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Jan 6 - Jan 22, 2025
South Africa / Zimbabwe / Mozambique / Eswatini
Southern Africa by Train: South Africa, Mozambique, Eswatini & Zimbabwe
Program No. 22912RJ
On an epic train trek across four nations in southern Africa, learn about life and culture in small African villages and capital cities and visit national parks and reserves for safari.
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800-454-5768
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Apr 7 - Apr 23, 2025Jun 2 - Jun 18, 2025
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17 days
16 nights
42 meals
14B 14L 14D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
3
Soweto, Pretoria, History of Apartheid
Johannesburg
4
Board Rovos Rail, Travel through Mpumalanga Province
Rovos Rail (Southern Cross)
5
Pilgrim’s Rest, Panorama Route
Rovos Rail (Southern Cross)
6
Safari in Kruger National Park
Rovos Rail (Southern Cross)
7
Maputo – Mozambique, City Exploration
Rovos Rail (Southern Cross)
8
Eswatini, Swazi Candles, Mantenga Cultural Village
Rovos Rail (Southern Cross)
9
Safari in Kapama Game Reserve, Cheetah & Wild Dog Project
Rovos Rail (Southern Cross)
10
Travel Northern Limpopo Province, Enter Zimbabwe
Rovos Rail (Southern Cross)
11
Great Zimbabwe Ruins, Conservation Projects
Rovos Rail (Southern Cross)
12
Antelope Park, Elephant Interaction and Rhino Encounter
Rovos Rail (Southern Cross)
13
Matobo National Park, Cecil Rhodes' Grave, Cave Paintings
Rovos Rail (Southern Cross)
14
Hwange National Park Game Drives
Rovos Rail (Southern Cross)
15
Disembark Train, Local Community Projects, Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
17
In Transit from Program
In Flight
At a Glance
This epic journey will take you through four countries in the southern tip of Africa to meet local artisans and animals alike and to see incredible landscapes and wildlife found nowhere else in the world. Board the Rovos Rail in Pretoria and ride the rails to the stunning cliff-tops of Blyde River Canyon. Stop in Mozambique and Eswatini along the way to visit local markets and monuments, and visit three national parks and two game reserves to learn about conservation and see wildlife roaming across savannahs and rocky hills. End your journey in Zimbabwe, home to the cascading waters of Africa’s greatest waterfall and the historic Great Zimbabwe Ruins.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Due to the rough train tracks in southern Africa, the train sways and rolls, with the potential for sudden jerks, stops and starts, which can make walking in the train challenging. The train will continue to travel at night for periods of time, which results in squeaking and creaking noises, as well as swaying. The train may well be delayed due to factors beyond our control, which can result in the schedule of events being altered. Please be flexible in timing and daily itinerary.
Standing for extended periods, potentially bumpy 4x4 rides. Long rides in open-air safari vehicles, requiring stamina and stability getting in/out of vehicles. Walking two miles, often on uneven terrain with no handholds. You must be agile and be able to walk on a train that sways and stops/starts suddenly.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Catch sightings of “The Big Five,” lions, buffalo, leopards, rhinos and elephants on 4x4 wildlife safaris in three national parks and a game reserve.
- Learn about 20th-century South African history and the country’s new era of hope and freedom as a democracy during visits to Soweto and Pretoria.
