South Africa Rail Experience

Cape Point

We will visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, world-renowned for their magnificent setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain and for their varied and beautiful displays of Cape flora. We travel next to Hout Bay, where a large fleet of colourful fishing vessels gives this bustling, attractive resort its character, and visit Mariner’s Wharf where fresh seafood is a speciality. Built between 1915 and 1922 and recently upgraded, Chapman’s Peak Drive is one of the most spectacular sea cliff routes in the world. We wind our way along this scenic road to Simon’s Town, a charming coastal town and safe harbour for visiting sailing ships during the winter months when Table Bay can be treacherous.  Discovered by Simon van der Stel, Simon’s Town became a naval base in 1814 and today is home to the SA Navy. A visit to the Boulder’s Penguin Colony a short distance away is also included in today’s tour. The colony has grown since 1983 when a pair of African Penguins was spotted on Foxy Beach at Boulders. This day will not be complete without a visit to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve which Sir Francis Drake called “the fairest cape in the whole circumference of the earth”. The Nature reserve is situated at the southern tip of the peninsula.

(Full day. Distance travelled: 150 km)

Cape Town City Tour

This exciting city tour commences with an exhilarating cable car ascent of Table Mountain (weather permitting and at guests’ own cost). Both the ride and the summit provide breathtaking views over the city and its beaches. Our tour continues with a walk through the Company Gardens and a visit to the Bo-Kaap Museum. Arriving as political refugees and slaves during the 17th century, the Malays made Bo-Kaap their home almost two centuries after emancipation.  On our way to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, we stop at Diamond Works, where we follow a tour of the diamond cutting studio. Guests can choose where amongst the many bistros, bars and restaurants at The V&A Waterfront for lunch (own account). The Waterfront is a vibrant development that has brought new life to the old harbour of the Dutch East India Company in Table Bay. After lunch, we will drive through District 6, an area which by 1900 was home to the largest group of people then referred to as “Malay”, “mixed and other” or “coloured”. Our tour ends with a visit to the Castle of Good Hope. This pentagonal fortification with stone walls between the bastions of 150m length and 12m height replaced a small clay and timber fort built as a maritime replenishment station for the ships of the Dutch East India Company by Commander Jan van Riebeeck in 1652. The Castle of Good Hope is the oldest surviving building in South Africa.

(Full day. Distance travelled: 100 km)

Two Oceans Aquarium

The Aquarium is located at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and offers an exciting insight into the indigenous fresh and seawater creatures of South Africa.

Robben Island Tour

For nearly 400 years Robben Island was a place of banishment, exile, isolation and imprisonment. During the Apartheid years Robben Island became internationally known as the place of incarceration of Nelson Mandela and other heroes of the struggle..

Helicopter Flight

VVarious helicopter flight options are offered departing from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and starting from only 15 minutes’ duration (including only the City Bowl) to half an hour or longer (also including the Cape Peninsula)

Table Mountain

Experience an awesome ride up Table Mountain in a cable car. The view from the top of Table Mountain is spectacular. This activity is weather dependent.

Day 01 - The train remains stationary at Cape Town station for the night.
An evening shuttle service will be available to take passengers to/from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.

Historic Heart of the Winelands

We travel through the Huguenot Tunnel to Paarl, named after the huge granite dome of rock overlooking the town. From here we drive to the heart of the winelands, to Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in South Africa. After a lunch break (guests’ own account) we continue our journey over the Hellshoogte Pass through a landscape of fruit farms, Cape Dutch houses and vineyards. In Franschhoek (literally meaning "French Corner") we visit the Huguenot Memorial, which commemorates the 1688 settlement of the French Huguenots who fled religious persecution in France. In the late afternoon, the drive to Worcester offers splendid views over more picturesque vineyards, plantations and rugged peaks. One wine tasting is included in this excursion

(Full day. Distance travelled: 275 km)

Scenic Mountain Passes and Hermanus

We travel on the coastal road past Gordon's Bay and Betty's Bay towards Hermanus, once a renowned fish market and whaling station. The whale hunts here were stopped by international treaty in 1935. The WWF includes Hermanus in its list of 12 best whale-viewing sites in the world, but it tops the list when it comes to land based whale watching from the town’s natural cliffs. In season between July and November each year whales can be viewed from as little as 5 metres away. In the afternoon we travel over the scenic mountain passes of Rooihoogte and Floorshoogte and via the Overberg towns of Villiersdorp and Botrivier. From here we travel to Worcester. One wine tasting is included in this excursion.

(Full day. Distance travelled: 420 km)

Whale Watching Boat Cruise (Hermanus)

Every year from around May to December watch the magnificent Southern Right Whales within 50 meters of the boat.
(This Optional Extra can be combined with Option 2 above and is weather dependent)

Guests meet the train at Worcester. The train departs for Kimberley over night.

Kimberley After breakfast guests embark on buses for a drive through the city of Kimberley well know for the discovery of diamonds and as the home of the De Beers Company. Highlights in Kimberley include a visit to the Big Hole Mine Museum, William Humphrey Art Gallery and the Macgregor House War Museum. Guests stop for lunch before they head to Bloemfontein where they join the train en route to Ladysmith.

Bloemfontein After breakfast guests remain onboard the train as it journeys to Bloemfontein. On arrival guests have lunch at the Waterfront (guests’ own account) before they embark on buses for the tour of Bloemfontein capital of the Free State province and also known as the Rose City. Highlights include a visit to the Women’s Memorial at the Anglo-Boer War Museum which commemorates the 27 000 women and children who died in concentration camps. Naval Hill presents beautiful panoramic views of the city.

