9 days Pretoria to Swakopmund / Walvis Bay

Highlights
This nine-day 3 400-kilometre journey takes the train from the savannahs of the Highveld to the Atlantic in the west.
Departing from Pretoria, the first stop is Kimberley, centre of one of the world’s famous diamond rushes where there is an opportunity to savour the 1870s atmosphere of the mine village.
The train traverses the stark vistas of the Northern Cape to the Fish River Canyon – second
in size to the Grand Canyon – and Garas Park with its Quiver Tree Forest and the Giant’s Playground. Guests continue across the untamed beauty of the Kalahari Desert to Namibia’s capital for a tour; Windhoek is a lively, cosmopolitan city with a strong German flavour.

Then it’s a short flight to Sossusvlei, a stunning pan in the Namib Desert, for an overnight stay followed by a night in the game-rich Etosha National Park.

On the last morning, the train travels the Namib to the perfectly preserved 19th-century German Hansa town of Swakopmund and Walvis Bay – an unforgettable end to a remarkable journey. This tour is available in reverse.

Itinerary

Day 1   15h00 : Depart Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria and travel south towards the goldfields of the Witwatersrand.

Day 2 09h45 : visit the Big Hole and Diamond Museum in Kimberley
12h30 : depart for Upington and travel the Karoo semi-desert

Day 3 08h00 : optional two hour walking tour of Upington
23h00 : arrive at Holoog after border formalities at Nakop

Day 4 08h00 : one hour transfer to visit the Fish River Canyon
11h00 : depart for Keetmanshoop.  Traverse the Kalahari
15h00 : visit Garas Park (Quiver Tree Forest / Giants Playground)

Day 5 09h00 : arrive in Windhoek for a city tour
11h00 : depart in light aircraft for one hour flight to a Sossusvlei lodge for lunch, desert drive, bush dinner and overnight

Day 6 06h00 : Sossusvlei drive with breakfast in the vlei
12h00 : depart Sossusvlei for one hour flight to Windhoek
14h00 : depart Windhoek and travel north to Etosha Park

Day 7 09h30 : transfer to a lodge in the game rich Etosha National Park for lunch, game drive and overnight

Day 8 06h00  : early morning game drive in the Etosha National Park.
13h00 : enjoy lunch on board the train en route to the Atlantic

Day 9 07h00 : enjoy breakfast as the train traverses the Namib
12h30 : arrive at journey’s end in Walvis Bay, Namibia