Copper Trail - 15 Day Victoria Falls to Lobito by Rail

CTT-ATT is the official partner and DMC of Rovos Rail for ground handling in the Congo and Angola. Book with us for a discount on the rail tour and cabin plus dedicated side tours and concierge services.

Experience the iconic Copper Trail route on a 15-day rail excursion across Zimbabwe, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Angola! Take in the grandeur of Rovos Rail as you step inside the opulent, wood-paneled carriages to unwind and enjoy some of the most breathtaking views you can imagine. Rovos Rail showcases Africa’s majestic natural wonders and abundant wildlife while paying homage to a simpler, more refined era with its exquisite meals, personalized service, and incredible selection of South Africa's finest wines. This incredible African adventure departs from the magnificent Victoria Falls to Kafue River for a sunset boat across the mighty Zambezi. You will also fly into South Luangwa National Park for a three-night safari after spending some time at Lusaka’s elephant sanctuary, where teams work to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned elephants. In this stunning game-rich park, there is no shortage of spectacular and fascinating geography, with the Muchinga Escarpment forming its western and northern boundaries and the meandering Luangwa River its southern border. The tour ends at Lobito after enjoying a tour of Lubumbashi and participating in the historical copper trail for a series of walking tours explaining Angola's interesting history.

Itinerary

Day 1 - VICTORIA FALLS

Depart from Victoria Falls, then cross the bridge to Livingstone, the provincial capital until 2012. Get to know behind the origin of Livingstone and how it was named after the Scottish explorer and missionary David Livingstone. Before joining fellow travelers in the lounge or observation carriages, guests can freshen up in their suites. Make sure the train manager or administration deputy has your passport. You will also enjoy some tea time in the lounge and observation cars before having your dinner dressed in your formal wear en route to Choma overnight. 

Day 2 - KAFUE RIVER

Start the day with a hearty breakfast served on board. You will have some leisure time to attend lectures and get an in-depth understanding of Africa’s culture and history. The train travels over the 477-meter-long Kafue railway bridge, a steel girder truss bridge with 13 spans each that are 33 meters long and supported by concrete piers before disembarking to board on a sunset cruise on the Kafue River (drinks included). Then, get back on the train and depart for Lusaka, the nation’s capital. 

Day 3 - ELEPHANT SANCTUARY

Arrive in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, and visit its notable elephant sanctuary. Observe how the teams work to rescue and care for orphaned elephants with the goal of releasing them back into Kafue National Park. Then, head back to board the train and enjoy the scenic views as the train travels through the Central Province to Kabwe en route to Kapiri Mposhi. 

Day 4 - SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

Pack a small overnight bag and prepare for a three-night stay in South Luangwa National Park. Make sure you are dressed warmly for the game drives and wear comfortable shoes for the optional walking safari activities. Before transferring to Ndola Airstrip for your chartered flight, double check if the train manager or administrative deputy has given you your passport. Upon arrival at South Luangwa National Park, transfer to your camp, check in, and enjoy lunch before setting out for an afternoon game drive in the Luangwa Valley.

Day 5 - SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

Experience the mesmerizing African Safari in South Luangwa National Park, offering an incredible, distinctive combination of vast, grassy plains and captivating woodlands, crowned with the pristine and majestic Luangwa River. Discover the region that has a well-deserved reputation for having an abundance of wildlife and pristine environment, so whether you're driving through or walking through, the tremendous beauty beckons you from every angle.

Day 6 - SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

Begin the day with a scrumptious continental breakfast, then enjoy an early morning game drive to see some rare wildlife animals up close and capture spectacular photographic opportunities. You will have a tasty brunch before spending some time exploring the area at your own leisure. Afterwards, experience a thrilling afternoon game drive to observe the nocturnal animals in their natural habitat. 

Day 7 - SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

Prepare your luggage for collection before having your breakfast. Take a morning game drive to experience a thrilling wildlife adventure, then transfer to the airport for the chartered flight to your next destination. Upon arrival at Ndola, Zambia, directly transfer to Ndola Station to rejoin the train. You will then spend the rest of the day at your own leisure on board as the train travels towards Lubumbashi. 