(Afternoon; distance travelled: 50 km)

Bloemfontein After breakfast guest embark on a 2 hour drive from Kimberley to Bloemfontein. On arrival we tour the Women’s Memorial at the Anglo-Boer War Museum, which commemorates the 27 000 women and children who died in concentration camps. The Museum itself is a graphic depiction of the hardship endured by all during the period of conflict. A drive through Bloemfontein, capital of the Free State province and also known as the Rose City, follows. Our lunch stop is at the Loch Logan Waterfront, next to the city’s newly renovated stadium, one of the venues for matches during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Lunch is for guests’ own account. In the afternoon we drive up onto Naval Hill which offers unrivalled panoramic views of the city. We end the day at the former State President’s residence “Olivenhuis” which now houses an extensive collection of South African art. The gardens offer a relaxing atmosphere in which to spend a little time before we return to the train.

(Full day. Distance travelled: 330 km)

Guests rejoin the train in Bloemfontein and travel overnight to Ladysmith.

1. Battlefields Trace the course of the Anglo Boer War at the Siege Museum and on local battle sites including Spioenkop. Other highlights include Wagon Hill, where both British and Boers suffered heavy losses and whose site was proclaimed a National Monument in 1938. Visitors also gain an insight into the early lives of Winston Churchill and Ghandi.

(Full day. Distance travelled: 250 km)

2. Midlands Meander The famous Midlands Meander in KwaZulu-Natal is a unique mix of more than 160 places to eat, drink, sleep, shop, play and generally enjoy this corner of South Africa. Started many years ago as a voluntary collection of crafters, who wondered if they could attract visitors to leave the beaten track to explore their studios and galleries, the Midlands Meander has grown into an eclectic and fascinating mix of arts and crafts and world-class restaurants offering a wide range of sporting, environmental and historical pursuits. Physical, culinary or cerebral, there is no limit to the experiences you will find here. Among your stops will be a visit to the Howick Falls as well as beer tasting in a Nottingham Road micro brewery.

(Full day. Distance travelled: 100 km)

3. Southern Drakensberg Birding Trail We travel through the Midlands of KwaZulu Natal and into the foothills of the Drakensberg to Bulwer in the Southern Drakensberg region. We will then do a guided walk in Pursers Bush, an indigenous forest dominated by Yellowwood trees, habitat of the rare Cape Parrot (350 of the 800 left in the world live here). Many different bird species, such as the sakabula, bald Ibis and the grey crown crane can be spotted here. Lunch will be served along the board walk (for guests’ own account) in the company of the unofficial mayor and long time resident of Bulwer.

(Full day. Distance travelled: 250 km)

4. Drakensberg Hiking Trail The hike takes place in the Cobham region of the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg World Heritage Site. Shortly after starting out you will walk through a Mcheche forest, the last of the woody plants as you head towards the tree line. En route your guide will point out flowering plants in season. Guests can marvel at the Clarence Sandstone Formations and can begin to get an understanding of the geology of the area, keeping an eye out for the indigenous wildlife. Guests make their way along a clear mountain stream to Boundary Rocky, where Captain Allen Gardiner and Wagon Master Dick King had to abandon their mission of finding a direct route through the mountains from Durban to Cape Town. Here you have the opportunity to view bushman rock art and swim in the pools. On the return journey we stop off at the bushman’s workshop, where materials were collected and primitive tools were made, and visit Allan’s Shelter where mysteriously the paints are on the ceiling, and after a short walk you’re back at the reception area having completed a 8.5 kilometer hike.

(Full day. Distance travelled: 300 km)

NB: YOUR PASSPORT IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ACTIVITY.

Sani Pass / Lesotho

Our drivers will take you to the town of Underberg where you will change vehicles to ascend the magnificent Sani Pass, the only road link between KwaZulu-Natal and the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. Starting at 1540 metres above sea level you will follow the deep valley incised by the Mkhomazana River to reach the summit at 2873 m. Almost 1000 m of the climb are during the final 8 km of the ascent. After reaching the summit, we will turn around for the spectacular descent back down the Pass.

(Full day. Distance travelled: 350 km)

Guests rejoin the train in Nottingham Road and travel overnight to Durban.

1. Durban City Tour

Durban is South Africa’s third largest city and enjoys great importance due to its industry and extensive sea port. Thanks to the subtropical climate and the long stretches of beautiful beaches, large numbers of “uplanders” retreat to Durban in winter. An orientation tour of the city will allow you to see a good mix of old and new, African, Orient and the West. We will drive along the Golden Mile promenade with its many hotels and restaurants. A visit to the Victoria Market will also be included. At the end of the morning we will drop you at either the Botanical Gardens or at uShaka Marine World, Africa’s largest marine theme park, at either of which you can have lunch and spend \ the afternoon (all entrances and lunch for your own account). Pick up will be at a pre arranged time later in the afternoon.

(Morning. Distance travelled: 50 km)

2. Durban Spiritual Tour

Guests depart for Mariannhill where they will be given a guided tour of the monastery and where they will be able to enjoy some time in this beautiful, tranquil setting. This is followed by a visit to the Hari Krishna “Temple of Understanding”, before returning to Durban for lunch (guests’ own account). We visit Phoenix, the spiritual settlement established by Mahatma Gandhi, before returning again to Durban, the centre of Indian culture in South Africa, with its vast array of Hindu, Sufi and Muslim temples. You will see the Juma Musjid, the largest mosque in South Africa, whose twin minarets are a striking city feature, as well as the most opulent Hindu structure in the Southern Hemisphere - the Kendra Hindu Temple and Community Centre.

(Full day. Distance travelled: 150 km)

3. Umhlanga Rocks Beach Day

Spend a day on the beach, or, if you choose, we could take you shopping in the late afternoon at the nearby Gateway Shopping Centre, before returning to pick up the beach-goers and return to the train after a laid-back day in the sun.

