Holidays to South Africa - Rovos Steam Railway, Garden Route and Winelands Tour Ref: SE08

Day 1 (Wed)
UK to Johannesburg

Depart from Heathrow o­n your overnight Virgin Atlantic flight to Johannesburg.

Day 2 (Thurs)

Johnannesburg
Arrive early morning at Johannesburg airport where you will be met o­n arrival and transferred to your hotel in Pretoria. The remainder of your day is at leisure to explore the city.

Overnight: Garden Court Hatfield - Pretoria

Day 3 (Fri)
Rovos Rail
This morning you will transferred to the headquarters of this private railway company, Capital Park Station just outside Pretoria. Rovos Rail offers two beautifully rebuilt Classic trains, each carrying a maximum of 72 passengers who are accommodated in the most spacious and luxurious train suites in the world. The use of traditional furnishings and period décor ensure an atmosphere of elegance and grandeur in the Dining, Lounge and Observation cars.

Overnights (2): o­nboard Rovos Rail - Pullman Suite

Day 4 (Sat)
Rovos Rail
This morning arrive in Kimberley. You can visit the Big Hole, the Diamond Museum and take a tram ride. Afterwards the train proceeds via De Aar and Beaufort West bound for Matjiesfontein.

Day 5 (Sun)
Rovos Rail
This morning visit the historic village of Matjiesfontein. Continue o­n via Touws River, De Doorns and Worcester to Cape Town, arriving early evening. A private transfer will be provided to your centrally located hotel.
Overnights (3): Cape Town - Southern Sun Waterfront or similar

Day 6 (Mon)
Cape Town

Enjoy a guided full-day tour of the Cape Peninsular down South Africa’s famous Chapman, Peak Drive. Visit Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve before reaching Cape Point. A cable car to a viewing platform provides panoramic views over what Sir Francis Drake called the “Fairest Cape “ of all. Your return to Cape Town is via Simon’s Town, Fish Hoek and Muizenberg.

Day 7 (Tues)
Cape Town

A day at leisure to relax. Or perhaps you’d prefer to climb Table Mountain? There are several hiking trails to the 1000m summit but you would probably prefer the cable car that takes just three minutes! o­nce at the top, walking around is quite easy and provides some of the most breathtaking views in South Africa. Perhaps dine at the mountain top bistro before returning.

Day 8 (Wed)
Cape Town – Montagu

Today you depart o­n a classic 6-day escorted tour of the Cape Winelands and the Garden Route. You’ll travel throughout with a small group in a luxury vehicle and at a pace to fully enjoy the sights and experiences en route. Today travel via Cape Winelands to Stellenbosch, a centre of wine production for over 300 years. Enjoy wine tasting and a visit to the Stellenbosch Museum. Continue to Worcester and Robertson.

Overnight: Montagu Country Hotel - Montagu

Day 9 (Thurs)
Montagu – Oudtshoorn

Travel via Barrydale and Ladismith to Oudtshoorn, often known as the world’s ostrich capital. Take a guided Ostrich Show Farm tour. After lunch visit the vast limestone Cango Caves nearby.

Overnight: La Plume Guest House - Oudtshoorn

Day 10 (Fri)
Oudshoorn – Knysna

Drive over the Outeniqua Pass to George and board (option for 2008) the famous Outeniqua Choo Tjoe steam train for a short journey to Sedgefield. Transfer to Knysna and a ferry across its lagoon to the Featherbed Nature Reserve. Enjoy a trailer ride to the top of Western Head with magnificent views of the lagoon, the Heads flanking its entrance and the Indian Ocean. Stroll down through Milkwood trees for lunch before your cruise back to Knysna. Good walking shoes are recommended.

Overnights(2): Knysna Log Inn - Knysna

Day 11 (Sat)
Knysna

Drive through Nature’s Valley stopping at Blaauwkrantz Bridge, site of the world’s highest bungee jumping. See the Big Tree in the Tsitsikamma Forests, o­ne of the highlights of the garden route. Return to Knysna via Plettenberg Bay, its beaches dominated by the massif of the Robberg Nature Reserve and famous for its marine wildlife.

Day 12 (Sun)
Knysna – Hermanus

Turning back along the Garden Route via George, Mossel Bay – famed for its Post Office Tree, and the pretty Cape Dutch town of Swellenberg for lunch. The tour continues to Hermanus, acknowledged as the world’s best shore-based whale watching centre (Aug.-Nov). The town even has a Whale Crier to alert visitors to sightings.

Overnight: Auberge Burgundy - Hermanus

Day 12 (Mon)
Hermanus- Cape Town - UK

Depart Hermanus via the coastal road to Somerset West and back to Cape Town where your Winelands and Garden Route tour finishes late afternoon. A transfer to the airport is included for your overnight flight to Heathrow.

Day 13 (Wed)
London Heathrow.

Arrive early morning at London Heathrow.

Our tours are guaranteed to operate o­nce confirmed. Transportation is in air-conditioned touring vehicles, coaches,minibuses or sedan vehicles appropriate to the requirements of the tour.Holidays2 reserves the right to use smaller coaches minibuses or sedan vehicles o­n its scheduled tours should the number of passengers participating reduce sufficiently to warrant this.

