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

Martha – Class of 2014 | Tucson, AZ

This program was highly recommended by a friend who had taken the Rovos Train a few years ago. It is well organized to provide educational experiences and to learn about various topics during the tour. The program includes visit to national parks, historic sites, and community interactions which enriches the understanding of Southern Africa's social and environmental dynamics. This program is an excellent tour to deepen the understanding of Southern Africa through firsthand experiences. The group leader provided valuable insights into the history, ecology, culture, and animals/birds on the wildlife safaris in national parks.

— Review left January 29, 2026

Ellen – Class of 2018 | Naples, FL

Exceeded all expectations. From the guide to the lectures and excursions, to the train itself and the Rovos Rail staff, to the Road Scholar participants themselves, this is a bucket-list trip and well worth the splurge.

— Review left September 27, 2025

Harry – Class of 2016 | Burbank, CA

The Southern Africa by rail trip was splendid--great information, wonderful animal sightings, visits to historic sites, and the opportunity for a memorable train experience.

— Review left September 27, 2025

Jamie – Class of 2022 | Lawrenceville, GA

The Rail trip to South Africa, Mozambique, Eswatini, & Zimbabwe was a phenominal adventure. With Mark Geraghty as your guide, you will learn so much, experience several cultures, and be thrilled by the Safari excursions. However, pay close attention to each and every descriptive word about the train journey. RovosRail is a VERY rough ride and difficult to get quality sleep for a packed agenda. But you eat luxurious 4 course meals with wine pairings :)

— Review left May 7, 2025

Kimberly – Class of 2024 | Dallas, TX

A trip of a lifetime! Traveling on Rovos Rail was such a luxurious experience and one that I will never forget. A well balanced itinerary where you get to see southern Africa in a totally unique way. I highly recommend this trip!

— Review left November 27, 2024

Giles | Lakewood Ranch, FL

Southern Africa by Train: South Africa, Mozambique, Eswatini & Zimbabwe ranks up there among the very best! Might even call this a trip of a lifetime. The itinerary was superb and our Tour Director, Johann, was the best. The 12 of us from Road Scholar were excellent travel companions and we were able to interact with other people on Rovos Rail. All of the sites we visited were top notch. Everyone of us were able to take multiple photographs without problem and some have got to be National Georgraphic quality. The only dificultly on this trip was the wardrobe suggestion from RS. (I wonder if anyone from Boston has ever been on this trip?) That clothing list needs to be updated for three primary wardrobes: casual attire; dressy attire for evening dinners on the train; and safari clothes for riding Land Rovers into the African Bush. Nevertheless, I think anyone with an interest in southern Africa and wildliffe will enjoy this trip.

— Review left November 19, 2024

Robert – Class of 2006 | Macon, GA

I concur with the other very positive reviews of the September, 2024 trip, including the challenges with the train due to the poor condition of the track in southern Africa. The train does stop no later than 1:00-2:00 am for the night so you are guaranteed some solid sleep. Lisa Reed is an exceptional group leader. My wife and I have been on 20 Road Scholar trips and I would say she was among the best. It's a once in a lifetime experience to put your hand into the mouth of an elephant and touch its slimy tongue or to be a few feet from a female lion as she passes right beside the 4X4 you are seated in.

— Review left October 8, 2024

Deborah – Class of 2008 | Red Wing, MN

This was a wonderful way to visit South Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The train was beautiful and the staff was excellent and attentive. The food was superb! Our guide Lisa was the BEST tour guide I've ever had. She was very knowledgeable and attentive to everyone in our group. The closeness we came to the elephants and two rhinos was FANTASTIC! ***WARNING- the train is incredibly loud, jerky and sleep can by very difficult to impossible. Sleep medication is recommended. Otherwise it was a fun and exciting trip.

— Review left September 28, 2024

Juanita – Class of 2014 | Lilburn, GA

Our recent program, Southern Africa by Train, exceeded my expectations in every way imaginable. Lisa Reed was so knowledgeable, kind and enthusiastic as our group leader, and she made our journey one of discovery and enlightenment in all aspects of the history, culture and wildlife of the countries we visited. Riding the Rosvos Rail was a dream of a lifetime, and we even met Mr. Vos himself who gave us a tour of his lovely train station in Pretoria. This program rates a 10 +.

