Great Southern Africa Train Adventures
The Shongololo Express provides a special touring experience for visitors to Southern Africa. The journeys of between 12 to 15 days traverse South Africa, eSwatini, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique with a variety of off-train excursions. Accommodating 72 guests in two categories of comfortable en-suite cabins with double or twin beds, the classic wood-panelled carriages hark back to a simpler, more elegant era encompassing the romance of African exploration.
We look forward to welcoming you on board when the time is right for you.
Shongololo Express is based at Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria and is operated by Rovos Rail Tours.
Life on Board
Recapture the romance of a bygone era when travellers experienced the magic and mystery of Africa in a relaxed and elegant fashion. The classic wood-panelled coaches are the epitome of comfort with period features combining with modern technology. The service is discreet and friendly with an enthusiastic team of chefs ensuring guests’ every need is catered for. There is an accent on fresh local ingredients and traditional dishes are a specialty. Every morning there is a full breakfast with dishes cooked to order.
Meals are served in one sitting only and are complemented by fine South African wines. The dress on board the train is casual. In maintaining the atmosphere there are no radios or television sets on board and the use of technology that has the ability to disturb other guests is confined to the privacy of the cabins.
Each train has accommodation carriages, dining cars, a lounge car (±36 seats), small gift shop, smoking lounge (±8 seats) and observation car (±32 seats) with open-air balcony. The two types of cabins are refined and spacious offering passengers privacy and comfort with double or twin beds and fittings and facilities that are of the highest standard.
All have en-suite bathrooms with shower, toilet and basin, tea-and-coffee facilities (Emeralds only), safes, air conditioning, linen and amenities and are serviced daily. There is adequate storage and small cupboards with hangers and shelves. Click below for virtual tours.
The Station
A highlight of any journey is a visit to Rovos Rail’s private station in Pretoria, home of the Shongololo Express. This is the busy hub of a provisioning operation, which rivals that of a world-class hotel in terms of efficiency and attention to detail.
The 60-acre property boasts a small railway museum in addition to its other comprehensive facilities and will, with the addition of semaphore signals and a footbridge, recreate the atmosphere of a fully fledged railway system. Rail enthusiasts will be drawn to the vast carriage and loco sheds where teams of dedicated personnel keep the rolling stock in order.
This 10 000m2 roofed workshop straddles 15 railway lines with concrete inspection pits below and is the ultimate repair and maintenance facility for any train operation. The low, red-bricked buildings alongside the 300m platform house laundries, gleaming stainless-steel kitchens and well-stocked storerooms.
The Cabins
The two types of cabins are refined and spacious offering passengers privacy and comfort with double or twin beds and fittings and facilities that are of the highest standard. All have en-suite bathrooms with shower, toilet and basin, tea-and-coffee facilities (Emeralds only), safes, air conditioning, linen and amenities and are serviced daily. There is adequate storage and small cupboards with hangers and shelves.
Emerald Double
Emerald Twin
Gold Double
Gold Twin
