Namibia & the Pride of Africa 2013 

We depart London on a flight to Cape Town, arriving on the morning of Day 2. We enjoy a guided tour of Cape Town, taking in the main sights, after which we transfer to the 5-star Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront for three nights, superbly overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. After time to freshen up, we head out again to make the cable ascent of Table Mountain to enjoy panoramic views of the city.

Today we travel to Cape Point on the Cape of Good Hope, at the south-western tip of Africa. At Cape Point we take the Flying Dutchman funicular railway up to a vantage point to admire the awe-inspiring views. Later we travel along False Bay via Simon's Town naval base to Boulders Beach. The beach has a number of small inlets created by giant granite boulders and is home to a colony of African Penguins, the only indigenous penguin on the entire continent, which can be viewed from only a few metres away.

Our excursion today takes us to two of South Africa's finest and most famous wine producing areas, the Franschhoek and Stellenbosch valleys, which gives us the opportunity to sample some of the local wines during a tasting session.

After a relaxed start to the day, we take a short flight from Cape Town to Walvis Bay on Namibia's Skeleton Coast. Home to a variety of rare sea birds, Walvis Bay is a very important coastal wetland and busy port. On arrival we transfer to Swakopmund, a coastal town characterised by well-preserved examples of German colonial architecture. We spend one night at the Swakopmund Hotel.

Today we board our luxury train - the Pride of Africa. After settling into your cabin, perhaps relax in the Lounge car or the Observation carriage at the rear of the train as it leaves Swakopmund. Tonight we celebrate the beginning of our rail journey with a welcome dinner on board.

This morning we arrive in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, set in a beautiful valley bordered by the Eros and Auas Mountains. Here we visit the railway museum, then enjoy a guided tour of the city. We then head to the Okapuka Game Lodge, where we have lunch before the first game drive. After plenty of time to spot the abundant wildlife, we return to the Pride of Africa.

Today we leave the Pride of Africa and take a short flight to the 5-star Kempinski Mokuti Lodge, located at the gateway to the Etosha National Park. Etosha, meaning "Great White Place", is one of Southern Africa's finest Game reserves, home to Africa's most celebrated wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, rhinos, lions and cheetahs. We stay overnight at the lodge, allowing us to enjoy the contrasts of afternoon and early morning game drives. After the game drive on Day 9 we fly to Sossusvlei, a huge salt and clay pan enclosed by giant sand dunes, which is Namibia's most famous landmark. Tonight we are treated to a desert drive and a bush dinner. We stay at the Sossusvlei Lodge tonight.

We begin the day with an excursion into the desert, which gives us chance to view Sossusvlei at its very best, when the colours are strong and constantly changing. During the excursion we have breakfast and are afforded some truly superb photo opportunities. We then fly back to Windhoek and rejoin the Pride of Africa.

After breakfast, today we enjoy a guided walking tour of Keetmanshoop, a charming German colonial town. We return to the train and continue to Fish River Canyon, the world's largest river canyon after America's Grand Canyon. At its widest point, the canyon is 21 miles across and makes for a truly breathtaking sight.

We rejoin the Pride of Africa and cross into South Africa this morning, stopping in Upington, an attractive town located on the banks of the Orange River in the Northern Cape. We explore the town with a guided tour before returning to the train to continue towards Kimberley. Your afternoon is spent on board, giving you the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy the passing scenery from the comfort of your private suite or the luxurious public areas of the train.

Today we reach Kimberley, a city founded on diamonds with a rich diamond mining history. Here we take a guided tour of the city and visit the 'The Big Hole' mine museum - a recreated townscape and museum which houses a fascinating collection of artefacts from the diamond rush that led to the huge mine's creation. As we leave Kimberley later this afternoon, be sure to look out for the shallow lake, where a spectacular flamboyance of flamingos can often be seen.

Following a leisurely morning on board, we arrive in Pretoria, the seat of South Africa's government. We are given a tremendous welcome at Capital Park, a colonial-style railway station with a fabulous reception lounge, which serves as the Pride of Africa's headquarters. We disembark the train and transfer to our base for tonight, the 5-star Sheraton Hotel. The rest of your day is free for you to explore Pretoria at your own pace. The attractive and colourful city, which was once the 'Apartheid Capital of South Africa', is home to many historic buildings and interesting museums.

Today we take an excursion to the famous Voortrekker Monument, an enormous cenotaph in a nature reserve, dedicated to the Dutch pioneers that founded South Africa. We then continue to the airport for our overnight flight to London, arriving on Day 16.