Tuesday 1st January 2026
We have to be up fairly early as all luggage is being collected at 0930hrs so have to pack everything before heading to breakfast, some with clear heads and some , maybe not. Last night we had “enjoyed” a local drink known as a “Spring-Bok,” but last night’s version was a Spring-Bok with “Horns”, somewhat different!!!!
Back in our cabin after breakfast to finalise the packing and waited, firstly for the cabin attendant to remove our luggage, and then for the train to arrive in the private station of Rovos Rail in Pretoria. Last night the Train Manager informed us Mr. Rohan Vos, the owner of the business was heading up from Cape Town to welcome everybody personally and to give a guided tour of his facilities.
1000hrs the train was scheduled to arrive but finally pulled in at 1020; apparently this was good, due to the poor railway infrastructure provided by the government owned railway lines, anything could be possible!!!
We all disembarked and as informed, Mr Vos greeted everybody personally before we got into the elegant waiting room and given a fresh towel and a drink. Those of us doing the tour were also issued with hi-vis vests and a hearing set to plug into your ear to hear Mr. Vos.
The tour got underway soon after; Rohan Vos is the visionary founder and owner of Rovos Rail, renowned for creating one of Africa’s most luxurious train experiences. It all started with him restoring vintage carriages as a personal hobby in 1988. He has a background in motor spares and property, and Vos had 3/4 restored carriages that he used for personal use but found it rather expensive. To help with the expense, he started selling a service and hence a family-owned business known for its meticulous attention to detail was formed, and offered opulent journeys across Southern Africa thus establishing Rovos Rail as a world-class luxury hotel on rails; bringing back opulence, good food, and excellent service from a bygone era. This accounts for the first words spoken by our train manager back at Victoria falls, “no WiFi”!!!
He explained his financial issues and the awkwardness of dealing with the government railway company in SA. He also encountered problems trying to run his train on railway lines in Zimbabwe, and how all this brought him to his knees. He sold his spare parts business’ as well as his properties to fund this venture, but still the banks were starting to pull the rug out from him until a chance encounter. He met an Englishman, someone in the travel agency business from England. Apparently this “Englishman” said he could sell his tours, and did so, thus saving Rohan Vos’ business, and from that moment on he flourished, but then came COVID. The two years lockdown in SA set him right back to square one as he generously kept them on full pay. But here he is again, a very determined man who persevered and got through possible ruin for the second time.
Our driver was waiting for us then whisked us off feeling very grand in the back of a big black Mercedes 500 class with tinted windows all round; wet wipes, water, and assorted creams and potions available!! Now back at the peach hotel in Melrose an hour later, a suburb of Johannesburg where we were greeted as long lost friends. I must say how extraordinary friendly the South Africans have been to us everywhere we’ve visited.
Today is hot so showered and took “nap” before being collected by Janet Doddrell* our fantastic tour advisor and organiser. We have been so pleased with “Personal Africa” as a tour operator, but more importantly the person we dealt with throughout, “Janet”, so we’ve arranged to take her out to dinner as a thank you.
At the appointed hour Janet arrived and she took us to the “The Grill House”, here in Melrose, not her first choice because most restaurants were closed, we found that strange being a holiday??? Anyway the Grill House did us proud, we thoroughly enjoyed our meal and had a jolly good chat. It was so very nice to put a face to a voice on the ‘phone.
Back at the Peach it was straight to bed as we are meeting a couple from the train tomorrow, and they are early risers!
* We tried to organise this trip through a U.K. travel agents but the results were pretty hopeless and extremely expensive so emailed my friend Margaret, (mentioned several times in earlier posts) for assistance and she recommended a South African company “Personal Africa” and her contact “Janet Doddrell”; what a result, perfect itinerary and a lovely lady, we have no hesitation in Recommending Personal Africa and “Janet Doddrell” in particular to anyone who is planning a trip here.