Embark on an epic African adventure brimming with unique experiences, scintillating sights, vibrant wildlife and natural beauty.
Your adventure begins in cosmopolitan Cape Town, where you’ll tour its captivating Cape Peninsula and relish authentic African cuisine, alongside ample time at leisure to explore iconic landmarks such as Table Mountain and Robben Island. A luxurious Rovos Rail journey then transports you through South Africa’s dramatic landscapes, from the Karoo’s vastness to Kimberley’s diamond history, before you’ll experience game drives in Pilanesberg National Park in search of the Big Five.*
Your adventure then continues with a cruise along the Chobe River on board the lavish Zambezi Queen, witnessing elephants and diverse wildlife in their natural habitat. Conclude your journey at majestic Victoria Falls, where you can explore its thunderous cascades and lush surroundings.
Your Imagine Holiday Includes
2 night all-inclusive luxury river cruise on board Zambezi Queen
Cape Peninsula tour
3 night all-inclusive luxury Rovos Rail journey from Cape Town to Pretoria with off-train excursions
4 night five-star hotel stay in Cape Town at the Pullman Cape Town City Centre with breakfast
Overnight flights
Your Voyage
Your Itinerary
Your holiday begins as you fly from Australia to your destination.
Arriving in Cape Town, your adventure begins with a four-night hotel stay. During time at leisure, you could explore the historical Robben Island, visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens or indulge in the Cape Wineland’s world-class wines.
Overnight: Pullman Cape Town City Centre
Spend a relaxing day at leisure in Cape Town, exploring its vibrant waterfront, stunning beaches and scenic landscapes. Discover local markets, indulge in world-class cuisine or take in breathtaking views from Table Mountain at your own pace.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Overnight: Pullman Cape Town City Centre
Today you’ll head out on a tour of the Cape Peninsula, driving along the stunning Adriatic coast past Sea Point and Camps Bay. Visit the fishing village of Hout Bay and seek out wildlife in Cape Point Nature Reserve.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Overnight: Pullman Cape Town City Centre
Celebrate your last night in Cape Town with an authentic African dinner experience at Cape Town’s GOLD Restaurant. Get swept away by interactive entertainment like Mali puppetry, djembe drums and traditional storytelling.
Meals Included: Breakfast and Dinner
Overnight: Pullman Cape Town City Centre
Step on board Rovos Rail for your opulent scenic journey to Pretoria, travelling across the goldfields of the Witwatersrand, the vast wilderness of the Karoo and the scenic winelands of the Cape.
Meals Included: All-Inclusive Board Basis
Overnight: Rovos Rail
Wind your way through the Karoo, a vast semi-desert before disembarking at Whitehall Siding and walking to Matjiesfontein. Enjoy an off-train excursion in the historic village with its collection of vintage cars and railway carriages.
Meals Included: All-Inclusive Board Basis
Overnight: Rovos Rail
Stop for a tour of the Kimberely Mine Museum and the Big Hole. It’s a place where up to 50,000 miners once toiled with little more than picks and shovels in their arduous search for the precious gemstone.
Meals Included: All-Inclusive Board Basis
Overnight: Rovos Rail
Savour a delightful breakfast and lunch on board as you journey to Pretoria. Upon arrival, disembark and transfer to Pilanesberg National Park for a three-night stay, seeking Africa’s legendary Big Five in the wild.*
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Ivory Tree Game Lodge
Discover the stunning landscapes of Pilanesberg National Park, a sprawling wildlife sanctuary rich in diverse flora and fauna. Enjoy thrilling twice-daily safari game drives, encountering lions, buffalo, elephants, rhinos, leopards and an array of other fascinating wildlife species.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Overnight: Ivory Tree Game Lodge
Today you’ll begin an unforgettable adventure on board the luxurious Zambezi Queen, gliding along the remote Chobe River. Enjoy stunning riverscapes, spot wildlife on a sunset cruise and savour a three-course dinner before drifting to sleep in your deluxe suite.
Meals Included: All-Inclusive Board Basis
Overnight: Zambezi Queen
Set off on a thrilling water-based safari, explore a Namibian village with traditional dances, join a bird-watching expedition to spot vibrant wildlife or simply laze on board. After lunch, enjoy an up-close adventure with Chobe’s legendary elephants.
