b'ULTIMATE DAR ES SALAAM, VICTORIA FALLS AND THE PRIDE OF AFRICAYOUR ITINERARY Days 1-3 - London, Dar es Salaam and the Pride of AfricaWe fly from London Heathrow to Dar es Salaam, via Dubai, arriving on Day 2. Were introduced to Tanzanias cultural heart with a visit to a craft market before dinner. On Day 3, we board the Pride of Africa, starting our epic rail journey across five unique countries. After settling in, we speed away from Dar es Salaam through Tanzania. Our journey takes us across the wild plains of the Selous Game Reserve by rail - a park which VICTORIA FALLS was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status thanks to its wildlife. The park offers a vision of timeless Africa; there are almost no roads, and most visitors are flown in. Our trip through the plains by rail is a rare treat, as we try to spot elephants, hippos and buffalo. MADIKWE GAME RESERVE Days 4-8 - Selous Game Reserve, Makambako and ZambiaWe head out into the wild landscapes of Selous Game Reserve on a safari drive. This is Africas largest park, and we hope to spot some of the wildlife Africa is famous for. We return to the train and continue through the Udzungwa Mountains to Mlimba, where we stay for the night. We arrive in Makambako on Day 5, a traditional Tanzanian town overlooked by the countrys Southern Highlands, where you have free time. Back on the train, we traverse the stark landscapes of the Rift Valley on the way to Tunduma for the night, on the border between Tanzania and Zambia. On Day 6, we descend through the valleys of the Mbeya Mountains before crossing into Zambia, where we disembark at Kasama to visit the stunning Chishimba Falls. We rejoin the Pride of Africa and settle down for a journey to Mununga, where we spend tonight. On Days 7and 8, enjoy two days soaking up the luxury of the Pride of Africa as were whisked across Zambia. You could visit the lounge car and listen to a talk by the on-board historian. Or, sit back in the observation car and PRETORIA admire the views as we make our way through the wilderness. Days 9-13 - Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls and BotswanaWe arrive in Livingston and continue into Zimbabwe, crossing the border bridge that spans a gorge across the incredible Victoria Falls. Known as Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders), the falls are one of the worlds finest natural wonders. We disembark and transfer to our hotel. Later, we take to the waters of the Zambezi River, admiring the changing hues of the African sunset as we absorb the breathtaking beauty of the river, and perhaps catch a glimpse of the resident crocodiles. OnDay 10, youre free to relax or explore the area. Our hotel is just a short walk from the crashing waters of Victoria Falls. Relax on board on Day 11 as we leave Zimbabwe and continue through Botswana, a country of open plains stretching out into the desert landscape, dotted with traditional villages. OnDay 12, we disembark and transfer to Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa. Madikwe is home to rare creatures CAPE TOWN including leopards, elephants, antelopes, rhinos and lions. In the afternoon we take our first game drive. Day 13 is dedicated to wildlife spotting, and we contrast morning and afternoon drives to increase our chances of spotting these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat.Days 14-17 -Pretoria, Kimberley and MatjiesfonteinAfter a final early morning game drive, we return to the train. We travel through the glorious scenery of South Africa, running alongside the dramatic Magaliesberg Mountains, a sharp ridge of peaks that tower above the tracks. We arrive in Pretoria, South Africas administrative capital, onDay 15. On arrival, we enjoy a guided tour of the colourful city, then return to Rovos Rail Station for lunch and a tour of the fascinating locomotive workshops. This afternoon we continue towards Kimberley. On Day 16, we reach Kimberley, a city with a rich diamond mining history. Here we visit the The Big Hole, a huge, water-filled man-made 144 AFRICA'