ROVOS RAIL ROLLS INTO VICTORIA FALLS ON HISTORIC CROSS-BORDER JOURNEY

Victoria Falls has once again played host to one of the continent’s most storied luxury trains, as Rovos Rail’s “Pride of Africa” arrived at the town’s railway station after crossing the Zambezi River via the historic Victoria Falls Bridge from Zambia.

The train’s arrival marks a stop on its epic journey between Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Cape Town, South Africa, a route that threads through Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa over roughly 5,800 kilometres. The full itinerary spans 16 nights and includes game drives, cultural visits, guided excursions, and stops at some of the region’s most celebrated natural and heritage attractions.

For passengers aboard, the crossing of the Victoria Falls Bridge is consistently cited as one of the trip’s defining moments, offering sweeping views of the Zambezi River and, on clear days, the mist rising from the Falls themselves. The bridge, completed in 1905 as part of Cecil Rhodes’ vision for a Cape-to-Cairo railway, remains one of Southern Africa’s most photographed rail crossings and a highlight for rail enthusiasts and tourists alike.

Rovos Rail, branded “the most luxurious train in the world,” operates the Dar es Salaam-to-Cape Town route only a few times a year, with 2026 departures scheduled in January, July, September, and October. Onboard, the train offers three suite categories — Pullman, Deluxe, and Royal — each finished with wood-panelled interiors, en-suite bathrooms, and period detailing that evoke a bygone era of African rail travel. Fares are all-inclusive, covering meals, most beverages, and off-train excursions along the route.

Pricing for the journey remains firmly in the luxury bracket, with 2026 Pullman Suite fares starting at approximately US$16,500 per person sharing, and Deluxe and Royal Suites commanding significantly higher rates. For many locals watching the train roll through Victoria Falls, the price tag places the experience well beyond everyday reach, underscoring the gap between the luxury tourism economy passing through the region and the daily realities of the communities that host it.

Even so, the train’s periodic passage through Victoria Falls remains a source of local fascination and pride, drawing crowds of residents and visitors to the station whenever it arrives. Its presence is a reminder of the town’s enduring role as a crossroads for both regional transport history and high-end global tourism, linking Zimbabwe to a growing circuit of luxury rail travel that spans much of Southern and East Africa.

As Zimbabwe continues to position itself as a premier tourism and travel destination, moments like this — a century-old bridge, a vintage train, and the roar of the Falls in the background — offer a striking snapshot of the country’s tourism appeal, even as affordability remains an open question for the majority of Zimbabweans watching from the platform.