Meals Included: All-Inclusive Board Basis
Overnight: Zambezi Queen
Enjoy a morning cruise during breakfast relishing the last chance to spot wildlife in their stunning natural habitat. Then bid a fond farewell and disembark the Zambezi Queen in Kasane before reaching Livingstone for a three-night escape.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Overnight: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara
Today you’ll delight in an immersive walking tour of Victoria Falls, an iconic natural attraction spanning more than one kilometre wide and one hundred metres tall. Explore its lush surroundings, roaring cascades and misty embrace accompanied by a knowledgeable guide.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Overnight: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara
A day at leisure is yours to spend exactly how you’d like. You could visit the Livingstone Museum to learn about the region’s history and culture, explore the local markets for souvenirs or wind down with drinks overlooking the river.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Overnight: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara
Flying to Johannesburg, your adventure culminates with a one-night hotel stay.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Overnight: Peermont D’oreale Grande Hotel
Your holiday complete, today you’ll head to the airport for your flight home.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your Tour Highlights
Zambezi Queen
Gliding along the picturesque banks of the Chobe River, the chic Zambezi Queen is a luxury houseboat boasting unrivalled sophistication in one of the most extraordinary and remote locations in the world.
As you weave your way through the still 25km waters of the Chobe River, you’ll experience the majesty and stillness of the African bush – imagine waking up to the sun blazing across the sky as you hear the songs of colourful birds; elephants gracefully lumbering along the riverside as you dine on sumptuous cuisine; hippos peaking their heads up from below the waterline as you observe them from the deck; and the night-time cry of jackals and lions lulling you to sleep.
Your deluxe accommodation on board features air conditioning and your own private balcony – perfect for viewing game from the comfort of your own surroundings as you cruise through an area renowned for its diverse wildlife and stunning natural landscapes.
Life on Board Zambezi Queen
As you cruise through the enchanting waters, you’ll find a relaxing and peaceful ambience on board, whether you’re losing yourself in the scenes unfolding before you from the viewing deck, cooling off in the plunge pool or raising a glass to your adventure in the well-appointed bar.
dining
Dining on board is an indulgent treat all its own. With freshly made meals created using seasonal ingredients from local markets, you’ll enjoy a variety of mouth-watering dishes including a fresh cold buffet selection, full English breakfasts, and a choice of two plated menu options for dinner.
- The Dining Room
- The Bar
Activities
As part of your experience on board the ever-elegant Zambezi Queen, you’ll enjoy a wealth of unique water-based safaris and activities that will better showcase the wonders of this remarkable land.
- Game viewing
- Fishing
- Birdwatching
- Photo Safaris
- Cultural tours
Rovos Rail
Crossing Africa’s most iconic landscapes in elegant style, this wonderful train and its beautifully restored carriages travel between Pretoria and Cape Town, the wide deserts of Namibia and the powerful tumbling morass of Victoria Falls, the vast plains of the Great Karoo and the battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal.
During the journey you’ll enjoy excursions, game drives and guided tours by historians to further illuminate your journey, as well as bush lunches and suppers under a million-tog duvet of African stars. The fleet of locomotives is rich in history, with even the oldest and smallest engine, called Tiffany, still seeing occasional use. Each carriage, cabin, kitchen car and locomotive has been painstakingly restored, and Rovos Rail now operate four trains across its fabulous choice of journeys.
Life on board Rovos Rail
Travelling on board a Rovos Rail service is like stepping back in time, while keeping the most comfortable technological additions of the 21st century with you.
Carriages
Each train is generally made up of a club lounge, an observation car with vast windows and an open-air platform for enjoying the views, two dining cars and 36 spacious cabin suites, with further upgraded accommodation available. The stunning Edwardian-era carriages have been painstakingly restored to showcase their elegant period details, while adding all the modern comforts that today’s travellers desire on cross-continental journeys. Put simply, it feels like stepping back into a bygone era, but with discreet luxury touches.
Even more beautiful are the pre-1940s dining cars, which were also restored into service with the addition of button-trimmed leather seats, wooden marquetry and other added embellishments. When the train was expanded from 42 to 72 guests, the addition of a lounge car provided a convivial space to come together and share stories of the day’s adventures over fine beverages. Today, the lounge cars still have comfortable wingback chairs and deep sofas for prime afternoon snoozing, and a small gift shop. Some of the train windows can be opened to let in the sights, sounds and smells of Africa in.
Food
All meals on board are served over one sitting in the dining cars; it’s a sociable time of the day when all the guests come together to celebrate the diversity of dining across the continent, sampling delicious cuisine complemented by fine South African wines. A fleet of experienced chefs is tasked with creating innovative and beautifully presented meals for the maximum of 72 guests on board, with a focus on fresh, local ingredients including speciality game.
Breakfast is a leisurely affair and served until 10am, with lunch at 1pm, afternoon tea served in the late afternoon and your formal dinner service at 7.30pm. The bar service runs until 1am, but you might want to get an early night if you’re taking a game drive the following day. What’s certain on board Rovos Rail journeys is that you’ll never go hungry. That, and that every lunch and dinner service is announced with the sounding of a gong.
