Rovos Rail Pride of Africa

Rovos Rail warns that if you awaken at night with the sensation that the train is traveling at high speed, it isn't. The tracks are inconsistently maintained, causing the train to travel over bumps and sometimes sway more than expected. Don't worry too much: One passenger says a train trip from New Orleans to Washington was bumpier. The trip, known as the African Collage, takes you deep into game reserves accessible only by a small plane if not for the train; you'll be met by open vehicles and taken on a safari, where you'll see zebras, elephants and lions. Eleanor Hardy, president of the Society of International Railway Travelers, found herself four feet from a leopard and five feet from a lion. A tamer alternative: Go golfing at any of six courses including Simola Country Estate, with its Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course.

$5,110 to $10,334: Per person based on double occupancy, depending on cabin type (9-day trip between Pretoria and Capetown) -- www.irtsociety.com