FREE QUOTATION SERVICE - FREEPHONE 0800-988-4614 - open at weekends
We are specialists in tailoring holidays to our client’s exact requirements. If you would like to vary the holiday, for example by adding nights etc. please contact us for a free personalised quotation. We are pleased to quote supplements for single rooms.


THE SUITES
World Class Comfort and Style
The rebuilt sleeper coaches contain the most spacious train suites in the world, offering every modern convenience and comfort. The epitome of luxury, with handsome wood panelling and period Edwardian features, the air-conditioned suites accommodate two people offering the option of twin or spacious double beds. All are equipped with a writing surface and, for valuables, a personal safe. There is also a bar fridge filled with beverages of the passengers’ choice and room service is available 24 hours a day. In the en suite bathrooms original fittings combine with the modern technology of hot showers, hair dryers and shaver plugs. The Pullman suite is 7 square metres (76 sq ft) in size and while it includes the identical bathroom to that of the deluxe suites, the bedroom is smaller with a o­ne up o­ne down bunk for twin requirements or a double bed for couples. During the day this can be converted into a comfortable couch.


THE COACHES
A Superb Collection of Restored Coaches
Rovos Rail operates two classic 20-coach, 72 berth trains. Each o­ne of these carriages, from kitchen cars to sleeper coaches and guards vans, has its own story. Each of the trains has two 42-seater dining cars to accommodate the maximum complement of 72 passengers in total comfort at o­ne sitting. Each train has a non-smoking Observation Car at the rear of the train, while the coach next to it contains a small smoking lounge. A unique feature of the Observation Cars is the enlarged windows and open-air balconies. At the centre of the train we have, when numbers dictate, a non-smoking Lounge Car, which houses the Gift Shop.

CUISINE & SERVICE
Simple Elegant & Entertaining
An enthusiastic team of chefs is responsible for overseeing the very important task of ensuring guests every need is catered for, while considerable thought and meticulous planning goes into making up the menus. There's an accent o­n fresh local ingredients, and traditional dishes such as game are a specialty. Every morning there's a full breakfast with dishes cooked to order. A selection of cold meats, croissants, pastries, fresh fruit, yoghurts, cereals and preserves make up a tempting breakfast buffet. For lunch and dinner there is a starter and a choice of fish, meat or vegetarian dishes, followed by a tempting dessert and are complemented by a selection of excellent South African wines. All meals are served in o­ne sitting o­nly in the charming Victorian atmosphere of the Dining Cars.

LOCOMOTIVES
The power and Glory of Rovos Rail
Five superbly reconditioned steam locomotives are the soul of Rovos Rail and a sight to gladden the heart of any rail enthusiast. Each has a story behind its acquisition and restoration. Each has a distinctive character and charm and they are all named after owners Rohan and Anthea Vos’s children. The oldest and smallest engine in the stable is 439 TIFFANY – o­ne of 40 Class 6 Locomotives manufactured by Dubs & Co in 1893. Rohan and Anthea Vos first saw this petite loco o­n the platform of Winburg Station in the Eastern Freestate and it was love at first sight. The loco was purchased in 1987 and Dunns Locomotive in Witbank was commissioned to return the Class 6 to running condition. She is named after their youngest daughter. 2701 BRENDA, 2702 BIANCA and 3360 SHAUN are named after Rohan and Anthea's other three children. They are Class 19D Locomotives which were all built during the 1930’s. All three locomotives were saved from scrap metal dealers and, after extensive restoration by Dunns Locomotive and the Rovos staff, were put back into service in 1989. 3484 MARJORIE is named after Rohan’s mother. Built in 1954 by the North British in Glasgow, she is a Class 25NC Locomotive that has been converted from a coal burner to an oil-fired engine. She can cover a distance of 700 kms without needing to stop for oil or water whereas the steam locomotives have to stop after 100 kms for water and 300 kms for coal. The arrival of an articulated GMAM Garret locomotive (on lease from The Sandstone Heritage Trust) which has been overhauled, has brought the operating fleet to six.

VIRGIN FLIGHT UPGRADES
UPGRADE YOUR FLIGHT TO PREMIUM ECONOMY CLASS from £250 each way

UPGRADE YOUR FLIGHT TO UPPER CLASS from £800 each way
Upper Class customers enjoy a dedicated check-in and access to Exclusive Clubhouses. Not o­nly can you sleep soundly in a completely lie-flat bed, but the unique design allows passengers to dine with a companion. A luxurious leather armchair that converts to a fully lie-flat 80” bed. Video and audio o­n-demand with a 10.4” high resolution screen and active noise cancellation headsets. Every seat has direct aisle access.


HOLIDAYS2 PRICE GUARANTEE
All offers are subject to availability. o­nce a booking is confirmed your holiday price is 100% GUARANTEED against any increase in price such as currency exchange fluctuations or fuel surcharges.

Full Financial Cover for Land-Only bookings. In accordance with "The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations1992" all passengers booking land-only with Holidays2 are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all monies paid to us, including repatriation if required, arising from cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Holidays2. A certificate detailing this cover will be given to each passenger booking land-only as evidence of cover. Please ensure that you have been given the appropriate certificate(s) at the time of confirmation of booking. This Insurance has been arranged by International Passenger Protection Limited and underwritten by Insurers who are members of the Association of British Insurers.

Other holidays which include air travel from the UK are fully protected under our ATOL licence 6423 and a certificate is not required.