Rovos Rail is a luxury train operator that took us from Pretoria to Victoria Falls over four days.
In general, it is nicely run, and the food is good. The biggest problem is that the tracks in Zimbabwe are
not very smooth, and the trains lack modern suspension and coupling. The ride was quite rough, and we
only slept well on nights when the train parked for a while. It also didn't help that Kimberly had some
sort of respiratory problem that caused her to cough, and made it hard for her to breathe.
They took over this unused rail station as their southern point.
This old coal steam engine works, and was trotted out for show, but the real engines are diesel electric.
The lobby has been refurbished to recreate the early days of rail travel.
The station also doubles as a yard for restoring and refurbishing the trains.
We are taken on a tour by Rohan Vos, after whom the company is named. He is quite the character
as he goes over the history of the venture.
A car being repaired and sanded, waiting for painting. Rovos hires and trains local people to do the work.
Mr. Vos explaining the tapered wheel operation, and how it helps trains go around curves.
There is a large covered area where much of the work is done.
These are parts of the diesel electric engine.
This huge forged metal piece is the suspension that the cars ride on.
Our room on the train: lots of nice wood. The room is fine, but we found the closets and storage space
a little small for two adults. This is the large accommodation; on the smaller one, the bed is smaller
and folds up into a couch during the day.
The bathroom is quite spacious, even if the shower is a little close.
Breakfast in the dining car. Lunch and dinner are four courses each, and one is expected to dress
for dinner.
A view out from one of the lounge cars.
We stop at Bulawayo station for a trip to Matobo National Park.
We travel in small open safari vehicles.
On the way into the park, they have a market with local craftspeople.
The park is most known as the burial place for Cecil Rhodes.
It is up on top of this hill, known as the "View of the World".
Some of the varicolored lichen on the rocks.
We pause for a picture. These large rocks are left after erosion takes away the surrounding rock.
The Shangani Patrol Memorial is also on this mountain.
Cecil Rhodes' tomb.