- Visit the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, the largest ancient monument south of the Egyptian pyramids, and Victoria Falls – one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
General Notes
Due to the special nature of the program, we regret that we are unable to match solo participants with roommates. Please refer to the “Travel Information” section on the Road Scholar website, the start/end time listed in your first informational packet or contact the provider if you plan on booking your own flights for correct arrival and departure dates. Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available. Please note that Rovos Rail has a dress code - days on board the train are smart casual, while dinner attire is more formal. Some evenings are themed attire, where guests can dress up accordingly or opt for smart casual instead.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Lisa Reed
Lisa Reed was born in Zimbabwe, spent her school years in South Africa, and now lives in Botswana. She has worked or visited most Southern and East African safari destinations, and has managed safari camps on her own and with others since being in Botswana. Lisa has a natural affinity with adults and children, and enjoys passing on her years of experience and knowledge to the next generation. She has been leading safaris for Road Scholar for more than 15 years.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Lisa Reed
View biography
Lisa Reed was born in Zimbabwe, spent her school years in South Africa, and now lives in Botswana. She has worked or visited most Southern and East African safari destinations, and has managed safari camps on her own and with others since being in Botswana. Lisa has a natural affinity with adults and children, and enjoys passing on her years of experience and knowledge to the next generation. She has been leading safaris for Road Scholar for more than 15 years.
Mark Geraghty
View biography
Mark Geraghty was born in Ndola, Northern Zambia where his father was stationed in the British Army. He grew up in Zambia, until his family moved to Harare, Zimbabwe. Not only has Mark traveled extensively throughout Southern Africa, but he has also spent time in Kenya and the Congo. His marriage into a prominent Zimbabwean family sparked an interest in Africa’s early history, specifically the “Scramble for Africa.” Mark is a passionate storyteller with a piercing insight and great sense of humor.
Suggested Reading List
(13 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Southern Africa by Train: South Africa, Mozambique, Eswatini & Zimbabwe
Program Number: 22912
Glory
Award-winning author follows the fall of the Old Horse, the long-serving leader of a fictional country, and the drama that follows for a nation of animals on the path to true liberation. Inspired by the unexpected fall by coup in 2017 of Robert G. Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s president of nearly four decades, Glory shows a country's imploding, narrated by a chorus of animal voices.
The Big Conservation Lie
This book takes the reader through Kenya’s conservation ‘industry’ and the players therein with all their prejudices, weaknesses and commitment to causes. It is a call to indigenous Africans to claim their place at the table where the management of their natural resources is being discussed, and invites well-meaning donors to look beyond the romantic images and detect the possible role of their money in the disenfranchisement of a people.
Lonely Planet Southern Africa
This hefty practical guide to the nine nations of southern Africa, including Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Swaziland (Eswatini), Malawi, Mozambique and Lesotho, is ideal for independent travelers on a multi-country tour.
The Safari Companion
An invaluable encyclopedic guide to Africa's mammals by a noted scientist, this perennial bestseller includes black-and-white drawings, an overview of each animal group and in-depth information. Written with the typical safari-goer in mind.
Sleepwalking Land
Written by a native Mozambican in Portuguese, this highly-acclaimed novel of turmoil and civil war is rich with magical realism.
Killing for Profit
A terrifying true story of greed, corruption, depravity and ruthless criminal enterprise . . . On the black markets of Southeast Asia, rhino horn is worth more than gold, cocaine and heroin. This is the chilling story of a two-year-long investigation into a dangerous criminal underworld where merciless syndicates will stop at nothing to attain their prize. It is a tale of greed, folly and corruption, and of an increasingly desperate battle to save the rhino - which has survived for more than 50 million years - from extinction.
South Africa, A Traveler's Literary Companion
This diverse collection of short stories reveals South Africa through the eyes of its writers, including Nadine Gordimer, J.M. Coetzee and Alan Paton.
Out of Darkness, Shining Light
So begins Petina Gappah's powerful novel of exploration and adventure in nineteenth-century Africa—the captivating story of the loyal men and women who carried explorer and missionary Dr. Livingstone's body, his papers and maps, fifteen hundred miles across the continent of Africa, so his remains could be returned home to England and his work preserved there.
Southern Africa Map
Scaled at 1:2,500,000, this shaded relief map covers South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and southern portions of Angola, Zambia and Mozambique.
The Last Elephants
African savanna elephants--among the most magnificent and beloved of our fellow mammals--are an extraordinary, social, and intelligent species. The Last Elephants, an homage to these animals and a clarion call for their preservation, is based upon a shocking finding: savanna elephant populations across Africa are being decimated, with two to three murdered every hour for their ivory. Without action, these elephants soon will vanish from our world. They are a species in imminent danger of extinction, and it is up to us to save them.
