggage is ready for collection.
Breakfast, a morning game drive (±120 min) and check-out times will be confirmed.
Transfer to the airport for the chartered flight (±60 min) to Ndola.

  • Transfer to Ndola Station to rejoin the train.
    Please ensure the Train Manager or Administration Deputy is in possession of passport.
  • Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train travels towards the border.
  • Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
  • Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Lubumbashi. Dress: Formal

DAY 9: LUBUMBASHI

  • Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 08:00.
  • Enjoy a drive through the city of Lubumbashi.
  • Rejoin the train and travel towards Lukuni.
  • Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train passes Luishia, an old open-pit copper and cobalt mine.
  • Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
  • Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Kolwezi for overnight. Dress: Formal

DAY 10: COPPER MINE

  • Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 08:00.
  • Disembark at Kolwezi for a visit to a copper mine in an area that holds one of the world’s largest known copper and cobalt resources.
  • Enjoy brunch at Katebi Lodge.
  • Return to the train. Depart for Kasombo.
  • Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
  • Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Mutshatsha for overnight. Dress: Formal

DAY 11: AT LEISURE ON BOARD

  • Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00.
  • Lunch is served in the dining cars. The train passes Kakopa en route to Malonga.
  • Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
  • Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Dilolo. Dress: “Africa” Theme or Smart Casual

PLEASE TURN YOUR WATCHES BACK AN HOUR BEFORE RETIRING FOR THE EVENING.

DAY 12: LUAU

  • Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00. Border formalities take place.
  • Enjoy a walking tour of Luau, the start of the Benguela line.
  • The train departs for Luena.
  • Lunch is served in the dining cars.
  • Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars. The train travels alongside the Cassai River. The catchment of the Cassai River encompasses a vast eco-region of 900 000km2 with an incredibly rich fish fauna. As the train passes the villages of Cassai and Cameia, there is sometimes an opportunity to see the local fishermen at work.
  • Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Luena for overnight. Dress: Formal

DAY 13: LUENA

  • Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 10:00.
  • Enjoy a walking tour of Luena to learn more about the recent history of Angola.
  • Depart for Tchicala Tcholohanga.
  • Lunch is served in the dining cars.
  • Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
  • Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Kuito for overnight. Dress: Formal

DAY 14: KUITO

  • Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09:00.
  • Enjoy a stroll through the town of Kuito, built in the historical heart of the Ovimbundu kingdom.
  • Depart for Huambo.
  • Lunch is served in the dining cars.
  • Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
  • Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Huambo for overnight. Dress: Formal

DAY 15: HUAMBO

  • Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09:00.
  • Enjoy a tour of Huambo, the second largest city in Angola and one of the old kingdoms on the central plateau.
  • Depart for Lépi.
  • Lunch is served in the dining cars.
  • Tea is served in the lounge and observation cars.
  • Dinner is served in the dining cars en route to Cubal for overnight. Dress: “1920s” Theme or Smart Casual

DAY 16: LOBITO

Please ensure that your luggage is ready for collection by 09:45 and that you have your passport.

  • Breakfast is served in the dining cars until 09:30.
  • Arrive at journey’s end, Lobito Station, Benguela Province, Angola.

Information

Please dress accordingly for excursions/game drives: mornings can be cool then warm up considerably; afternoons can be warm
then cool down considerably. Warm clothing, comfortable shoes, hats and sun protection are advised. Rain capes are available.

Excursions may be changed according to schedule achieved. Times are approximate and cannot be guaranteed.
Please check with the Train Manager or reservations@rovos.co.za for any updates or changes to the itinerary.
In your suite you will find the Journeys magazine that features articles of interest related to the route.

INCLUDED: Accommodation; all meals; all beverages; room service; limited laundry; excursions with a qualified guide (where applicable); entrance fees as per itinerary; government tax. EXCLUDED: International sparkling wine; gratuities; personal expenses; visas; travel insurance; pre- and post-tour transfers, accommodation and flights.
MEALS ON BOARD (unless adjusted) Breakfast 07:00-10:00 • Lunch 13:00 • Tea 16:30 • Dinner 19:30

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