Day 8 - LUBUMBASHI

Take a drive through the commercial and industrial metropolis of Lubumbashi to start the day and learn about the customs and history of the city. Afterwards, return to board the train to begin your trip to Lukuni. Along the journey, you will also catch a glimpse of the famed open-pit Luishia copper and cobalt mine.

Day 9 - COPPER MINE

Drop by Kolwezi for a visit to a notable copper mine in an area with some of the world’s largest known copper and cobalt resources. Then, indulge in a delightful brunch at Katebi Lodge before returning to the train and depart for Kasombo. 

Day 10 - LEISURE ON BOARD

Enjoy the day at your leisure as the train passes Kakopa while traveling to Malonga. You can check out the featured amenities of the train and interact with your fellow travellers. Also, remember to set your watches back one hour before retiring for the evening.

Day 11 - LUAU

Start the day off right with a tasty breakfast served on board. After the border formalities are through, proceed to the beginning of the Benguela line to begin a walking tour of Luau. After that, get back on the train and start traveling to Luena. Enjoy some tea while watching the neighborhood fisherman at work as the train passes past the charming villages of Cassai and Cameia and the picturesque Cassai River.

Day 12 - LUENA

Enjoy a delicious breakfast while riding the train en route to the next destination. Once you arrive in Luena, take part in an insightful walking tour to learn more about the city's history and culture. Then, continue your journey towards Tchicala Tcholohanga.

Day 13 - KUITO

Take a tour of Kuito, a town that was built in the historical center of the Ovimbundu Kingdom, and get an in-depth understanding of Kuito's history and culture. Afterwards, return to the train for your onward journey to Huambo.

Day 14 - HUAMBO

Discover the stunning city of Huambo, one of Angola's greatest provincial centers and the historic capital of one of the plateau's core kingdoms, and learn about its interesting culture and extensive history. Then, head back to board the train and depart for Lépi. 

Day 15 - LOBITO

Arrive at journey’s end, Lobito Station. Take a convenient transport to Airport or Station for your onward destination.

Suites and Coaches

Each train has accommodation carriages, dining cars, a lounge car (± 26 seats), small gift shop, smoking lounge (± 11 seats), and observation car (± 32 seats) with open-air balcony.

Types of Suites

• Pullman Gold Suites (Sharing/Single Occupancy): Tea Drawer, Air Conditioning, Fold-Out Writing Desk, Luggage Shelf, Cupboards, Safe, En-Suite Bathroom with Toilet, Basin, and Shower

• Deluxe Suites (Sharing/Single Occupancy): Minibar, Air Conditioning, Writing Desk, Luggage Shelf, Cupboards, Safe, En-Suite Bathroom with Toilet, Basin, and Shower

• Royal Suites (Sharing - Reserved for Double Occupancy Only): Minibar, Air Conditioning, Writing Desk, Luggage Shelf, Cupboards, Safe, En-suite Bathroom with Toilet, Basin, Bath, and Shower

Inclusions

• 14 Nights Accommodation

• All Meals

• All Beverages

• Room Service

• Limited Laundry

• Excursions with Qualified Guide (Where Applicable)

• Entrance Fees as Per Itinerary

• On-Board Historian

• Hairstylist and Doctor

• Government Tax

• Visa Assistance in the Entry City (Exclusive to CTT-ATT Bookers Only)

• Lobito Day Tour (Exclusive to CTT-ATT Bookers Only)

Exclusions

• Off-Train Beverages

• International Sparkling Wine and French Champagne

• Gratuities

• Personal Expenses

• Visas Not Mentioned

• Travel Insurance

• Pre and Post Tour Accommodation

• Flights and Transfers

Included in Off-Train Accommodation

• Flights to/from South Luangwa

• Overnight Bag

• Meals

• Standard Bar Drinks

• Game Activities

• Laundry

• Park Fees

• Government Tax and Levies

Excluded from Off-Train Accommodation

• Premium Wines, Champagne, and Spirits

• Personal Expenses

Meals on Board (Unless Adjusted)

• Breakfast: 07:00 - 10:00

• Lunch: 13:00

• Tea: 16:30

• Dinner: 19:30

• Bar Service: 07:00 to 01:00

General Information

Passports and Visas

• The onus is upon the client to ensure passports and visas, as may be required, are valid prior to departure for Africa. 