(Full day of relaxation. Distance travelled: 60 km)

The train departs for EmpangeniStation in Zululand.

Township Tour

Our visit includes townships within the Nelson Mandela Metropole, which have become the pulsating beat of an emerging united city. This half-day tour will lead you to a better understanding of the "New South Africa".
(Afternoon activity combinable with # 2 above; distance travelled: 80 km).

The train departs in the early evening from Port Elizabeth to Bloemfontein, overnight onboard.

Zulu Cultural Experience and iSimangaliso Wetland Park - St Lucia

In the morning guests will enjoy a guided tour of a Zulu cultural village, followed by the St Lucia Wetlands, declared a World Heritage Site. In the afternoon we will take a cruise on the St Lucia Estuary, looking for hippos, crocodiles, and a large variety of water birds.

(Full day. Distance travelled: 180 km)

St Lucia boat based whale tours

Every year from around June to December these enormous mammals visit our coastal waters. This is a great opportunity not to be missed as from just 50 metres from the boat you can feel the wind rushing out of the lungs of Southern Right and Humpback Whales as they spray a fine vapour of salt water into the air.

(Please note that the ski boat is launched from the beach so this activity is not recommended for elderly guests).
(Afternoon activity from St Lucia)

Guests return to the train in the afternoon.

Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park

An early departure to the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve will get us into the park to experience wildlife magic. The park lies in the heart of Zululand where ancient trails lead through the thorn veld and along the mighty rivers of Africa’s oldest established wilderness area. Once the exclusive royal hunting ground of King Shaka, it is a tapestry of natural and cultural history. The park is a treasure store of species including lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, kudu, bushbuck, cheetah, hyena and many others. Over 300 bird species have been recorded here. Game drives will be conducted in our vehicles.

(Full day. Distance travelled: 350 km)

Guests meet the train at Golela station. Please note that guests will go through immigration before they get back to the train. Guests will need to take their passports with them for the day.

The Train Departs for Swaziland, Mpaka Station.

Swaziland

NB: YOU WILL NEED YOUR PASSPORT FOR TODAY’S TOUR.

This tour in Swaziland will introduce you to everyday life in Africa’s smallest kingdom. After the passport formalities at Mpaka station, guests will embark on buses which will take them through Manzini where they will experience the Swazi market, a hive of activity displaying a wide variety of skillfully crafted woodcarvings, colourful textiles and superb basketwork, for which Swazis are renowned. After the market visit we head to the Ezulwini Valley to visit the colorful candle craft market Swazi Candles. Guests will then take a drive passing the Ludzidzini royal residence to the Swazi National Museum with its exhibits of King Sobhuza. Guests stop for lunch at Mantenga Lodge (guests’ own account). After lunch we drive through the capital city Mbabane to the famous glassworks of Ngwenya. Following a drive in through the Komati River Valley with its panoramic views to Jeppes Reef border post, we exit Swaziland back into South Africa.

(Full day. Distance travelled: 280 km)

Guests rejoin the train at Kaapmuiden, South Africa. The train remains stationary at Kaapmuiden for the night.

Kruger National Park

The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience second to none. Its 2 million hectares are unrivalled in diversity of life forms and the park is a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques. The park is home to an impressive number of species including 336 species of trees, 49 species of fish, 34 species of amphibians, 114 species of reptiles, 507 species of birds and 147 species of mammals. Game drives will be conducted in our air-conditioned vehicles.

(Full day. Departure time depends on the season, as gates open and close with sunrise and sunset. Distance travelled: 220 km)

Open Vehicle Safari

Game drives are conducted in open safari vehicles, specifically designed to ensure safety as well as optimum game viewing. Guides have intimate knowledge of the fauna and flora. Lunch (guests’ own account) will be at one of the camps in the park. Game viewing continues for the remainder of the afternoon.

Protea Kruger Gate Lodge

You will be taken by your Shongololo guide to the lodge which is situated on the boundary of the Kruger National Park on the banks of the Sabie River. Check in and relax. Your guide will meet you and take you on an open vehicle game drive, returning at sunset, just before the gates close. This package includes an afternoon game drive, dinner and overnight at the lodge, an early morning game drive followed by breakfast. After breakfast, check out and continue on your game drive through the Kruger National Park, rejoining the train at approximately 16h30. (Bookings subject to availability)

Private Game Reserve

You will join the rest of the group for a morning game drive (in our air-conditioned vehicle) through the south of the Kruger National Park. Late morning (at around 11h00) you will be transferred to the luxury lodge, situated in a private game reserve, where a lunch will await you. After a siesta, followed by coffee and cake, you will depart on a sunset safari, in search of the Big Five. Encounters with all spheres of the eco-system, from the smallest insect to the mighty African elephant, are possible. After sundowner drinks in the bush you will return to the lodge, where a delightful dinner awaits you. Early the next morning (just before sunrise) you will be woken to depart on an open vehicle game drive to experience the African fauna at its most active. A mouth-watering breakfast will round off your experience, after which you will be taken back to the train. (Bookings subject to availability).

Mountain Lodge

Guests will be transferred to the Mountain Lodge in the late morning by the Shongololo Express guides. This area is well known for the rhino, elephant, leopard and buffalo that populate the area. This package also includes an afternoon game drive, dinner and an overnight at the lodge, an early morning game drive followed by breakfast. After breakfast, check out and continue on your drive through the Kruger National Park, rejoining the train and the rest of the group.

The train remains stationary at Kaapmudein for the night.

