Copper Trail - 15 Day Lobito to Victoria Falls 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.

Escape the ordinary and reconnect with nature through the famous Copper Trail on a 15-day rail journey across Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, and Zimbabwe! Take in the splendor of Rovos Rail as you board the luxury, wood-paneled carriages to unwind and enjoy some of the most spectacular vistas you can imagine. Rovos Rail showcases the majestic natural wonders and abundant wildlife of Africa while paying homage to a simpler, more refined era with its impeccable cuisine, personalized service, and incredible selection of South Africa's finest wines. This amazing African nature and wildlife adventure starts at the spectacular Victoria Falls, traveling across the mighty Zambezi, towards Kafue River for a lovely sunset boat ride. Spend some time at Lusaka’s elephant sanctuary and get an in-depth understanding of how the teams try to save and care for orphaned elephants. Then, take a flight into South Luangwa National Park for a three-night safari adventure. With the Muchinga Escarpment constituting its western and northern boundaries and the meandering Luangwa River its southern border, this magnificent game-rich park is surrounded by a variety of impressive and fascinating geographical features. After partaking in the historical copper trail for a series of walking excursions highlighting Angola's fascinating past and taking a tour of Lubumbashi, the tour comes to a close at Lobito.

Itinerary

Day 1 - LOBITO

Depart from Lobito, Angola. Freshen up in the suites before joining fellow travelers in the lounge car or observation car. 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 Huambo. 

Day 2 - HUAMBO

See the beautiful city of Huambo and learn about its fascinating culture and extensive history as you tour one of Angola's most important provincial hubs and the former capital of one of the plateau's core kingdoms. Afterwards, return to board the train and travel towards Boas Agus.

Day 3 - KUITO

Explore the fascinating town of Kuito, a town that was established in the historical center of the Ovimbundu Kingdom, and get an insight into the town’s interesting history and local culture. Then, get back on the train and depart for Savinguila.

Day 4 - LUENA

Enjoy a delicious breakfast while traveling to your next destination. Once you arrive in Luena, join a fascinating walking tour to learn more about the city's history and culture. Then, head back to the train and continue your journey towards Cameia. As you eat your lunch on the board, take in the local fishermen at work as the train passes through the quaint villages of Cassai and Cameia and the lovely Cassai River.

Day 5 - LEISURE ON BOARD

Complete the border formalities and enjoy the day at your leisure on board as the train moves towards Malonga. You can also check out the features of the train, join the lectures on board,  and interact with your fellow travelers.

Day 6 - LEISURE ON BOARD

Take some time to relax and enjoy the day while the train moves past Mutshatsha and approaches Mungulunga. You can also check out the features of the train, join the lectures on board,  and interact with your fellow travelers.

Day 7 - COPPER MINE

Visit a copper mine in Kolwezi, which is located in a region with some of the world's greatest known copper and cobalt resources. After that, indulge in a delicious lunch at Katebi Lodge before getting back on the train and traveling to Tenke.

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 and depart for Mushoshi. Pack a small overnight bag and prepare for a three-night stay in South Luangwa National Park. Make sure you have warm clothes for the game drives and wear comfortable shoes for the optional walking safari activities. 

Day 9 - SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

Complete border formalities before transferring to Ndola Airport for a chartered flight to the South Luangwa National Park. Before departing from the train, 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 10 - SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

Discover the thrilling African Safari in South Luangwa National Park, which offers a rare and exceptional combination of vast, grassy plains and mesmerizing woodlands, finished with the pristine and majestic Luangwa River. Learn about the area that has earned a reputation for having a variety of wildlife and beautiful landscapes; whether you're driving through or walking through, the incredible beauty draws you from every angle.

Day 11 - SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

Go on a morning game drive to spot some rare wildlife creatures up close and take advantage of amazing photo opportunities after a delicious continental breakfast. Enjoy an appetizing brunch before spending some time at your leisure to explore the breathtaking national park. After that, go on an exciting afternoon game drive to observe the nocturnal creatures in their natural habitat.

Day 12 - SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

Prepare your luggage for collection before having your breakfast, then transfer to the airport for the chartered flight back to Ndola, Zambia. Upon arrival, transfer to Ndola Station and board the train en route to Kapiri Mposhi. 

Day 13 - ELEPHANT SAFARI AND KAFUE RIVER

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 - CHOMA

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 enjoy a short walk to the Choma Museum and Crafts Centre, check out the museum’s exhibit showcasing the cultural heritage of the local Tonga Tribe of Zambia, and shop for some local specialties and specialized souvenirs at the Crafts Centre. Then, head back to the train and depart for Makoli.

Day 15 - VICTORIA FALLS

Arrive at Livingstone, the provincial capital until 2012, for Zambian border formalities. Get to know behind the origin of Livingstone and how it was named after the Scottish explorer and missionary David Livingstone. Cross the Victoria Falls Bridge and complete the border formalities before arriving at the journey's end, Victoria Falls 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.