Southern Africa by Train: South Africa, Mozambique, Eswatini & Zimbabwe

After you enroll, we’ll ask you to provide or update your personal information and preferences, which includes your health information, lodging and meal preferences for your program.

A signed liability waiver is required before travel by the program provider (EXPLORE, Inc.); this form is found in the first informational mailing. During the program, you will be asked to sign indemnity forms on site at two locations; examples of these forms can be found in the first informational mailing. U.S. passports need a minimum of 8 blank visa pages (not amendment/endorsement pages at the back) with at least 3 of those being in consecutive order, given the number of border crossings and country requirements; Canadian passports need a minimum of 10 blank pages, with at least three being in consecutive order. Visa for Zimbabwe will be purchased at the border and is included in the program cost. Mozambique visa needs to be applied for in advance and is not included in the program cost. No visa is needed for South Africa or Eswatini. Rovos Rail Tours Terms and Conditions: Road Scholar participants enrolling in this program are subject to Rovos Rail Tours' terms and conditions of carriage, which includes a waiver of liability and other important information regarding your rights and obligations. Participants are therefore encouraged to carefully review them in advance of the program. A web link to Rovos's terms and conditions of carriage will be provided to enrolled participants in their pre-program materials. You may view Rovos Rail Tours' terms & conditions by visiting their website: https://rovos.com/. The terms and conditions can be found on the Rovos website under the Rates & Dates section.

A passport is required for this program. It must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.

This information about travel documents pertains to participants holding U.S. passports. Non-U.S. citizens should refer to their country's requirements to ensure they have the necessary documentation for travel.

South Africa

• Your passport must have 2 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is not required

• The cost of this visa is not included in the cost of your trip.

Please note: You must have two blank visa pages in your passport, plus one blank visa page each for every other country visited on the trip, to gain entry to South Africa.

Eswatini

• Your passport must have 2 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is not required

• The cost of this visa is not included in the cost of your trip.

Please note: At least 2 blank visa pages required for entry/exit stamps.

Mozambique

• Your passport must have 3 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is required and it must be obtained in advance.

• The cost of this visa is not included in the cost of your trip.

• Your visa can be secured electronically. You may use the services of our designated visa service, Passport Visa Express, please see details on the process and the price at Passport Visa Express. If you prefer you may secure your electronic visa on your own, see the notes below for details.

Please note: An Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is required for all travelers to Mozambique and must be purchased online in advance ($48 USD). Step-by-step instructions on how to obtain the visa yourself online in advance will be provided in the trip materials, or you can choose to work with Passport Visas Express to process the application (recommended). Travelers will need to wait to apply within 50 days prior to their program start date, and are advised to apply at least two weeks prior to their program start date. The provider, EXPLORE, Inc, will provide some of the documentation needed for upload to the application; this documentation will only be available by 50 days prior to trip start date, and it will be emailed to you by EXPLORE. Use this site for the ETA: https://evisa.gov.mz/ Please contact the Program Provider if you have questions about the online ETA process.

Zimbabwe

• Your passport must have 2 blank passport page(s) for entry/exit visas in this country.

• A travel visa is required and it must be obtained in advance.

• This visa is included in the cost of your trip.

• You’ll receive detailed information about your required entry documents in the information packet we send after you enroll.

Please note: The Zimbabwe visa is included in your program cost and will be paid on your behalf when you cross into the country. However, the immigration form for Zimbabwe must be filled out electronically in advance of the trip. Step-by-step instructions are provided in your informational packets. Please contact EXPLORE (Program Provider) with any questions; email: roadscholar.programs@exploreinc.com or phone: 800-303-6002.

Malaria does occur in Southern Africa. It is essential that you consult your health care professional as to which medications are recommended against malaria. S/he will probably suggest a prophylactic course of one of the anti-malarial drugs, which may need to be started two weeks prior to departure. For this reason, you should consult with your health professional well in advance of your departure. Tell your physician that you will spend 12 days in malarial areas. Since game drives can be bumpy and the train tracks are not smooth, pack motion sickness medication if you are sensitive. If you have any unusual prescriptions, carry a letter from your physician explaining your need for the drug. Make sure your medication supply will be sufficient to last the entire trip. Avoiding scented bath products will deter bugs, but if you are allergic to bee stings or other insect bites be sure to bring a sufficient supply of antidote. Lodges and the train will have basic first-aid kits for minor medical needs. In case of more serious matters, evacuation to a hospital will be arranged. Due to the rough train tracks in southern Africa, the Rovos Rail train sways and rolls, which can make walking in the train tricky. The train also continues to travel at night, which results in creaking noises and swaying; ear plugs and/or sleeping aids may make sleeping on the train more enjoyable. Contact EXPLORE, Inc. with questions or concerns.

If Road Scholar is arranging your air travel to and from the program, and you travel on the scheduled start and end dates, you’ll receive free round-trip transfers from the airport to the hotel.

Arrival day is on September 1, 2026

Meet the group at City Lodge Hotel Eastgate in Johannesburg

Start of Trip:  2:00 p.m. hotel check-in; 7:00 p.m. Welcome Dinner followed by Orientation.

Getting to the site: The arrival transfer from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo airport to the hotel in Johannesburg is provided by hired coach for participants who book their flights through Road Scholar and are arriving on the correct program start date; transfer time is approximately 15 minutes. If you have booked your own international flights, you are welcome to get on the scheduled group transfers if times coincide. Please send full flight details to EXPLORE, Inc for coordination purposes (email: roadscholar.programs@exploreinc.com). Taking a taxi is not recommended for safety reasons. EXPLORE, Inc can help arrange a separate transfer if desired.

Your trip ends on: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe at Ilala Lodge

End of Trip: 3:30 p.m. after arrival of flight from Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, at O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

Getting to the airport: Group transfer from the last location to the Victoria Falls airport (Zimbabwe) is included for everyone. The flight from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg is also included in the program price for all participants. Upon arrival in Johannesburg you connect to international departures; no further ground transfers are needed unless ongoing travel is planned. Program Provider can help with ongoing travel arrangements if needed.

Information if you are purchasing your own airfare: Participants who have not purchased airfare through Road Scholar are responsible for making their own transfer arrangements to the first site at the beginning of the program, as well as from the last site at the end of the program. The Information Packet Road Scholar sends in advance of the program includes details needed to make your transfer arrangements. If you wish to purchase airfare through Road Scholar, please call (800) 241-1404. Please note: In the unlikely event Road Scholar must make changes to the program's arrival or departure details, we will notify all participants as soon as possible. Participants who have purchased Road Scholar airfare are protected against airline change fees; however, anyone who has not purchased Road Scholar airfare will be required to make their own adjustments and may incur fees imposed by the airline.