Panorama Route

In 1873 gold was discovered in the area around the quaint town of Pilgrim’s Rest, now a living museum and National Monument. The discovery attracted 1500 diggers and today, many of the restored miners’ houses serve as shops. Further along the escarpment we find the great Blyde River Canyon, a gorge 26 km in length and 800 m deep, carved from the face of the escarpment. The Three Rondavels, three huge rock spirals rising out of the far wall of the canyon and resembling African huts present an unforgettable sight. Bourke’s Luck Potholes are strange deep cylindrical cavities formed by river erosion and floodwater. From the vantage point of God’s Window we gaze across the sweeping landscape of the Lowveld, where subtle fragrances of the lower region rise to merge with the crisp winds of the Highveld.

(Full day. Distance travelled: 280 km)

Kruger National Park

The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience second to none. Its 2 million hectares are unrivalled in diversity of life forms and the park is a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques. The park is home to an impressive number of species including 336 species of trees, 49 species of fish, 34 species of amphibians, 114 species of reptiles, 507 species of birds and 147 species of mammals. Game drives will be conducted in our air-conditioned vehicles.

(Full day. Departure time depends on the season, as gates open and close with sunrise and sunset. Distance travelled: 220 km)

Sunrise Balloon Experience

Early morning pick-up and transfer to the balloon launch site where tea, coffee and biscuits will be served on arrival, followed by a scenic balloon flight of approximately one hour’s duration. Cape sparkling wine will be served upon landing followed by breakfast at a country lodge. You will meet the rest of the group at Sabie along the Panorama Route.
(This activity is weather dependent)

Guests rejoin the train at Nelspruit and the train departs for Johannesburg Boksburg East Yard.

Pretoria and Soweto

We will spend the morning in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa. We visit the Union Buildings designed by the famous colonial English architect, Sir Herbert Baker and completed in 1913 and which now house the offices of the President and his ministers. The buildings overlook the city towards the once fortified hills to the south. A grand bronze statue of “Oom Paul (Kruger)”, the patriarch president of the ZAR or old Transvaal Republic, surrounded by his Boer fighters, dominates Church Square, at the centre of the city. Before leaving the capital behind, we visit the Voortrekker Monument which commemorates the Great Trek of the 1830s. In the afternoon we travel to Soweto to visit the Hector Petersen Memorial, named after the first student to lose his life in the 1976 uprising against the Apartheid government.

(Full day. Distance travelled: 200 km)

Johannesburg and Soweto

Our day starts at Constitution Hill in Braamfontein in the centre of Johannesburg. This is the new home of the Constitutional Court and the site of Johannesburg’s notorious Old Fort Prison Complex, where many of South Africa’s leading political activists were detained. We then head onto the Newtown precinct to visit Museum Africa previously known as the market of Johannesburg. This is all part of the history of the “City of Gold”. This is followed by a lunch break (guests’ own account) in the suburb of Rosebank, where you can experience the multi-cultural Rainbow Nation in a modern, ethnocentric setting. Rosebank showcases a mix of first and third world cultures and arts and crafts from all over the African continent. In the afternoon, we travel to Soweto to experience the heartbeat of this township, comprising one million people and made famous by the laws of Apartheid. We pass the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the largest hospital in the southern hemisphere and also drive past the only street in Africa that once housed two Nobel Peace Laureates - Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. We visit the Hector Petersen Memorial, named after the first student to lose his life in the 1976 uprising against the Apartheid government.

(Full day. Distance travelled: 150 km)

The train remains stationary at Boksburg East Station

The Cradle of Humankind: Maropeng and Sterkfontein Caves

NB: This Tour departs the train at 09h30 (MIN 4 PAX).

The Cradle of Humankind development combines the Maropeng Visitor Centre and Sterkfontein Caves. Our visit will start at Maropeng (a Setswana word for “returning to the place of origin”), the visitor centre at the Cradle of Humankind. An exciting 4-billion-year journey through the elemental forces of water and ice, air, fire and earth is simulated on an underground lake. Visitors emerge at the beginning of the world after dipping through waterfalls and icebergs, into the eye of a storm, past erupting volcanoes and through the depths of the earth. The journey continues through an experience that highlights the history of our world and humankind as a species. Many original fossils are on display here. We continue with a visit to the Sterkfontein Caves, 10 km away and most famous for two world-renowned hominid finds, namely Mrs Ples in 1947 and Little Foot in 1997. Since excavations at the site first began, hundreds of hominid fossils as well as stone tools have been found here. The excavation of Little Foot and other fossils is an ongoing process at this still active fossil dig. The scientific exhibition here includes lifelike models of hominids as well as specific finds such as Mrs Ples, the Taung Child and Little Foot.

Lesedi Cultural Village

NB: This Tour departs the train at 09h30 (MIN 4 PAX).

We visit this multi-cultural African Village set among pristine bushveld and rocky hills. Experience the culture of five of South Africa’s major indigenous tribes: the Xhosa, Zulu, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele.
Lunch is included.

Apartheid Museum & The World of Beer

NB: This Tour departs the train at 11h00 (MIN 4 PAX).

Start the day by visiting the Apartheid Museum exhibiting a variety of photos, videos and other media dating back to the political regime in South Africa until 1994. The World of Beer situated in the heart of central Johannesburg makes a great lunch stop with a guided tour and beer tasting. The tour offers you a walk through time and how important beer as a staple diet is to the African continent. Lunch is for guests’ own account. The option includes the transfer, the entrance fee to the Apartheid Museum & the World of Beer guided tour with a tasting.

East Rand Mall or Emperors Palace

NB: This shuttle departs the train every hour on the hour & returns on every half hour starting from the train at 12h00 with the last bus departing the centre at 15h30 back to the train.

Emperors Palace is a mini Las Vegas here in Africa, with a modern shopping centre offering many shops and services including banking and ATMs. The centre also has a good selection of restaurants for lunch.

