Travel

Cultural Festivals And Celebrations You Can Experience On A Rovos Rail Tour

Train journeys offer an indescribably relaxing experience, from the gentle click-clack of train tracks and soft rocking that puts you to sleep to dressing smart casual for day travel and jackets for men during dinner service.

Rovos Rail was established in 1989, and quickly earned an international reputation for providing world-class rail travel across Southern Africa, especially with the Rovos Rail Royal Suite. Their beautifully equipped trains harken back to the glory days of luxury train travel. Today, there are 2025 Rovos Rail holiday packages for those who want a Rovos train experience. 

Kaapse Klopse

Kaapse Klopse, an annual parade of minstrel troupes held annually since the mid-19th century, is an extraordinary celebration of culture that takes place each January 2nd.

This festival can be traced back to slavery days when slaves would get an extra day off on New Year’s day to celebrate with a parade through city streets accompanied by marching bands playing everything from guitars and banjos to deep-sounding ghoema drums and screeching whistles blaring happy tunes.

Performers invest months preparing costumes and performances that make this free event truly spectacular. Families will love attending this fun, family-oriented celebration!

Robertson Wacky Wine Weekend

Robertson Wacky Wine Weekend is an event dedicated to wine enthusiasts of all kinds – it features delicious food and activities galore, all while celebrating everything grape. Come out for an incredible celebration that you won’t soon forget.

For an unforgettable wine festival experience, book a Rovos Rail South Africa holiday package featuring accommodations at wine farms and luxury train travel from Cape Town. Always drink responsibly and arrange transport between farms.

Or take advantage of hop-on, hop-off boat cruises to go from tasting to tasting with ease. Or make it romantic by booking a candlelit wine-tasting experience in an underground cellar; or add cultural spice by joining wine & art pairing events!

Royal Reed Dance

Thousands of maidens will converge at King Goodwill Zwelithini’s Royal Residence at Nyokeni Palace in Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal for the annual Reed Dance, an important cultural festival and source of pride amongst young maidens from KwaZulu-Natal.

The ceremony’s focus is reeds cut from riverbeds, reflecting their symbolic role as symbols of Zulu identity. Furthermore, virgin maidens are encouraged to wait until marriage before engaging in sexual activity, in an effort to prevent further spreading of HIV/AIDS.

Visitors must comply with and respect dress regulations when attending this event, such as not exposing bare breasts and wearing long trousers rather than shorts for men. Photography will only be allowed on days six and seven during maidens’ parade through the arena.

CirqLive

Rovos Rail has quickly earned an international reputation since its establishment in 1989 as a truly world-class train journey. Onboard this luxurious train, passengers experience vintage luxury on journeys through Southern Africa. Furthermore, amenities onboard such as an embargo on handheld devices and formal attire requirements at dinner help enhance this unique train journey experience.

Rovos Rail journeys start from Pretoria’s stunning colonial-style private train station, Capital Park. The Rovos Rail Pretoria to Durban train travels through South Africa’s picturesque landscapes before reaching one of its many spectacular destinations.

Rocking the Daisies

Rocking the Daisies is South Africa’s biggest music and lifestyle festival and serves as an official start of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Attending this festival provides an incredible opportunity to see this remarkable country and explore some of its vibrant culture.

Eco-conscious products and the theme ‘play hard, tread lightly’ are used for this event that strives to use eco-friendly solutions and promote ‘playing hard without treading lightly’. Check out the lineup of artists to see who will be performing this year! Check an established travel agency near you for the latest Rovos Rail price. Check if their Rovos Rail prices 2025 packages could include tickets to this spectacular festival while offering luxury suites, lounge and observation cars as you travel from Pretoria to reach its location on this breathtaking train tour. You can also check online for the latest Rovos Rail cost as well as Rovos Rail vs Blue Train for a comparison between the two.

National Arts Festival

The National Arts Festival in South Africa is renowned and the continent’s foremost celebration of art, showcasing everything from theatre performances to inspiring visual art exhibits – demonstrating creativity’s vast power.

Art is celebrated here for being free from restrictions or censorship, from Koleka Putuma’s bold performance art pieces to Paul Botes and Niren Tolsi’s After Marikana project focusing on the massacre of miners by Paul Botes and Niren Tolsi over 10 years.

Rovos Rail offers luxury train adventures through this family-owned and operated train company, featuring old-style travel in renovated sleeper coaches that combine original Edwardian features with modern comforts.