Golfing in South Africa via Luxury Train
Rovos Rail is a luxury train line that operates in Southern Africa. One of the more interesting journeys offered by Rovos is a 10-day/9-night golf-safari in the northeastern reaches of South Africa that includes 6 days golfing at some of South Africa’s most interesting courses. There are abundant activities at the golf stops along the way for non-golfers, but the 9-night offering is usually filled with golfing enthusiasts.
The journey begins in Pretoria (35mi north of Johannesburg) and winds its way to Pilanesberg for game viewing and a stop in Sun City for golf, after which you will backtrack to Pretoria and cross the spectacular Drakensburg Mountains to Spionkop, an area known for its mountains, bush, birds, and battlefields. After a golf stop there, you will traverse the scenic Valley of a Thousand Hills on your way to Durban for more golf, a tour of the city, a stop in the botanical gardens and an introduction to the city’s art scene. Game viewing continues north of Durban in Zululand at Hluhluwe, one of the oldest game reserves in South Africa. A visit to the Kingdom of Eswatini is also a stop for golf at Royal Swazi, from where you will depart for the Malelane region of Kruger National Park, finishing back in Pretoria with a golf stop along the way.
The courses included on the itinerary may vary with each journey based on availability, but the selections include The Gary Player’ Lost City Course at Sun City, Champagne Sports Resort, Durban Country Club/Mount Edgecombe or Cotswold Downs, Royal Swazi, and Ernie Els’ Highland Gate.
The beautiful Rovos trains carry a maximum of 72 passengers in 36 suites and provide passengers with luxury accommodation and comfort to amazing destinations.
Guests can relax, enveloped in friendly first-class service, with gourmet cuisine, fine wine, and exquisite cocktails, from vintage wood paneled coaches and luxury cabins as the train rolls past unimaginable scenery. Rovos Rail brings back a simpler, more elegant era of timeless grace and the high romance of early twentieth century exploration in Africa.
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Combined with golf this can be an amazing get away for groups of friends interested in a unique journey within South Africa. We would recommend a proper 4-night safari stop in one of the private reserves to fully immerse in the animal kingdom and the safari life at the end of the golfing adventure, perhaps in one of the nearby game reserves surrounding Kruger or over to Phinda in Kwazulu Natal. Extending a trip to Cape Town and playing courses in the winelands and Cape Town area would also be a great add-on. Among the courses we recommend in Cape Town, as a base from which to explore, is Steenberg, which boasts a long and noble history, spectacular winery, five-star hotel and spa, and 18-hole Golf Course- the perfect setting for a golf and wine experience. The Steenberg pros are also able to book favorable tee times at many of the surrounding courses as well.
A group as small as 40 can reserve Rovos for a private journey on one of the smaller trains.
Rovos offers a longer golf journey from Cape Town to Johannesburg as well, but only a small percentage of the guests on that route sign up for golf.
2025 rates for the 9-night trip are $900 per person per day in double occupancy suites (Twin or King) and include all meals, all beverages on board including alcoholic beverages, room service, laundry, guided game and other non-golf excursions, all entrance fees, greens fees, cart fees, and halfway house meals.
All aboard!!!!! for a unique way to golf South Africa.
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