The Cradle of Humankind: Maropeng and Sterkfontein Caves

NB: This Tour departs the train at 09:30 (MIN 4 PAX).

The Cradle of Humankind comprises the Maropeng Visitor Centre and Sterkfontein Caves. Our visit will start at Maropeng (a Setswana word for “returning to the place of origin”), the visitor centre at the Cradle of Humankind. An exciting 4-billion-years journey through the elemental forces - water and ice, air, fire and earth - is simulated on an underground lake. One emerges at the beginning of the world after dipping through waterfalls and icebergs, into the eye of a storm, past erupting volcanoes and through the depths of the earth. The journey continues through an experience that highlights the history of our world and humankind as a species. Real fossils are also on display. We continue on for a visit to the Sterkfontein Caves, 10 km away, most famous for the two world-renowned hominid finds, namely Mrs Ples in 1947 and Little Foot in 1997. Since excavations at the site first began, hundreds of hominid fossils as well as stone tools have been found here. The excavation of Little Foot and other fossils is an ongoing process at this still active fossil dig. The scientific exhibition here includes lifelike models of hominids as well as specific finds such as Mrs Ples, the Taung Child and Little Foot.

Lesedi Cultural Village

NB: This Tour departs the train at 09:30 (MIN 4 PAX).

We visit this multi-cultural African Village set among pristine Bushveld and rocky hills. Experience the culture of five of South Africa’s major indigenous tribes: the Xhosa, Zulu, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele. Lunch is included.

Apartheid Museum & The World of Beer

NB: This Tour departs the train at 11:00 (MIN 4 PAX).

Start the day by visiting the Apartheid Museum exhibiting a variety of photos, videos and other media dating back to the political regime in South Africa until 1994. The World of Beer situated in the heart of central Johannesburg makes a great lunch stop with a guided tour and beer tasting. The tour offers you a walk through time and highlights how important beer as a staple diet is to the African continent. Lunch is for guests’ own account. The option includes the transfer, the entrance fee to the Apartheid Museum and the World of Beer guided tour with a tasting.

East Rand Mall or Emperors Palace

NB: This shuttle departs the train every hour on the hour & returns on every half hour, departing from the train at 12:00 & the last bus departs the centre at 15:30 back to the train.

Emperors Palace is a mini Las Vegas experience here in Africa and incorporates a modern shopping centre with many shops as well as banking services. The centre has a good selection of restaurants to choose from for lunch.

The train stays overnight in Boksburg.

Pretoria and Soweto

We will spend the morning in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa. We visit the Union Buildings, designed by the famous colonial English architect, Sir Herbert Baker, and completed in 1913 but which now house the offices of the President and his Ministers. The buildings overlook the city towards the once fortified hills to the south. A grand bronze statue of “Oom Paul (Kruger)”, the patriarch president of the ZAR or old Transvaal Republic, surrounded by his Boer fighters, dominates Church Square, central point of the city. Before leaving the capital behind, we visit the Voortrekker Monument that commemorates the “Great Trek” of the 1830s. In the afternoon we travel to Soweto to visit the Hector Petersen Memorial, named after one of the first students to be killed in the 1976 uprising against the Apartheid government. (Full day. Distance travelled. 265 km)

Johannesburg and Soweto

Our day starts at Constitution Hill in Braamfontein in the centre of Johannesburg. This is the new home of the Constitutional Court and the site of Johannesburg’s notorious Old Fort Prison Complex, where many of South Africa’s leading political activists were detained. We then head onto the Newtown precinct to visit Museum Africa previously known as the market of Johannesburg. This is all part of the history of the “City of Gold”. This is followed by a lunch break (guests’ own account) in the suburb of Rosebank, where you can experience the multi-cultural Rainbow Nation in a modern, ethnocentric setting. Rosebank shows you the mix of first and third world cultures and showcases arts and crafts from all over the African continent. In the afternoon, we travel to Soweto to experience the heartbeat of this township, comprising one million people and made famous by the Apartheid laws. We pass the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the largest hospital in the southern hemisphere and also drive past the only street in Africa that once housed two Nobel Peace Laureates, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. We visit the Hector Petersen Memorial, named after one of the first students to be killed in the 1976 uprising against the Apartheid government. (Full day. Distance travelled: 170 km)

The train travels overnight to Nelspruit.

Panorama Route

We visit the village of Pilgrim’s Rest, a living museum and National Monument. The discovery of gold in the area in 1873 attracted 1500 prospectors and today, many of the restored miners’ houses serve as shops. Further along the escarpment we find the great Blyde River Canyon, a gorge 26 km long and 800 m deep, carved from the face of the escarpment. The Three Rondavels present an unforgettable view of three huge rock spirals rising out of the far wall of the canyon, looking like African huts. Bourke’s Luck Potholes are strange deep cylindrical cavities formed by river erosion and floodwater. From the vantage point of God’s Window we gaze across sweeps of the Lowveld, where subtle fragrances of the lower region rise to merge with the crisp winds of the Highveld.
(Full day. Distance travelled: 370 km)

Kruger National Park

The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience second to none. Its 2 million hectares are unrivalled in their diversity of life forms and the park is a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques. The park is home to an impressive number of species, including 336 species of trees, 49 species of fish, 34 species of amphibians, 114 species of reptiles, 507 species of birds and 147 species of mammals, including the Big Five. Game drives will be conducted in our Shongololo buses.
(Full day. Departure time depends on the season, as gates open and close with sunrise and sunset. Distance travelled: 220 km)

Open Vehicle Safari

Game drives are conducted in open safari vehicles, specifically designed to ensure safety as well as optimum game viewing. Guides have intimate knowledge of the fauna and flora. Lunch (guests’ own account) will be at one of the camps in the park. Game viewing continues for the remainder of the afternoon.

