Royal Livingstone Express

Bushtracks Africa
Zambia
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The Journey

Navigate from Livingstone Railway Station to Victoria Falls Bridge (border with Zimbabwe) across a span of 15km.

Scenery Highlights
  • Victoria Falls Bridge — iconic 1905 deck-arch bridge at the Zambia/Zimbabwe border
  • Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park — UNESCO World Heritage site, sightings of elephant, giraffe and zebra from the dining car
  • Zambezi River gorge at sunset from the bridge
  • Sefsaane Halt — heritage watering stop with photo opportunity next to the steam locomotive
Quick Facts
  • Duration

    4 hours

  • Distance

    15 km

  • Est. Price

    USD 178–220 per person (2026 published: Historic Train Canapé Safari from US$178; Historic Train Dinner Safari US$220; Historic Mulobezi Line US$220; verify current rate at booking)

Official Booking Provider
Classes & Accommodations

Meals: 5-course gourmet dinner + selected beverages

Ensuite: No

Meals: 5-course lunch + selected beverages

Ensuite: No

Meals: Canapé selection + welcome cocktails + selected beverages

Ensuite: No

Engine / Locomotive

Heritage steam: Northern British Locomotive Company 12th Class 204 (built 1928, 4-8-2 Mountain, two outside cylinders, Walschaerts valve gear, refurbished 2008) alternating with 10th Class 156 (built 1922); Historic Mulobezi Line uses diesel

Locomotive Weight

Approximately 80–95 tonnes (12th Class 204 in working order)

Track Gauge

1,067 mm (Cape gauge, Zambian national standard)

Braking Technology

Vacuum brake system (original equipment on heritage rolling stock)

Route Engineering Challenges

  • Narrow 1,067 mm Cape gauge limits carriage width and interior layout flexibility

  • Steam-locomotive maintenance requiring skilled boilermakers, coal/water logistics and heritage parts sourcing

  • Operation in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park with strict speed and noise controls to minimise wildlife disturbance

  • Crossing the 198 m Victoria Falls Bridge deck-arch structure (built 1905) with heritage loading limits

  • Rainy-season (November–April) line-vegetation and earthworks management on the Mulobezi branch

  • Sourcing South African wine and five-course menu supplies in remote Livingstone with limited cold-chain infrastructure

Route

Livingstone Railway Station → Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park → Victoria Falls Bridge, ~15 km round-trip steam itinerary

Mulobezi Line

Diesel-hauled full-day Livingstone → Mulobezi charter (approximately 350 km one-way) — seasonal availability

Duration

~4 hours (round-trip steam dinner / canapé); full-day for Mulobezi Line charter

Gauge

1,067 mm Cape gauge (Zambian national standard)

Locomotives

Heritage steam: 12th Class 204 (NBL 1928) and 10th Class 156 (1922); diesel on Mulobezi Line

Max Speed

Approximately 20–25 km/h (heritage line)

Carriages

Restored 1930s vintage dining and observation carriages with brass fittings and stained-glass skylights

Brake System

Original vacuum brake system on heritage stock

Bridge

Victoria Falls Bridge — 198 m deck arch, built 1905, carries the railway across the Zambezi gorge at the Zambia/Zimbabwe border

Operator

Bushtracks Africa (commercial); rolling stock heritage of Zambian Railways / Rhodesia Railways

Schedule (2026 peak)

Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays (April–September)

Schedule (2026 low)

Wednesdays and Saturdays only (October–March)

Quick Facts
  • Duration

    4 hours

  • Distance

    15 km

  • Est. Price

    USD 178–220 per person (2026 published: Historic Train Canapé Safari from US$178; Historic Train Dinner Safari US$220; Historic Mulobezi Line US$220; verify current rate at booking)

Official Booking Provider