Luxury rail operator snaps up Shongololo Express

ROVOS Rail has
purchased the
Shongololo Express train
of 19 coaches and has agreed
to employ all the personnel.
“Operating a three-star
train had always been at
the back of my mind and
when I learned that the
Shongololo Express was on
offer, the timing seemed
serendipitous,” said owner
and ceo of the Rovos Rail
Group, Rohan Vos.
The train has been
repainted in green and cream,
while an additional dining
car and an observation
car have been added. The
accommodation of six
Emerald suites (± 10sqm)
and 30 Gold cabins (± 7sqm)
will remain as is.
The three itineraries –
Southern Cross: Pretoria
to Victoria Falls (12 days);
Dune Express: Pretoria to
Swakopmund (12 days); and
Good-Hope: Pretoria to Cape
Town (15 days) – have been
rebuilt with more stationary
time at night and less road
time spent on the excursions.
Golf has been introduced to
the Good-Hope trip, renamed
Good-Hope Golf, with courses
such as the Arabella Golf
Estate, Ernie Els Oubaai,
Fancourt, Champagne Sports
Resort, Durban Country Club,
Zimbali, Royal Swazi and
Leopard Creek being available
to guests.
All journeys are available
in reverse and, as before,
guests can purchase optional
extras that include visits to
cultural, historic or heritage
sites and overnight stays at
safari lodges. The rates do
not include most lunches,
beverages and laundry.
“A three-star product offering
will be different for us and I’m
sure there will be a few initial
teething problems but we’ve
been doing this for 28 years
so I think we will be able to
manage this exciting new
adventure,” Rohan said.