Protea Kruger Gate Lodge

You will be taken by your Shongololo guide to the lodge which is situated on the boundary of the Kruger National Park on the banks of the Sabie River. Check in and relax. Your guide will meet you and take you on an open vehicle game drive, returning at sunset, just before the gates close. This package includes an afternoon game drive, dinner and overnight at The Lodge, an early morning game drive followed by breakfast. After breakfast, check out and continue on your game drive through the Kruger National Park, rejoining the train at approximately 16h30.
(Bookings subject to availability)

Private Game Reserve

You will join the rest of the group for a morning game drive (in our air-conditioned vehicle) through the south of the Kruger National Park. Late morning (at around 11h00) you will be transferred to the luxury lodge, situated in a private game reserve, where a lunch will await you. After a siesta, followed by coffee and cake, you will depart on a sunset safari, in search of the Big Five. Encounters with all spheres of the eco-system, from the smallest insect to the mighty African elephant, are possible. After sundowner drinks in the bush you will return to the lodge, where a delightful dinner awaits you. Early the next morning (just before sunrise) you will be woken to depart on an open vehicle game drive to experience the African fauna at its most active. A mouth-watering breakfast will round off your experience, after which you will be taken back to the train.
(Bookings subject to availability).

Mountain Lodge

Guests will be transferred to the mountain lodge in the late morning by the Shongololo Express guides. This area is well known for the rhino, elephant, leopard and buffalo that populate the area. This package also includes an afternoon game drive, dinner and an overnight at the lodge, an early morning game drive followed by breakfast. After breakfast, check out and continue on your drive through the Kruger National Park, rejoining the train and the rest of the group.

Guests return to the train in Nelspruit and in the evening the train moves to Kaapmuiden to overnight.

Kruger National Park

The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience second to none. Its 2 million hectares are unrivalled in their diversity of life forms and the park is a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques. The park is home to an impressive number of species, including 336 species of trees, 49 species of fish, 34 species of amphibians, 114 species of reptiles, 507 species of birds and 147 species of mammals Including the Big Five. Game drives will be conducted in our air-conditioned vehicles. (Full day. Departure time depends on the season, as gates open and close with sunrise and sunset. Distance travelled: 220 km)

Open Vehicle Safari

Game drives are conducted in open safari vehicles, specifically designed to ensure safety as well as optimum game viewing. Guides have intimate knowledge of the fauna and flora. Lunch (guests’ own account) will be at one of the rest camps in the park. Game viewing continues for the remainder of the afternoon.

Guests rejoin the train in Kaapmuiden. The train remains stationary in Kaapmuiden.

Swaziland

NB: YOU WILL NEED YOUR PASSPORT FOR TODAY’S TOUR.

This tour through Swaziland will introduce you to everyday life in Africa’s smallest kingdom. The day’s drive will commence from Kaapmuiden to the Jeppes Reef border post. After the passport formalities, continue the tour through the Komati River Valley with its panoramic views, on to the famous glassworks of Ngwenya. The drive now takes us through the capital city Mbabane to the Swazi National Museum with the exhibits of King Sobhuza followed by a lunch stop at Mantenga Lodge (guest’s own account). In the afternoon we drive through the Ezulwini Valley passing the Ludzidzini Royal Residence to the colourful candle craft market Swazi Candles. Heading east the road takes us to Manzini where guests will experience the Swazi market, a hive of activity displaying a wide variety of skillfully crafted woodcarvings, colourful textiles and superb basketwork for which Swazis are renowned. We then rejoin the train at Mpaka station, presenting ourselves to immigration officials before boarding the train. (Full day. Distance travelled: 280 km)

Rejoin the train in Mpaka. The train travels overnight to Golela.

Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park

An early departure to the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve will get us into the park to experience wildlife magic. The park lies in the heart of Zululand where ancient trails lead through the thorn veld and along the mighty rivers of Africa’s oldest established wilderness area. Once the exclusive royal hunting ground of King Shaka, it is a tapestry of natural and cultural history. The park is a treasure store of species including lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, kudu, bushbuck, cheetah, hyena and many others. Over 300 bird species have been recorded here. Game drives will be conducted in our vehicles.
(Full day. Distance travelled: 250 km)

Guests rejoin the train in Empangeni. The train remains stationary for the night.

Zulu Cultural Experience and iSimangaliso Wetland Park - St Lucia

In the morning guests will enjoy a guided tour of a Zulu cultural village. After the tour, guests will depart to visit the St Lucia Wetlands, a World Heritage Site, where we will take a cruise on the St Lucia Estuary in the afternoon, looking for hippos, crocodiles, and a large variety of water birds. (Full day. Distance travelled: 200 km)

St Lucia Boat Based Whale Tours

Every year from about June to December these large mammals visit our coastal waters. This is a great opportunity not to be missed. From just 50 metres from the boat you can feel the wind rushing out of the huge lungs of Southern Right and Humpback Whales as they spray a fine vapour of salt water into the air.

(Please note that the ski boat is launched from the beach so this activity is not recommended for elderly guests).

