The Blue Train in South Africa is one of the grand train journeys of the world. It provides a rare experience reserved for those who want to indulge in slow-travel and luxury service and facilities.
Today travel often involves rushing from one destination to the other but on The Blue Train in South Africa you get to cover the beautiful expanse of South Africa at a leisurely pace aboard one of the world's most luxurious trains. The travel experience is twofold, including both the train experience itself and the sights that you will see along the way...
The Blue Train in South Africa - The Experience
As The Blue Train in South Africa meanders through the African landscape you will be pampered by impeccable service which includes a private butler. The special attention to detail begins in the pre-departure lounge in Cape Town or Pretoria where you can sip on a cocktail while your luggage is checked-in. Original art work adorns the train walls, the public areas have large windows for viewing the passing countryside, there is a gentleman's club, library and top quality furnishings.
The luxury suites include a large bathtub, TV, radio, movies, CD player and DVD player. You can also watch The Blue Train in South Africa's progress through the driver's-eye-view camera. The linen, goose down duvet, gold fittings, marble floors, slippers and bathrobe are of the standard of a 5 star hotel.
The Bar onboard The Blue Train in South Africa
The meals are all prepared onboard by top chefs and are served with some of South Africa's finest wines. To really get you in the colonial mood guests are required to "dress" for dinner. Prices include all meals, high tea, drinks alcoholic and non-alcoholic - and all off-train excursions. Talking of excursions, on the Pretoria-Cape Town route you can take an excursion to Kimberley and on the Cape Town-Pretoria route stop at Matjiesfontein.
The Blue Train in South Africa - What will you see along the way
The Blue Train can be charted for other routes but the regular routes travel from Pretoria to Cape Town passing through Klerkdorp, Bloemhof, Kimberley, De Aar, Beaufort, Laingsburg, Matjiesfontein, Worcester, Wellington and finally reaching Cape Town. The Blue Train in South Africa passes through the landscape of the Witwatersrand, huge expanses of wheat fields and sunflowers, fruit farms, the Karoo thirstlands, past the Hex River Valley, through the Hex River mountain range and Hex River Tunnel and on to the wine lands of the Cape.
Luxury Suites onboard The Blue Train in South Africa
The Pretoria-Cape Town route has an excursion to Kimberley, the city made famous for its diamonds. Here you can stand on the edge of The Big Hole, the world's largest man made hole. Fortune seekers gathered here in the 1800's during the diamond rush and the city didn't disappoint, in all The Big Hole produced 14 million carats of diamonds. Visitors will visit the Kimberley Railway Museum and be taken on a historic tram to the diamond Open Mine Museum where they will tour the mine. They can also see the Diamond Die and could even win a diamond. Before leaving Kimberley guests enjoy a glass of sherry engraved with The Blue Train logo, the glass is a memento for guests to keep!
On the Cape Town-Pretoria route the excursion offered is in Matjiesfontein, once again the guests will receive a glass of sherry and be able to keep the engraved glass as a keepsake. The excursion takes guests through the town's main street which is lined with original Victorian buildings and lampposts. The town seems to have remained as it was in colonial days. Guests enjoy high tea in the Lord Milner Hotel and visit the Antique Car Museum. On the edge of town you can look out over the Karoo. A game drive at Aquila Game Lodge is also offered to interested travellers.