• Some nationalities are eligible to purchase port-of-entry visas.

• Immigration forms will be available on board. Please ensure you have a minimum of $200 USD in cash with you.

• Tanzanian, Angolan, and DRC visas must be obtained prior to travel.

• Passports must have at least five (5) blank VISA pages and must be valid for at least six (6) months from your return-home date.

• Please inquire with us for the visa assistance in the entry city.

Check-In

• Please arrive at least one hour before departure. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we request that check-in takes place two hours before departure. 

• Passports are required at check-in. No vouchers are required.

• Luggage will be tagged and placed in your suite on board the train where you will find a comprehensive itinerary pack.

Amenities

• A complete amenity bag will provided with the following South African biodegradable and/or recyclable products: soap (50g), tissues, shampoo (50ml), hand and body wash (50ml), hand and body lotion (50ml), lip balm (7g), insect repellent gel (10ml), reusable bamboo rounds, bamboo earbuds, and a shower cap. Plug-in hairdryers – in addition to your bathroom unit (if applicable) – are available on board as well as sun cream, shoe mitts, nail files, sewing kits and ear plugs.

Children

• Children between 0-2 years old are not allowed to travel. 

• Children under 13 years old are not recommended for long journeys.

• Children are accommodated, but parents must be sensitive to the nature and atmosphere of the train by keeping them respectful and quiet.

Currency

• Only Rands are accepted in South African destinations.

• US Dollars are accepted in Zimbabwe, Tanzania (Dar es Salaam only), DRC, and Angola.

• Major credit cards are accepted on the train, hotels, and major dealers.

Dietaries

• We can cater for food allergies provided a detailed request has been made at the time of your reservation. 

• If a special request has not been made, the chefs will try to prepare suitable meals with the ingredients available on board. 

• We are unable to prepare meals requiring strict religious observance in the preparation.

Additional Information

• Meals on board are served in one sitting only in the dining cars and are complemented by a selection of fine South African wines.

• All meals are served at specific times unless otherwise stated in the timetable.

• Dinner and lunch are signaled by gong.

• Please dress accordingly for game drives: mornings can be cool then warm up considerably; afternoons can be warm then cool down considerably.

• Warm clothing, hats, comfortable shoes, and sun protection are advised (season dependent). Rain capes are available.

• We strongly discourage giving any form of handout to children while traveling. This action may have detrimental consequences to local communities. If you would like to give responsibly, we support many local charities and would be happy to assist.

• The tour is entirely dependent on the traction and railway services provided by the nations we pass through. When these services fail, we sadly have no control over the situation, be they due to locomotives, signals, overhead power-cable damage, and/or theft, vandalism, power outages, railway tracks or issues with drivers, etc.

• Any delays or modifications to the itinerary brought on by unforeseen events, whether natural or man-made, are not the responsibility of Rovos Rail, and we cannot be held liable for them.

• The tour operator reserves the right to change or cancel the itinerary, any excursions, and the tour departure dates provided that the participants are offered with alternative excursions or departure dates. 

• Excursions may be changed according to the schedule achieved. Times are approximate and cannot be guaranteed. Please check with the Train Manger for any updates or changes to the itinerary.

• Itinerary is subject to change and cannot be guaranteed. Our obligation to transport guests from departure to arrival points on schedule will override any commitment ro excursions. 

• Same-day air-travel on departure and/or arrival days is not advised due to potential flight or train delays. Kindly contact us should you be delayed.