(Afternoon activity from St Lucia)

Guests return to the train at Empangeni. The train travels overnight to Durban

Durban City Tour

Durban is South Africa’s third largest city and enjoys great importance due to its industry and extensive port. Thanks to the subtropical climate and the long stretches of beautiful beaches, large numbers of “inlanders” retreat to Durban in winter. An orientation tour of the city will allow you to see a good mix of old and new, East and West with a touch of Africa. We will drive along the Golden Mile promenade where numerous hotels and restaurants are situated and visit the Victoria Market. At the end of the morning guests can be dropped at either the Botanical Gardens or at uShaka Marine World, Africa’s largest marine theme park, where you can have lunch and spend your afternoon (all entrances and lunch for guests’ own account). You will be picked up again at an arranged time later in the afternoon. (Morning. Distance travelled: 50 km)

Durban Spiritual Tour

Guests depart for Mariannhill to visit the monastery for a guided tour and to spend time in this beautiful, tranquil setting. This is followed by a short visit to the Hari Krishna “Temple of Understanding”, before returning to the city for lunch (guests’ own account). We visit Phoenix, the spiritual settlement created by Mahatma Gandhi, before returning to Durban, the centre of Indian culture in South Africa, with its vast array of Hindu, Sufi and Muslim temples. You will see the Juma Musjid, the largest mosque in South Africa, whose twin minarets are a striking city feature, as well as the most opulent Hindu structure in the Southern Hemisphere - the Kendra Hindu Temple and Community Centre. (Full day. Distance travelled: 150 km)

Umhlanga Rocks Beach Day

Spend a day on the beach, or if you choose, we could take you shopping in the late afternoon at the nearby Gateway Shopping Centre, before returning to pick up the beach-goers and return to the train after a laid-back day in the sun. (Full day of relaxation. Distance travelled: 60 km)

Guests return to the train in Durban and the train travels overnight to Nottingham Road.

Battlefields

One is able to trace the course of the Anglo Boer War by visiting the Siege Museum as well as sites of famous battles such as Spioenkop. Other highlights include Wagon Hill, where British and Boers both suffered heavy losses and whose site was proclaimed a National Monument in 1938. Visitors also gain insight into the early lives of Winston Churchill and Ghandi.
(Full day. Distance travelled: 250 km)

Midlands Meander

The famous Midlands Meander in KwaZulu-Natal is a unique mix of more than 160 places to eat, drink, sleep, shop, play and generally have fun. Started many years ago as a voluntary collection of crafters, who wondered if they could attract visitors to leave the beaten track and explore their studios and galleries, the Midlands Meander has grown into an eclectic and fascinating mix of arts and crafts, world-class restaurants and homely comforts. It offers a wide range of sporting, environmental and historical pursuits. Physical, culinary or cerebral, there is no limit to the experiences you will find here. Among your stops will be a visit to the Howick Falls as well as beer tasting (Pickled Pig, Pie Eyed Possum, Whistling Weasel) at the Nottingham Road Micro Brewing Company.
(Full day. Distance travelled: 100 km)

Southern Drakensberg Birding Trail

We travel through the Midlands of Kwa Zulu-Natal and into the foothills of the Drakensberg to Bulwer in the Southern Drakensberg region. We will then do a guided walk in Pursers Bush, an indigenous forest dominated by yellowwood trees, and habitat of the rare Cape Parrot (350 of the 800 left in the world live here). Many different bird species, such as the sakabula, bald Ibis and grey crown crane could be spotted here. Lunch will be served along the board walk (for guests’ own account) in the company of the unofficial mayor and long time resident of Bulwer.
(Full day. Distance travelled: 250 km)

Drakensberg Hiking Trail

The hike takes place in the Cobham region of the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg World Heritage Site. Shortly after starting out you will walk through a Mcheche forest, the last of the woody plants, as you head towards the tree line. En route your guide will point out the flora of the area. Stop and marvel at the Clarence Sandstone Formations and begin to get an understanding of the geology of the area, at the same time keeping an eye out for the wildlife. You make your way along a clear mountain stream to Boundary Rocky, where Captain Allen Gardiner and Wagon Master Dick King had to abandon their mission of finding a direct route through the mountains from Durban to Cape Town. Here you have the opportunity to view bushman rock art and swim in the pools. On the return journey we stop of at the Bushman’s workshop, where materials were collected and primitive tools made, as well as Allan’s Shelter where mysteriously the paints are on the ceiling. After a short walk, you’re back at the reception area having completed an 8.5 kilometer hike.
(Full day. Distance travelled: 300 km)

Sani Pass / Lesotho

Note: Your passport is required for this activity.

Our vehicles will take you to the town of Underberg from where you will board other vehicles for the ascent up the magnificent Sani Pass. Starting at 1540 metres above sea level you will follow the deep valley incised by the Mkhomazana River summit at 2873 m - with almost 1000 m climbed in the last 8 km of your trip. This is the only road link between KwaZulu-Natal and the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. After reaching the summit, travel a little way into Lesotho to the village of Skierring, visit one of the family dwellings and sample the traditional bread and beer of these hardy mountain people. After a packed lunch we will turn around for the spectacular descent and return to Underberg.
(Full day. Distance travelled: 350 km)

Guests rejoin the train in Ladysmith, during the night the train travels to Bloemfontein.

Bloemfontein

After breakfast guests embark on buses and tour Bloemfontein. Guests visit the Women’s Memorial at the Anglo-Boer War Museum, the monument a reminder of life in the concentration camps and commemorating the 27 000 women and children who died in these camps. The museum shows graphically the hardship endured by all. An orientation drive follows through Bloemfontein, also known as the Rose City, and the capital of the Free State province. Our lunch stop is at the Loch Logan Waterfront (guests’ own account). After lunch guests take a drive to Kimberley to rejoin the train.

Kimberley

After breakfast guests embark on buses from Bloemfontein for a drive to Kimberley. Highlights in Kimberley include a visit to the Big Hole Mine Museum, William Humphrey Art Gallery and the Macgregor House War Museum. Guests will have lunch in Kimberley at own account. Return to meet the train at Kimberley station.

Kimberley

We depart Bloemfontein and after breakfast guests remain onboard the train as it journeys to Kimberley. Highlights in Kimberley include a visit to the Big Hole Mine Museum, William Humphrey Art Gallery and the Macgregor House War Museum. Guests stop for lunch before they head to Kimberley where they will be joining the train en route to Worcester.

