Travel bucket list idea:
Royal Livingstone Express
Livingstone, Southern Province, Zambia
Credit Shutterstock.com/Dietmar Rauscher
Last updated: 04 April, 2024
Cecil John Rhodes dreamt of a railway from Cape to Cairo, crossing Victoria Falls’ famous bridge. His tracks never made it that far, but you can still relive the glamour of colonial train travel as this historic steam train runs through the Zambian bush.
Carriages are decorated in a plush colonial style, and as the locomotive chuffs through the game-rich Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and across the Sinde River, you’ll have the chance to spot antelope on the hoof. After toasting the sunset on the iconic Victoria Falls bridge, a five-course set-menu dinner is served.
Logistics
Price from: £150
Minimum age: 0
Age suitable: 13+
When: All year around
Duration: 4 hours
Getting there & doing it
The train departs from ‘Kilometre 0’ of the Mulobezi Line. Groups can book the train for a private ‘Victoria Falls Bridge Run’; this includes drinks and snacks on the famous railway bridge across the Batoka Gorge. The dress code for the train is strictly smart-casual, and no shorts are allowed.
When to do it
Trains run all year round, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Hotel pick-up is around 5pm (varies by time of year), returning around 9pm.