Suites
The Zambezi Queen offers luxury accommodation in the form of 14 tasteful suites, ten suites and four luxury suites, each with stylish interiors, spellbinding views from the floor-to-ceiling glass doors, and their own private balcony.
Standard Suites Prices from $17,199pp
Boasting everything you could possibly need for a lavish and comfortable stay, each suite offers all the amenities you’d find in a luxury hotel, making your stay truly comfortable and relaxing, including a king-sized bed, hairdryer, electronic safe and plush dressing gown and slippers. Savour the views of the ever-changing scenery at all times of day from the front-facing balcony or unwind with an afternoon nap by drawing your full-length sliding shutters.
- Luxury Accommodation
- King-sized Bed
- Private Balcony
- Air-Conditioning & Fan
- En-Suite Bathroom (Shower only)
- Hairdryer
- Electronic Safe
- Dressing Gown & Slippers
Master Suite Prices from $19,199pp
For an extra special experience, opt for one of the four luxury suites, located at the bow of the boat. Not only do they offer more space, but you’ll also benefit from two balconies and a panoramic view that ensures you never miss a thing. On the larger of the two balconies, you’ll find two comfortable deckchairs and a table – the perfect place in which to witness the beautiful hues of pink, ochre and red as the African sun sets across the horizon, hear the cacophony of calls from magnificent wildlife and feel the warm breeze across your skin.
- Luxury Accommodation
- King-sized Bed
- Private Balcony with Sun Lounger & Dinette
- Air-Conditioning & Fan
- En-Suite Bathroom (Shower only)
- Hairdryer
- Electronic Safe
- Dressing Gown & Slippers
Your Hotel Stays
Cape Town
Pullman Cape Town City Centre (Or Similar)
Pullman Cape Town City Centre offers a luxurious stay in the heart of Cape Town. Featuring modern amenities, elegant rooms, and stunning views of Table Mountain, it caters to both business and leisure travellers. Guests can enjoy fine dining, a rooftop pool, and a state-of-the-art fitness centre. Its central location provides easy access to cultural attractions, shopping, and the vibrant waterfront, making it an ideal urban retreat.
Pilanesberg
Ivory Tree Game Lodge (Or Similar)
The five-star Ivory Tree Game Lodge offers a safari experience all with modern amenities for a home away from home. Situated in the crater of a long-extinct volcano, the Ivory Tree Lodge is the perfect location for a monumental safari experience. Rooms are tastefully decorated with African décor and offer spectacular views of the three concentric rings of hills across the Pilanesberg reserve.
Ivory Tree Lodge’s Amani Spa has been the Winner of 4 prestigious awards since its inception in 2006.
Livingstone
The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara (Or Similar)
Experience a sumptuous hotel stay within the heart of an African paradise at the five-star Royal Livingstone Hotel Victoria Falls Zambia By Anantara. With Victoria Falls and the Zambezi on its doorstep, this hotel is one of the most atmospheric in the world and exudes Victorian elegance and luxury travel from a bygone-era while echoing the stunning diversity of the African bush. Few hotels can claim to have zebras wandering around its manicured lawns, nor can they boast of being so close to one of the world’s great natural wonders. Comprising of 173 spacious en-suite rooms are lavishly furnished with freshly cut flowers, crisp white linen and come with a private veranda where you’ll savour a sundowner the sunset of a lifetime, with the spray of the Victoria Falls in the distance. Experience an authentic African feast by firelight, partake in a traditional high tea or take in magnificent sunsets and cocktails overlooking the Zambezi River.
Johannesburg
Peermont D’oreale Grande Hotel (Or Similar)
Unsurpassed luxury paired with state-of-the-art facilities make the five-star Peermont D’oreale Grande the perfect choice for those seeking supreme comfort and lavish indulgence. All guest rooms have been superbly decorated with warm tones and stunning golden touches, and have been finely furnished, as well as featuring modern conveniences including complimentary Wi-Fi. Dine on sumptuous Afroperial (a classical fusion of imperial Roman tradition blended with modern African cuisine) in Aurelia’s, awaken your senses in the opulent Octavia’s Day Spa and sip a delicious cocktail to the views of the setting African sun at Neptune’s Pool Bar.
Saver Fares
Enjoy the same exceptional value with our holiday packages featuring hotel stays, memorable tours, and iconic rail journeys around the world, all without transfers* included – travel your way with Imagine Holidays.
*Available at an additional cost, call one of our Holiday Experts for more details.
