Train Journeys in Africa
Train travel in Africa spans a remarkable spectrum, from some of the most opulent luxury rail experiences on the planet to humble sleeper services that have carried passengers across the continent for generations. Riding the rails here is a way to watch the landscape unspool slowly at a window, whether that view is the South African highveld, the Namib desert or the Nile-side towns of Upper Egypt.
At the glamorous end, private trains like Rovos Rail and the Blue Train recreate a golden age of travel with wood-panelled cabins, fine dining and off-train safari excursions. At the everyday end, working lines such as Tanzania’s TAZARA or Egypt’s Cairo to Aswan sleeper offer an authentic, sociable and affordable window into local life, where you share a compartment with traders, students and families and the journey becomes the destination.
Booking varies enormously by service. Luxury trains sell out months ahead and are best reserved well in advance, while the classic long-distance lines can often be booked at the station a day or two before departure, though sleeper berths are worth securing early. Schedules on some working lines are famously relaxed, so build in flexibility, bring snacks and water, and treat delays as part of the experience rather than a problem to be solved.
Great African Train Journeys#
Rovos Rail, South Africa Billed as one of the most luxurious trains in the world, Rovos Rail runs restored Edwardian carriages on routes ranging from Pretoria to Cape Town to epic multi-week journeys as far as Dar es Salaam. Wood-panelled suites, five-course dinners and no televisions or phones set the tone for a deliberately unhurried voyage. Off-train excursions to game reserves, battlefields and diamond towns break up the ride, and a jacket-and-tie dress code preserves the vintage atmosphere.
The Blue Train, South Africa South Africa’s other grand rail experience glides between Pretoria and Cape Town in butler-serviced suites, with gold-tinted windows, a lounge car and cuisine paired with fine Cape wines. The overnight journey crosses the highveld, the arid Karoo and the vineyards of the Cape in a single sweep of changing landscape. It is a bucket-list splurge, and cabins are booked well in advance, particularly for the popular southbound run into Cape Town.
The TAZARA Line, Tanzania and Zambia Built with Chinese assistance in the 1970s, the TAZARA railway runs from Dar es Salaam on the Indian Ocean deep into Zambia, crossing the Selous ecosystem where you may glimpse wildlife from the window. This is authentic, no-frills long-distance rail, with sleeper compartments, a dining car and hours of highland scenery. Departures are infrequent and delays are legendary, so approach it in the right spirit as an adventure rather than a schedule.
The Desert Express, Namibia Namibia’s tourist train links Windhoek and Swakopmund across the stark, beautiful expanse of the central desert, pausing for activities like a sundowner stop or a short wildlife walk. The overnight service combines comfortable cabins with dining and lounge cars, offering a relaxed alternative to the long gravel drive between the capital and the coast. It runs on a limited schedule, so check current operations well ahead of your trip.
The Marrakech to Tangier ONCF, Morocco Morocco’s national railway is fast, modern and superb value, and the run up the spine of the country from Marrakech through Casablanca and Rabat to Tangier is a scenic delight. The flagship Al Boraq high-speed line now links Tangier and Casablanca in a couple of hours, while comfortable intercity trains connect the imperial cities. First-class seats are inexpensive, air-conditioned and easy to book online, making rail the obvious way to tour Morocco.
The Nairobi to Mombasa SGR, Kenya The gleaming Madaraka Express standard-gauge railway whisks passengers between Nairobi and the coast at Mombasa in around five hours, passing through Tsavo where elephants and giraffe are often visible from the carriage. It is a smooth, modern and affordable ride that has transformed travel between Kenya’s two biggest cities. Book ahead, especially in first class, and arrive early as security screening at the stations can be thorough.
The Cairo to Aswan Sleeper, Egypt The overnight sleeper up the Nile from Cairo to Luxor and Aswan is a classic of African rail, delivering you to the temples of Upper Egypt refreshed rather than road-weary. Private cabins come with dinner and breakfast served at your berth, and the rocking of the train through the delta and desert is oddly soothing. It is a practical and atmospheric alternative to flying, and berths should be reserved in advance through the sleeper operator.
The Gautrain, South Africa Gauteng’s sleek commuter railway is not a scenic epic but a genuinely useful and modern system linking Johannesburg, Pretoria and, crucially, OR Tambo International Airport. Fast, clean and safe, it spares visitors the traffic and offers an easy first taste of South African rail on arrival. Buy a rechargeable Gold Card, and note that the airport line runs frequently throughout the day.
The Dar es Salaam Central Line, Tanzania Distinct from TAZARA, the older Central Line runs inland from Dar es Salaam toward Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika and Mwanza on Lake Victoria, tracing routes used by explorers and caravans a century ago. It is slow, basic and deeply local, threading through the heart of the country far from the tourist trail. Recent upgrades to a new standard-gauge line are modernising parts of the network, so check which service is running before you plan.
The Cape Town to Johannesburg Shosholoza Meyl, South Africa For a budget-friendly cross-country journey, the Shosholoza Meyl long-distance service links South Africa’s major cities in comfortable sleeper class at a fraction of the luxury trains’ cost. The overnight Johannesburg to Cape Town run crosses the Karoo and the Hex River valley, offering the same landscapes as its glamorous cousins from an economy berth. Book a two- or four-berth compartment in advance and bring your own food, as catering is limited.
The Choo Choo to Kalaw and the Southern Highlands, Zimbabwe The overnight Bulawayo to Victoria Falls train is a wonderfully atmospheric relic, rattling through the bushveld in vintage carriages toward one of the world’s great natural wonders. It is slow and creaky, but arriving at the falls by rail at dawn is a memorable experience steeped in colonial-era nostalgia. Facilities are basic and delays common, so travel with an open mind and warm clothes for the chilly nights.
The Alexandria to Aswan Nile Corridor, Egypt Beyond the sleeper, Egypt’s dense daytime rail network lets you hop between Nile cities like Luxor, Aswan, Edfu and Kom Ombo at your own pace and for very little money. Air-conditioned first-class carriages make the daytime runs comfortable, and the ever-present river and farmland scenery just outside the window are half the pleasure. Tickets are cheap and can be bought at the station, though foreigners are sometimes steered toward specific services.