Summary of this 10 day South African Rail Golf Safari Tour
- Accommodation: 5 star luxury train
- Activities: Kruger Park safari, Hluhluwe game drive, Spiuonkop battlefields tour, Drakensberg Mountains, Durban tour
- Destinations: Pretoria, Sun City Resort, Spionkop, Drakensberg, Durban, Hluhluwe in Zululand, eSwatini (Swaziland), Kruger Park
Luxury Train Golf Safari Highlights
Rovos Rail's 10 day Golf and Safari tour is designed to entertain the most discerning player. At all venues, there are optional excursions, tours and activities for the entertainment of non-playing guests. This special journey commences in Pretoria and travels east towards the spectacular Drakensberg escarpment en route to Nelspruit.
Play at Leopard's Creek or enjoy a game drive in the world famous Kruger Park followed by shopping and lunch at Casterbridge near White River. Tee off at the Royal Swazi Golf Club, near Manzini in Swaziland, while non-golfers visit the Mlilwane Game Reserve, Houses of Parliament and the Swazi Candle Factory.
Then it's on to Zululand for game viewing in the Hluhluwe Game Reserve and the St. Lucia Estuary. Play in one of South Africa's finest courses, the Durban Beechwood Country Club, while non-playing guests enjoy a city tour of Durban followed by lunch at the Golf Club. In the foothills of the imposing Drakensberg Mountains 18-holes await at the Champagne Sports Resort, with a guided tour of the Battlefields a further highlight for non-golfers.
Relax as the train travels north towards the magnificent resort of Sun City Resort in the Pilanesberg Mountains. A full day is spent at this world-famous facility before departing for Pretoria where this memorable journey ends.
Day 1: Pretoria to Rustenburg
You depart Rovos Rail's private station, Capital Park in Pretoria approximately at 12 noon and head to Sun City Resort. Guests will enjoy lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and overnight on the train in 5-star luxury.
Day 2: Play Golf at Sun City Resort
Enjoy a delicious breakfast followed by a 1 hour road transfer from Rustenburg to Sun City Resort. This is where golfers will get to play at either the world-famous 18-hole Gary Player Golf Course or the Lost City Golf Course.
Return to the train in the late afternoon for a gourmet dinner.
Non-golfers will spend the day on a wildlife safari game drive in nearby Pilanesberg National Park, followed by lunch with the golfers and then an afternoon at leisure at Sun City Resort.
Day 3: Day of Leisure Onboard Train
The day is yours to relax onboard and enjoy delicious meals taken while travelling to Ladysmith. The First Anglo Boer War's decisive battle took place at Majuba Hill, where the train ascends. It then passes Newcastle, home to what is thought to be the largest cella-dome Hindu temple in the southern hemisphere, and Glencoe, the first battle's site and the current coalfields hub of the province.
Day 4: Champagne Sports Resort, Drakensberg
The dining cars provide breakfast up to departure. After that, travel (for around 60 minutes) to Champagne Sports Resort for lunch and the first tee. Return to the train after a day of golfing. A delicious dinner is served. Winston Churchill was caught in this location in 1899; a memorial to him is located not far from Chieveley, to the right of the route.
Non-golfers can learn all about the history of the Battle of Spionkop as they visit an historic KwaZulu-Natal battlefield, followed by lunch and a game drive.
Day 5: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
After breakfast, you will take a 15-minute transfer to Durban and tee off at Durban Country Club. Non-Golfers go on a Durban City tour followed by lunch at the Golf Club. The Durban Country Club Golf Course highlight is the massive undulations on its fairways, which are especially noticeable on the 3rd, 5th, 8th and 17th holes. The course's links-style design and the coastal sand dunes make for a challenging round of golf for both amateur and professional golfers.
Non-golfers will go on a Durban city tour and a relaxing stroll in the Durban Botanical Gardens, followed by lunch with a sea view on Umhlanga beachfront.
Day 6: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Today you will take a 30 minute transfer to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park for an incredible wildlife safari. Your guided game drive will allow you to spot a variety of African wildlife and take lots of photos. You will return to the train for lunch as the train then heads to eSwatini. You will be treated to a scrumptious high tea in the lounge and observation cars and then later a gourmet dinner served in the dining cars.
Day 7: Royal Swazi Sun
The dining cars provide breakfast up to departure. Transferring to Royal Swazi Sun for lunch and the first tee will take about 90 minutes. The second nine holes completely utilise the steep topography whereas the first nine holes are rather level. You will board the train once more in the afternoon and travel to Komatipoort, South Africa. Dinner is served In the dining cars on the way to Kruger National Park.
Non-golfers will spend the morning at Mkhaya Reserve in Eswatini (Swaziland) on a game drive then a visit to Swazi Candles where you can watch the art of candlemaking and curio shopping.
Day 8: Kruger National Park
Today you will enjoy the ultimate golf safari as you explore Kruger National Park on a guided wildlife safari game drive followed by lunch. A round of golf at Leopard Creek Golf Course can be arranged on request. Imagine putting on the green and seeing a giraffe wandering around the course!
Tea is served back on the train while you travel across the magnificent Drakensberg Mountains.
Day 9: Dullstroom, Highland Gate Golf Course
Enjoy a hearty breakfast before a 40 minute transfer to Highland Gate Golf Resort for tee off and lunch. Enjoy a challenging 18-hole course designed by Ernie Els with a high elevation and scenic views.High tea is served as always in the lounge and observation cars and later dinner is a smart affair, served in the dining cars.
Non-golfers will visit Walkerson's Hotel for a presentation on fly-fishing and lunch followed by a learning about whisky distilling in Dullstroom and a tour of the Arts & Crafts Centre.
Day 10: Pretoria
Today your memorable South Africa golf safari comes to an end when you arrive back at the station in Pretoria.
Included
- Accommodation and room service
- All meals
- All beverages on board
- Limited laundry
- Excursions with a qualified guide
- Entrance fees as per itinerary
- Golf activities(green fees, carts, halfway house meals and tea/coffee and bottled water)
Not Included
- All other off-train beverages
- International sparkling wine
- Gratuities; personal expenses
- Pre and post-tour transfers and flights.