No Future Without Forgiveness
Winner of the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize, Desmond Tutu writes with insight and compassion in this memoir of his work for reconciliation in post-apartheid South Africa.
Long Walk to Freedom
An unpretentious tale of an extraordinary life, Mandela's autobiography is essential reading for an understanding of South Africa. His grace and his love for his country shine throughout.
Africa Is Not a Country: Notes on a Bright Continent
So often, Africa has been depicted simplistically as a uniform land of famines and safaris, poverty and strife, stripped of all nuance. This book offers stories that bring to life Africa’s rich diversity, communities, and histories.
Program No.
22912
Duration
17 days
Program Begins
Johannesburg
Program Concludes
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Group Type
Small Group
Activity Level
At a Glance
This epic journey will take you through four countries in the southern tip of Africa to meet local artisans and animals alike and to see incredible landscapes and wildlife found nowhere else in the world. Board the Rovos Rail in Pretoria and ride the rails to the stunning cliff-tops of Blyde River Canyon. Stop in Mozambique and Eswatini along the way to visit local markets and monuments, and visit three national parks and two game reserves to learn about conservation and see wildlife roaming across savannahs and rocky hills. End your journey in Zimbabwe, home to the cascading waters of Africa’s greatest waterfall and the historic Great Zimbabwe Ruins.
Best of all, you'll...
- Catch sightings of “The Big Five,” lions, buffalo, leopards, rhinos and elephants on 4x4 wildlife safaris in three national parks and a game reserve.
- Learn about 20th-century South African history and the country’s new era of hope and freedom as a democracy during visits to Soweto and Pretoria.
- Visit the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, the largest ancient monument south of the Egyptian pyramids, and Victoria Falls – one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
General Notes
Due to the special nature of the program, we regret that we are unable to match solo participants with roommates. Please refer to the “Travel Information” section on the Road Scholar website, the start/end time listed in your first informational packet or contact the provider if you plan on booking your own flights for correct arrival and departure dates. Due to the nature of this program, listening devices are not available. Please note that Rovos Rail has a dress code - days on board the train are smart casual, while dinner attire is more formal. Some evenings are themed attire, where guests can dress up accordingly or opt for smart casual instead.
Featured Expert
Lisa Reed
Lisa Reed was born in Zimbabwe, spent her school years in South Africa, and now lives in Botswana. She has worked or visited most Southern and East African safari destinations, and has managed safari camps on her own and with others since being in Botswana. Lisa has a natural affinity with adults and children, and enjoys passing on her years of experience and knowledge to the next generation. She has been leading safaris for Road Scholar for more than 15 years.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Mark Geraghty
Mark Geraghty was born in Ndola, Northern Zambia where his father was stationed in the British Army. He grew up in Zambia, until his family moved to Harare, Zimbabwe. Not only has Mark traveled extensively throughout Southern Africa, but he has also spent time in Kenya and the Congo. His marriage into a prominent Zimbabwean family sparked an interest in Africa’s early history, specifically the “Scramble for Africa.” Mark is a passionate storyteller with a piercing insight and great sense of humor.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Due to the rough train tracks in southern Africa, the train sways and rolls, with the potential for sudden jerks, stops and starts, which can make walking in the train challenging. The train will continue to travel at night for periods of time, which results in squeaking and creaking noises, as well as swaying. The train may well be delayed due to factors beyond our control, which can result in the schedule of events being altered. Please be flexible in timing and daily itinerary.
Standing for extended periods, potentially bumpy 4x4 rides. Long rides in open-air safari vehicles, requiring stamina and stability getting in/out of vehicles. Walking two miles, often on uneven terrain with no handholds. You must be agile and be able to walk on a train that sways and stops/starts suddenly.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Reading List
View Full List: 13 Books
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call
800-454-5768