— Review left September 26, 2024

Sidney – Class of 2014 | Lilburn, GA

Over the course of a dozen or more Road Scholar trips we have been uniformly impressed with the quality of the group leaders. That said, Lisa Reed is clearly in the top tier of the group leaders we have traveled with. Her knowledge of wildlife is amazing. Although this was not a birding trip, we still managed to amass a list of 127 birds, most of which were new on our life list. Of course, the high point of the trip was traveling of Rovos Rail itself. The combination of elegance, wonderful food and amazing service, combined with the charm of train travel from a bygone era has to be experienced. It cannot be described.

— Review left September 24, 2024

Mary – Class of 2022 | Mount Vernon, WA

Program exceeded our expectations. Was worth the investment.

— Review left September 20, 2024

Glenda – Class of 2014 | Duncanville, TX

The Train Across Southern Africa was a wonderful way to see a lot in comfort and style. Our guide was fabulous--sharing her depth of knowledge of the area and the animals every minute of the day. Each experience increased our understanding of the challenges facing Southern Africa, and our respect for the people meeting those challenges. And seeing so many animals in their own environments was outstanding. Highly recommend this trip, expecially if you can have Lisa Reed as your guide.

— Review left January 26, 2024

Judith – Class of 2000 | Sykesville, MD

This trip is fantastic. The description beforehand had me scared but it was really an easy trip (once you got there!) Our leader, Lisa Reed, was the most fantastic leader I have ever had. The service on the train is pure luxury...wine pairings with delicious food, high tea, open bar, and they even do your laundry for free, The train staff is great. We saw over 100 elephants in one place, a lion pride sleeping in the sun near a zebra they had just dined on. Now...things were done on Africa time; the train is noisy and at times rocks pretty bad. Also we saw a lot of awful poverty and learned about the long history and corruption. One way the trip differed from the usual Road Scholar is the trips off the train are run by the train so we got to do a lot of shopping. Oh....there were people on the train from all over the world and we had lots of interesting conversions.

— Review left January 23, 2024

Kenneth – Class of 2019 | Sedona, AZ

AN AMAZING AND UNUSUAL EXPERIENCE WHICH I WOULD RECOMMEND TO ANYONE.

— Review left November 16, 2023

Gary – Class of 2021 | Poway, CA

The Rovos Rail trip through South Eastern Africa was the most memorable and satisfying trip of our lives so far. A comfortable and exciting journey of a lifetime

— Review left September 21, 2023

Dennis – Class of 2019 | Madison, WI

Gained new insights into the historical, cultural, social, political, and environmental characteristics of Southern Africa. Being able to travel by rail really facilitated a fascinating learning experience. And seeing the wildlife was a real bonus!

— Review left June 23, 2023

This participant did not give a star rating.

Johnny – Class of 2016 | Cleveland Heights, OH

This was a wonderful trip. Helen Malison our guide was a master of compassion and facts about all the countries we visited. We were a group of 8 people. We shared the train with a group called RAVA . Their guide was not as good as Helen. Helen is a native South African. She gave me perspective on the problems in the region that someone who was not would have missed. It did not rain during the time we spent in Africa. We ate at some of the finest hotels during our field trips to the jungle safari's. I learned about things I had never been exposed to. I fed an elephant! Saw lions in there natural habitat. If you go be prepared for incredible heat. My 1st day I was convinced I had heat stroke. and this was their winter! Later it turned out that it was just dehydration. Bring a hat. If you fly to South Africa get economy plus seats or better. Trust me it will be money well spent. Have fun during your trip. That will be east to do.

— Review left June 23, 2023

James – Class of 2017 | Huntington Beach, CA

Great trip, Helen was fantastic, group was fun.

