Pride of Africa

The Pride of Africa (German: Pride of Africa) is a traffic- forming in Southern Africa luxury train.

Concept

The train is operated by Rovos Rail. His style is based on the historicist classic luxury trains of the 1920s. Where the supply of water and coal is reached, steam locomotives are used. Otherwise, electric or diesel locomotives are used.

The Pride of Africa is regarded as the most luxurious train in the world. Accordingly, a high value is placed on the clothes of passengers. Leisure wear is accepted during the day, but for dinner formal dress is expected. The " De - luxe - compartment " has 11 m² with private shower and the " Royal Suite" even 16 m² with private bath.

The train travels at least once a year from Cape Town to Dar es Salaam (and back), crossing over a distance of 6000 km in South Africa, on some train routings Botswana, and Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania. The connection has been offered since 1993. 2009 saw a total of three trips. Previously Rovos Rail had traveled the relation Cape Town Pretoria since 1990 under the brand name Pride of Africa. The train operates under the name Pride of Africa on other routes in southern Africa, about to Tsumeb in Namibia.

Since the train is designed as a hotel train, the landscape of southern Africa is traversed within 14 days in a relatively leisurely pace. Partial omitted when driving at night and there are also longer stays varying depending on the route of the train tourist sites inserted.

History

On 21 April 2010, a train Rovos Rail put in a change of locomotive at Pretoria in motion and derailed. Three people died, 15 of the 19 cars were destroyed.

Journeys

South Africa

The train leaves when driving from south to north in Cape Town and holds, among others, in Matjiesfontein, Kimberley, Pretoria and Hoedspruit and the Beitbridge border crossing.

Botswana

Instead of Beitbridge the train will take you to some runs on Mahikeng and Gaborone on Botswanan territory and, after crossing the border through the network of National Railways of Zimbabwe to Bulawayo in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe

Inverted the Pride of Africa do not have Botswana, he travels from from Beitbridge to Bulawayo and from there to the Victoria Falls, the border to Zambia.

Zambia

In Zambia, it runs on the tracks of Zambia Railways from the border station Livingstone Lusaka, Kanona, Kundalilafälle, Mpika, Kasama and Nkonde after Kapiri Mposhi, where he switches to the Tanzania - Zambia Railway ( TAZARA ).

Tanzania

In Tanzania, it runs around in only the TAZARA to Dar es Salaam, where it ends.

Namibia

The train runs also from South Africa to Namibia, where it hits the towns of Swakopmund on the Atlantic coast and the Tsumeb Etosha National Park.

Documentary

About a train ride with the Pride of Africa for the first time a documentary for the SWR -Series railway romance was aired in 1996.

A comprehensive, three -part documentary of 44 minutes, was produced in 2007 and has been repeatedly shown in German public television programs under the title The luxury train through the Southern Africa:

• Part 1: From Cape Town to Kruger National Park
• Part 2: From the Kruger National Park to Victoria Falls
• Part 3: From Victoria Falls to Dar es Salaam

From this television documentary, there is also an abridged, 90-minute version in two parts, under the title dream train through Africa.