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Luxury Golf Safari: Rovos Rail

  • Pretoria, Sun City, Drakensberg, Durban, eSwatini, Hluhluwe, Kruger, Dullstroom, Pretoria
  • 8 nights / 9 days, prices start from USD$9,400

Step aboard Rovos Rail for a curated 9-night journey through South Africa’s top golf regions and wildlife reserves. This luxury train experience blends championship golf with unforgettable safari moments, gourmet dining, and the comfort of Rovos’s beautifully restored vintage carriages.

Travel over 2,100 km across diverse landscapes—from the volcanic hills of Pilanesberg and the dramatic Drakensberg mountains to the eastern coastline, the Kingdom of eSwatini, and iconic Kruger National Park. Golfers enjoy pre-arranged tee times at South Africa’s premier courses, while non-golfers join guided game drives, cultural visits, and nature excursions.

Rovos Rail is Considered the Most Luxurious Train in the World

Top Highlights

  • Play South Africa’s top golf courses, including Gary Player, Lost City, Champagne Sports Resort, and Highland Gate
  • Enjoy Big 5 game drives in Pilanesberg, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, and Kruger National Park
  • Explore the Drakensberg Mountains, Durban’s Golden Mile, and cultural sites in eSwatini
  • Travel in ultimate comfort aboard Rovos Rail, renowned as the “Most Luxurious Train in the World”

What’s Included

We design unforgettable and luxurious journeys just for you. Our bespoke trips include:

  • 9 nights aboard Rovos Rail with all meals, snacks, and beverages onboard
  • Luxury suites with en-suite bathroom, 24-hour room service
  • 24/7 support from your travel designer and on the ground support
  • Golf program: green fees, carts, halfway-house meals
  • Golf pro on board the train and accompanying throughout the itinerary
  • Non-golfer excursions & game drives
  • All guided touring and entrance fees

Itinerary

Arrive in Pretoria

Pretoria to Rustenburg/Sun City

Daily Overview: You will gather at Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria for a warm welcome, pre-departure drinks, and a tour of the historic station. The journey begins with lunch as the train travels west toward Rustenburg. Enjoy your first afternoon onboard, complete with tea service, scenic viewing, and settling into your suite. Evening cocktails and dinner are served in the dining car.

Travel: Pretoria → Rustenburg region (overnight on the train). The train travels west through classic South African bushveld and lowveld scenery, passing open savannah, small villages, and acacia-dotted plains as it makes its way toward the Pilanesberg region.

Golf: No golf scheduled today. 

Accommodation: Rovos Rail

Sun City & Pilanesberg National Park

Daily Overview: After an early breakfast, guests transfer by road to Sun City, famous for its volcanic setting and neighbouring Pilanesberg National Park. Golfers start at their selected championship course, while non-golfers enjoy a full Big 5 game drive in Pilanesberg followed by free time at Sun City’s resort areas. Return to the train mid-afternoon for leisure time before dinner.

Golf Course: Gary Player Country Club OR Lost City Golf Course

  • Gary Player CC: Parkland championship layout, home of the Nedbank Golf Challenge. Known for long, precise fairways and immaculate greens.
  • Lost City: Desert-style layout with wide fairways, dramatic bunkering, and the iconic crocodile-filled water hazard at the 13th.

Travel: Short road transfer to Sun City. Train repositions for the next day’s journey.

Accommodation: Rovos Rail

Relaxing Rail Day, Travel to Drakensberg

Daily Overview: A full day to unwind onboard as the train travels south through open farmland toward the Drakensberg Mountains. Enjoy brunch, afternoon tea, onboard lectures, or simply take in the panoramic landscapes from the Observation Car. This is a slow, scenic, classic Rovos Rail day.

Golf: No golf scheduled.

Travel: Rustenburg region → KwaZulu-Natal Highlands / Ladysmith.

Accommodation: Rovos Rail

Spionkop & Champagne Sports Resort

Daily Overview: Guests can choose between a historical and wildlife experience or a round of golf. Non-golfers visit Spionkop battlefield, learning about the Anglo-Boer War, followed by a relaxed game drive on the Spionkop Reserve. Golfers head deep into the Drakensberg for a mountain-framed round at one of South Africa’s most scenic courses.

Golf Course: Champagne Sports Resort

  • Mountain golf at its finest.
  • Fairways surrounded by the Drakensberg escarpment.
  • Generous landing areas with challenging greens.
  • Known for its postcard views and crisp highland air.

Travel: Road transfers into the Drakensberg region. The train continues positioning south toward Durban.

Accommodation: Rovos Rail

Durban & The Golden Mile

Daily Overview: A vibrant day along the subtropical KwaZulu-Natal coastline. Non-golfers enjoy a guided Durban city tour, including the Golden Mile beachfront and the renowned Botanic Gardens. Golfers play one of Durban’s top coastal courses, chosen based on availability.

Golf Course (One of):

  • Durban Country Club: A world top-100 course featuring tight fairways, coastal wind, and dunes-lined holes.
  • Mount Edgecombe: Championship parkland design with lakes, tree-lined corridors, and excellent conditioning.
  • Cotswold Downs: Rolling hills, elevation changes, and a modern links-meets-parkland character.

Travel: The train travels north toward Hluhluwe-iMfolozi or remains stationed for passenger rejoining.

Accommodation: Rovos Rail

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park to eSwatini Border

Daily Overview: Non-golfers and golfers alike embark on a morning Big 5 safari in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, one of Africa’s oldest reserves and known for white rhino conservation. After the excursion, everyone returns to the train for lunch as the journey continues toward the eSwatini border.

Golf: No golf scheduled today.

Travel: Northern KwaZulu-Natal → eSwatini (formerly Swaziland). 

