Survivors of Rovos Rail train accident reach Victoria Falls

After surviving a frightening train collision near Gwanda last Friday, passengers from the luxury South African Rovos Rail have safely reached their destination in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

Grateful for the swift assistance and care they received, the tourists extended sincere thanks to the Zimbabwean authorities and other role players who supported them in the aftermath of the accident involving a goods train.

Despite the ordeal, the travelers remained upbeat and enthusiastic, looking forward to experiencing the natural wonders and charm of Victoria Falls.

“I am a tourist from the United Kingdom. Accidents happen everywhere, and we are just happy to finally be here. We thank everyone for the support. I am looking forward to a lot of fun the weather is lovely today. Victoria Falls is beautiful,” one tourist said.

“I cannot wait to enjoy Victoria Falls. I am happy to be here and sure I will have a great time. I am also excited to try local cuisines,” another traveller said.

“Zimbabwe is a great country, and Victoria Falls is truly a special place. I am glad to be here and witness it myself.

“It is great to be here. I am looking forward to seeing the natural beauty and hopefully spotting the Big Five. We truly appreciate all the support given to us throughout,” a third tourist said.

Rovos Rail Accident

As reported by The South African website, the luxury Rovos Rail train was carrying foreign tourists to Zimbabwe for Easter when it collided with another locomotive.

The accident derailed carriages and injured several people on board, the operating company and a local rail employee confirmed.

Four crew members of the Rovos Rail train, which was going from Pretoria to the tourist hotspot of Victoria Falls, were hurt in the collision with a freight train in Zimbabwe, the luxury service’s spokeswoman Liezl Maclean said.

Photos circulating on social media captured the moment rescue teams carried an injured man on a stretcher through a break in the twisted metal of the wrecked train roof.

The collision occurred in Gwanda, a town in southern Zimbabwe, and involved a Rovos Rail luxury passenger train and a freight train operated by the Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway.

According to Maclean, there were at least 47 tourists aboard the Rovos Rail train when the crash happened. The exact cause of the incident remains unknown at this stage.

Founded in 1989, Rovos Rail is known for its “tailor-made train safaris through the heart of Africa,” with luxury journeys running from Cape Town, South Africa, to Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania.

The Victoria Falls route includes a three- to four-night, 1,400-kilometre expedition from Pretoria to Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, Bulawayo.