— Review left June 22, 2023

Marilyn – Class of 2019 | Portland, OR

A trip of a lifetime! From branches scraping the side of the train in the night to watching 8 lions walk towards us, this trip was full of adventure. We all came home with stories to tell. Our guide Lisa truly made the trip!

— Review left January 28, 2023

Sarah – Class of 2020 | Sunnyvale, TX

The squeaks, sqwalks, swaying of the train added to the charm of our trip. We have not experienced being rocked to sleep in 70 years. The Shongololo Express was a true delight. South Africa has a special treasure in this train.

— Review left January 18, 2020

This participant did not give a star rating.

Joan – Class of 2015 | Rotonda West, FL

What a fabulous experience! The people, the culture, the history, the wildlife, to say nothing of the train travel itself. Beyond all expectations!! Our Rhodesian-born guide, Keith Chisnall, has first-hand knowledge and passion for the struggles of his fellow countrymen, and in large part, following along in Keith's generosity of spirit, we were moved to sponsor a child attending the Lesedi Primary School. We could not have asked for a more experienced or caring leader. And I wish I could have retained a quarter of the information that Keith and the Shongololo guides imparted. Their lectures were wonderful! We definitely returned home with a richer and fuller perception of southern Africa. The memories of our experiences on this trip, along with the new friends we made, will be with us for many years to come.

— Review left September 18, 2019

Patricia – Class of 2016 | Oxford, MS

BEWARE: Our fabulous tour had MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES!! Although knowledgable, our group leader Keith performed far below Road Scholar's standards. Neither he nor our Rovos Rail bus tour guide gave any security information for the train. Fortunately there was not a fire and no one had a medical emergency while traveling. One independent-traveler lady on our bus got caught with her arm in the door as the bus departed--no one had counted to realize she was not yet on the bus. Fortunately several people yelled to the driver to stop and the lady boarded the bus. (She was badly bruised and swollen, and quite sore, but nothing was broken.) Keith did not insure meals for those with serious allergies--even though he was reminded the day before, and these were listed in the personal information form that was submitted to RS. Keith did not give us his room/cabin numbers in either the hotels or on the train, and was difficult to find. He refused to rotate seats on the bus, never posted any daily updates, frequently did not count to see that we were all there, and orally relayed any information to some members of our group and not to others. We loved the train trip; it was all we hoped for and more: excellent food, great game drives, fascinating history and culture, warm African people. The train ride was fun and our beautiful cabin was especially nice: good bed, great heat and A/C, plenty of hot water. The train has no internet, no cell phone service, no TV's, no radios, and no phones in the cabins. Given that most of this trip takes place in developing nations. it is particularly disturbing that Keith appeared to be unconcerned with overall safety and possible health issues.

— Review left September 3, 2019

Reply from Road Scholar

Dear Patricia, We are glad to hear that you enjoyed the program and train experience despite your concerns! Safety is, of course, of the utmost concern for us, and we depend on participants like you to notify us when there are concerns we may need to address. We want to assure you that, despite the limited access to participants, the manager of the train as well as all drivers and Group Leaders do have access to communication with each other during the entirety of the trip. There is much going on behind the scenes that you might not have been aware of, including communicating food allergies with the kitchen staff. We have made a note to more closely monitor the distribution of meals on the train to ensure that the correct meals are delivered to the participants with food allergies. We have shared all of your feedback with our operations team for this program for review to ensure that we, including the Group Leaders, are meeting the highest standard of safety on the program. We will certainly be revisiting the program orientation to include safety information and to more clearly indicate where in the information packets the participants can find contact information and how to locate the hotel/cabin room number information for the Group Leader. Thank you for your thoughtful feedback. -Team Road Scholar

John – Class of 2017 | Rotonda West, FL

I would recommend that you just go! It's truly a trip of a lifetime!!

— Review left September 2, 2019

Lorna | Carlsbad, CA

Loved every moment - Just a marvelous experience.

— Review left May 5, 2019

Marilyn – Class of 2016 | Booklyn, NY

Wonderful program to broaden one's horizon about Southern Africa!

— Review left May 2, 2019