Rovos Rail Cape Town

About

The journey begins in Cape Town, but the story starts decades earlier with South African entrepreneur Rohan Vos. In the late 1980s, he began buying historic railway coaches simply because he could not bear to see them scrapped. At one point he owned the rolling stock before he had a railway to run it on. That stubbornness is still visible today. Stepping aboard feels less like checking into a hotel and more like joining a moving piece of South African history. Some of the restored coaches trace their origins back over a century. The lounge cars are lined with polished timber and brass, while the observation carriage at the rear has become something of a legend among returning guests. Leaving Cape Town, the vineyards gradually disappear and the vast Karoo takes over. There are stretches where the landscape seems almost empty, save for distant farmhouses, the occasional springbok and an endless horizon. The view changes slowly enough that you actually notice it changing. The observation platform quickly becomes the most popular address on the train. Not because anyone tells you to go there, but because it is difficult to resist. Few experiences rival standing at the very end of a train with nothing behind you except hundreds of kilometres of track disappearing into the African interior. Dinner is served in beautifully restored dining cars where jackets are encouraged after sunset. The cuisine is good without trying too hard to impress. Expect excellent South African wines, generous portions and classic dishes executed with confidence. What makes Rovos Rail memorable is that it never feels staged. Many luxury travel experiences recreate a romantic past. Rovos Rail is partly built from the real thing. By the second afternoon, you stop wondering how many kilometres remain until arrival. The train has already convinced you that the journey was the reason for coming in the first place.