Accommodation: Rovos Rail

eSwatini (Swaziland) & Royal Swazi Sun

Daily Overview: Golfers disembark for their round at one of eSwatini’s signature mountain courses. Non-golfers enjoy a cultural and wildlife day, including a visit to Mkhaya Game Reserve or Swazi Candles artisans, depending on operational plan.

Golf Course: Royal Swazi Sun

  • Classic layout set among rolling hills.
  • Sweeping valley views and lush surroundings.
  • Strategic bunkering and strong par 3s.
  • Known for its peaceful, scenic setting.

Travel: eSwatini → Mpaka → South Africa (train crosses back into Mpumalanga region).

Accommodation: Rovos Rail

Kruger National Park

Daily Overview: A bucket-list safari day. All guests head out early into Kruger National Park, one of the largest and most wildlife-rich reserves in Africa. Breakfast or brunch served midway through the morning. Afternoon at leisure onboard as the train travels toward the Highlands Meander.

Golf: No standard golf today. Optional: Leopard Creek (highly limited availability; may require private arrangements).

Travel: eSwatini region → Malelane / Kruger → Highlands Meander.

Accommodation: Rovos Rail

Dullstroom & Highland Gate

Daily Overview: A beautiful finale day in the Highlands Meander. Golfers play one of South Africa’s most praised modern courses, designed by Ernie Els. Non-golfers enjoy a fly-fishing experience, village visit, or a whisky tasting depending on the schedule.

Golf Course: Highland Gate

  • Dramatic cliffs, rolling highveld terrain, and canyon views.
  • Championship design requiring precision off the tee.
  • Signature elevated tee boxes and strong short-game challenges.
  • Cool high-altitude climate and quiet natural setting.

Travel: Dullstroom → Pretoria (final overnight run).

Accommodation: Rovos Rail

Arrival in Pretoria

Daily Overview: Enjoy a final onboard breakfast before the train gently rolls into Rovos Rail Station. Guests disembark with assistance for onward travel, flights, or extensions.

Golf: None.

Travel: Dullstroom → Pretoria (journey ends).

Depart from Pretoria

We design each itinerary around you, so this suggested itinerary is a starting point that we can tweak or transform into something completely bespoke to you.

Accommodation on Rovos Rail

Choose between a Royal Suite, Deluxe Suite, or Premium Gold Suite. 

Rovos Rail is renowned as Africa’s most luxurious train, offering a refined, all-inclusive rail journey that pairs perfectly with premium golf and safari travel. Guests enjoy spacious private suites with ensuite bathrooms, elegant Edwardian furnishings, and luxury amenities that create a boutique-hotel experience on rails. Gourmet dining, curated South African wines, and exceptional service elevate each day onboard, while panoramic viewing cars showcase the landscapes of Southern Africa. For travellers seeking a luxury African golf and safari experience, Rovos Rail delivers unmatched comfort, style, and old-world romance.

Golf Course Information

The Course selection is dependent on availability. 

Sun City – Gary Player Country Club

A pristine championship layout built in an extinct volcanic crater, offering true parkland golf to US PGA standards. Known for hosting the Nedbank Golf Challenge, it delivers one of South Africa’s most iconic and challenging rounds.

Lost City Golf Course

A dramatic desert–mountain–parkland blend with wide fairways and striking water features. Its famous 13th hole, shaped like the African continent and guarded by live crocodiles, makes this one of the continent’s most memorable courses.

Champagne Sports Resort

Set beneath the Drakensberg peaks, this scenic mountain course features rolling fairways, sculpted bunkers, and breathtaking alpine views. A beautiful and enjoyable layout that blends natural terrain with modern design.

Durban Country Club

A historic semi-links overlooking the Indian Ocean, renowned for its dunes, lush vegetation, and classic routing. Its signature 3rd hole is considered one of Africa’s best, shaped by coastal winds and dramatic elevation.

Cotswold Downs

A lush parkland course surrounded by rolling hills, indigenous bush, and abundant birdlife. Designed to USGA standards, it offers smooth bent-grass greens, natural water features, and an enjoyable challenge for all levels.

Mount Edgecombe – The Woods & The Lakes

Two championship layouts set among KwaZulu-Natal’s green hills: The Woods offers classic parkland play with a water-lined “Amen Corner,” while The Lakes brings a modern, strategic challenge around the Pani Dam.

Royal Swazi Spa Country Club

A scenic valley course in Eswatini with a gentle front nine and a dramatic, mountainous back nine. Lakes, breezes, and natural contours create a varied and rewarding championship experience.

Highland Gate (Ernie Els Signature Course)

A high-altitude Ernie Els design known for dramatic elevation changes and panoramic mountain views. Challenging yet fair, it delivers one of South Africa’s most picturesque and memorable rounds.

Leopard Creek Country Club (Optional)

Africa’s most exclusive golf experience, set on the Crocodile River overlooking Kruger National Park. Immaculate fairways and wildlife-rich scenery culminate at the iconic 13th hole with views deep into the park.

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Our family vacation to Greece, which included Athens, Crete, Santorini and Mykonos, was unforgettable!

The accommodations were lovely and centrally located to maximize our time at all of the hot spot destinations. Our private guides were very informative with all of the history and culture that Greece has to offer. Various transportation needs were met through planes, boats and private transfers which made travel effortless from one destination to the next. Thank you GHardy Tours for putting together a remarkable experience for the whole family to enjoy and providing memories to last a lifetime.
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From start to finish, everything was flawlessly organized and executed. The attention to detail was remarkable – from the seamless travel arrangements to the carefully selected accommodations that provided stunning views of the Alps. I can confidently say this was one of the best travel experiences I’ve ever had. I’m already looking forward to my next adventure with them!
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