Lobito - The South African tourist train ‘Rovos Rail’ arrived Tuesday in Lobito city (Benguela), departing from Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), with 42 tourists on board.
According to the train's owner, Rohan Rovos, there was a reduction of 23 tourists on the route to Angola due to Covid-19. Normally, Rovos Rail brings 65 tourists.
Asked what motivates tourists to visit Angola, Rohan Rovos said they want to get to know the culture, see nature and learn more about the country's history, but the big barrier has been the language.
In his opinion, there should be signs in stations and public buildings in English, French and German.
He also complained about the rubbish in the places they passed, considering it to be a community effort in which everyone must be involved to eliminate it , having promised to bring in more tourists and increase the frequency of journeys.
The South African businessman considered, however, that tourism is an industry that takes time to grow.
‘Luanda used to have just one five-star hotel, today it has three,’ he said with satisfaction.
The train made up of two diesel engines and 20 carriages, left Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and entered the Angolan border on July 27 and is scheduled to return on August 3, 2024.
According to the director of the Kitanda travel agency, Rebeca Barreiros, the train brings tourists of American, Swiss, English, Dutch, Austrian, Brazilian and Portuguese nationalities, among others.
The tourism operator explained that once in Benguela province, the tourists will have visits to the Zaire boat, Portas do Mar in Restinga, the Flamingos area in Caponte, the Fort of São Pedro in Catumbela, the Cathedral, Pópulo church, the Archaeology Museum and the handicraft workshop on Morena beach in Benguela.
According to the director, each tourist pays around 15,000 dollars for a 15-day stay on the train, plus accommodation, souvenir shopping and airline tickets.
She added that most of them are business people, some retired and others working, who, despite travelling for leisure, are also looking for a business opportunity.
Rebeca Barreiros took the opportunity to inform that another group of tourists will be arriving by plane on August 2 to join the new arrivals and that a cruise ship is due to arrive from Cape Town (South Africa) with 200 to 300 tourists to dock at the Port of Lobito.
Tourists satisfied with journey
The tourists on the Rovos Rail train were delighted with the hospitality, simplicity and friendliness of the Angolan people during the journey from Luau (Moxico) to Lobito (Benguela).
Anderson Freitas, a Brazilian national, said that he left from South Africa and that this was his first trip to Angola.
‘Although I only spent about two hours in each city we passed through, I was able to see that Angola has a lot of potential for developing tourism,’ he said, adding that he was afraid when crossed the Democratic Republic of Congo, due to the prevailing conflict between that country's army and the M23 rebel group, but was relieved when he realized he entered Angolan territory.
This is the fifth trip by the ‘Rovos Rail’ luxury train to Angola, travelling through the provinces covered by the Lobito Corridor, namely Benguela, Huambo, Bié and Moxico. TC/CRB/DAN/AMP
