In a world where speed often trumps scenery, East Africa is bringing back the romance of slow, luxurious travel with trains. From Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line slicing through savannahs to Tanzania’s colonial-era carriages and Uganda’s revival projects, luxury rail travel in East Africa is making a quiet, opulent comeback.
For discerning travelers looking to combine comfort, history, and sweeping landscapes, these trains promise more than just a ride, they deliver a journey to remember.
- Kenya: The Madaraka Express & Future of Luxury Rail
Launched in 2017, the Madaraka Express redefined rail travel in Kenya. Stretching from Nairobi to Mombasa, this standard gauge railway (SGR) offers a fast and comfortable journey through Tsavo’s wildlife-rich plains.
While current first-class cabins are spacious and well-equipped, plans are underway to introduce dedicated luxury carriages, complete with private compartments, onboard dining, and high-end service akin to business-class air travel.
Private operators have also begun chartering exclusive coaches for luxury group tours, corporate events, and safari-themed rail experiences.
Using SGR offers you with outstanding services, a traveller can ever crave for. You’ll enjoy:
- Onboard comfort with reclining leather seats, wide windows, and A/C
- Scenic ride through Nairobi National Park and Tsavo
- Access to Diani, Lamu, and Watamu via coastal transfers
2. Tanzania: The TAZARA Dream
The Tanzania-Zambia Railway (TAZARA) line offers one of Africa’s most iconic train experiences. Though not yet fully modernized, parts of the route between Dar es Salaam and Mbeya are being revitalized with premium cabins, vintage-style dining cars, and improved safety.
More exciting is the emergence of private tour operators now offering luxury rail safaris across Southern Tanzania, connecting national parks like Selous and Ruaha with stopovers at historical towns and cultural hubs.
Highlights of services that you can enjoy when you choose to travel by TAZARA Train are not but limited to:
- Heritage-rich carriages with colonial charm
- Views of wildlife, tea plantations, and baobab-dotted plains
- Possibility of pairing with Zanzibar luxury escapes
3. Uganda: Revival of the Royal Line
Uganda, once home to elegant trains during the British era, is reviving its rail network with plans for both domestic and cross-border routes. Last year, 2024, the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) announced the upcoming launch of a luxury tourist train linking Kampala to Jinja, and eventually to Kisumu in Kenya.
Designed to promote regional tourism, the train will feature modern lounges, panoramic viewing decks, and cultural storytelling onboard, showcasing Uganda’s heritage as the “Pearl of Africa.”
Luxury services you can enjoy if you opt to use this train services include:
- Lake Victoria and Nile River views
- Culinary experiences with Ugandan cuisine onboard
- Planned itineraries with stopovers at Sipi Falls and Source of the Nile
Given the fact that tourism is one big way East African countries boost their economy, by receiving large number of visitors coming to enjoy the historical, and nature of landscape in the region, luxury train tourism, therefore, is a market that needs to be expanded
Industry insiders say the growing demand for slow, scenic, and sustainable travel is fueling East Africa’s rail renaissance. Tour operators are increasingly pairing luxury train journeys with:
- Bush-to-beach safaris (e.g., Nairobi to Tsavo to Diani)
- Cross-border heritage routes (e.g., Arusha–Kampala–Kisumu) and;
- Exclusive charters for honeymoons, weddings, or corporate events
With rail investment part of East Africa’s regional integration plans, the future is promising for travelers who want elegance with their adventure.
Why Choose Luxury Rail in East Africa?
Panoramic Views: You will be able to see landscapes you’d miss by air or road, Cultural Immersion: You will be able to meet locals, learn stories, and enjoy onboard entertainment. You will also enjoy Eco-Friendly Travel: Lower carbon footprint compared to flights as well as Unhurried Luxury: Savor every mile in comfort and style
