We’re in a celebratory kind of mood here at Rovos HQ. With Rohan, our formidable CEO’s birthday, just a few weeks past and the company’s 35th clickety-clack around the sun fast approaching, we thought we’d also say three cheers to the African Trilogy journey! We have operated this 15-night trip four times and all, for the most part, have been a resounding success.

The maiden voyage departed on 9 February 2022 on what was then our Shongololo Express train. It was a brave thing to do for us and our guests because there were still parts of the world in various levels of lockdown and people were just beginning to dip their toes back into international sojourns. However, our band of intrepid travellers arrived and, with our excited train team, set off on this two-week adventure.

The train departed from Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria and made its way to the famed Kruger Park for a safari experience. It then travelled to the Kingdom of eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) and the Hluhluwe wildlife reserve where guests enjoyed a game drive before touring Durban and its tropical botanical gardens. From here it traversed the Valley of a Thousand Hills and the breathtaking Drakensberg Mountains to the 1870s mining village of Kimberley. Guests were transported to a different world in the arid Karoo, through Upington and on to the impressive Fish River Canyon. Once in the Kalahari Desert, guests saw the quiver trees in Garas Park before boarding a light aircraft for Sossusvlei where they overnighted at a lodge surrounded by the imposing dunes of the Namib-Naukluft Park. Back on board, the train meandered to Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, and a cheetah conservation project before guests enjoyed another overnight stay at the game-rich Etosha National Park. Journey’s end was on the wild Atlantic coast in Walvis Bay.

Sounds marvellous, doesn’t it? Well, we can do you one better because we sent a two-person film crew to capture the journey and today we get to share a short snippet with you.

Dylan from Motionworx helped us create the reassuring “We’re Back” video after the Covid-19 shutdown so it only made sense that we recruit his exceptional skills again. Together with John, the talented drone operator, the two artists waited on muddy mountain slopes, chased the train by car and rose before the sun on many occasions to get the perfect shot. They chatted with our guests, filmed the staff at work and got to know the game rangers and guides on the various excursions. They were committed to capturing the feeling of this beautiful trip and we believe they did a wonderful job! Below are a few snapshots taken by the crew and you can watch the video here or below.

The African Trilogy journey is so varied in scenery as the train moves from the lush and tropical east coast to the vast and dry deserts of the west. There are a few suites left on the 2-17 October 2024 trip with a 5% discount if booked before 31 July 2024. And next year’s February journey is filling up fast so, if this trip tickles your fancy, please get in touch soon.