(Afternoon. Distance travelled: 250 km)

The train travels overnight to Worcester.

Historic Heart of the Winelands

Our day starts with a drive to Franschhoek via Villiersdorp and the Franschhoek Pass, which offers splendid views over vineyards, plantations and rugged peaks. In Franschhoek (literally meaning “French Corner”) we visit the Huguenot Memorial, commemorating the 1688 settlement of the French Huguenots here after fleeing religious persecution in France. We continue our journey over the Hellshoogte Pass through a landscape of fruit farms, Cape Dutch houses and vineyards. In Stellenbosch, the second oldest town in the country, situated in the heart of the Winelands, we enjoy our lunch break (guests’ own account). In the afternoon we drive to Paarl, named after the huge granite dome of rock overlooking the town. One wine tasting is included in this excursion.
(Full day. Distance travelled: 260 km)

Scenic Mountain Passes and Hermanus

We travel over the scenic mountain passes of Rooihoogte and Floorshoogte and via the Overberg towns of Villiersdorp and Botrivier to Hermanus, once a renowned fish market and whaling station. The whale hunts were stopped by international treaty in 1935. During the whale season (roughly from July to November each year) the natural cliffs allow for whales to be seen from as close as 5 metres away. The WWF includes Hermanus in its list of 12 best whale-viewing sites in the world, but it tops the list when it comes to land based whale watching. In the afternoon we travel on the coastal road past Betty’s Bay and onto Clarence Drive towards the Mother City to meet the train. One wine tasting is included in this excursion.
(Full day. Distance travelled: 280 km)

Whale Watching Boat Cruise (Hermanus)

Every year from about July to November watch the magnificent Southern Right Whales within 50 meters from the boat. (Can be combined with Option 2 above and is weather dependent)

In the morning the train travels from Worcester to Cape Town station where the guests join the train and overnight.

Cape Point

We will visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, which are world-renowned for the beauty and diversity of the Cape flora and for their magnificent setting against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain. The estate of 528 hectares supports a diverse fynbos flora and natural forest. This is followed by a visit to Hout Bay, where a large fleet of colourful fishing vessels enhance the bustling ambience of this attractive resort. Fresh seafood is a speciality at Mariner’s Wharf. Chapman’s Peak Drive, built between 1915 and 1922 and recently upgraded, is one of the most spectacular sea cliff routes in the world. We follow this drive to Simon’s Town, discovered by Simon van der Stel and used as a safe haven for ships during the winter months when Table Bay was too treacherous. A charming little coastal town, it became a naval base in 1814 and today is home to the SA Navy. A visit to the Boulder’s Penguin Colony, where in 1983 a pair of African Penguins was spotted on Foxy Beach forms part of today’s itinerary. In 1985 they began to lay eggs, since which the colony has grown rapidly, increasing initially at about 60% a year. By 1997 there were 2 350 adult birds. They are remarkably untroubled by people and Boulders is the only place in the world where one can actually swim amongst the penguins. This day will not be complete without a visit to the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. Sir Francis Drake called it “the fairest cape in the whole circumference of the earth”, yet many vessels, wrecked by the turbulent seas, have found their resting-place along this rocky coastline. The Nature Reserve is situated at the southern tip of the peninsula and its 7 675 hectares are filled with priceless indigenous flora and fauna, some 2 700 species of indigenous plants and over 250 species of birds as well as troops of baboons and many species of antelope.
(Full day. Distance travelled: 180 km)

Cape Town City Tour

Our city tour will commence with an exhilarating cable car ascent of Table Mountain (weather permitting and at your own cost). It provides breathtaking views over the city and its beaches. The panorama stretches from Table Bay to False Bay and around to the Hottentots Holland Mountains. The mountain is home to over 1 500 species of plants, many of which are found nowhere else on earth. Our city tour continues with a walk through the Company Gardens, followed by a visit to the Bo-Kaap Museum. The first Malays arrived in the Cape as political refugees and slaves during the 17th century and nearly two centuries after emancipation, these Islamic people moved into the area known today as the Bo-Kaap, building mosques with picturesque minarets and their own style Georgian houses with Dutch influence. One of the oldest Cape Town buildings houses a museum furnished as a Muslim house of the 19th century and documenting the history of the Cape Malays. On our way to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, we will stop at Diamond Works, where you will follow a tour of the diamond cutting studio, a jewellery manufacturing workshop, a jewellery design studio as well as a gemmological laboratory. Our lunch stop (guests’ own account) will be at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, a development that has brought new life to the old harbour of the Dutch East India Company in Table Bay. The complex offers shops, craft markets, restaurants, taverns, cinemas, theatres as well as delightful views over the harbour. In the afternoon we will drive through District 6. By 1900 the largest group of people then referred to as “Malay”, “Mixed and other” or “Coloured” lived in poor conditions here, yet the area was vibrant and full of colour with busy streets and vivacious lifestyles. Various religions and cultural heritages flourished and mingled. In the 1940s the Apartheid government removed the residents and most of the buildings. Today the city still grapples with the problem of what to do with this valuable real estate, but also with how to deal with the strong emotions which still charge the issue. We end our city tour with a visit to the Castle of Good Hope, the oldest surviving building in South Africa. This pentagonal fortification replaced a small clay and timber fort built by Commander Jan van Riebeeck in 1652 as a maritime replenishment station for the ships of the Dutch East India Company. The stone walls between the bastions are 150 m long and 12 m high.
(Full day. Distance travelled: 90 km)

(The following specialised activities can only be done on the day of the Cape Town City Tour excursion)

Two Oceans Aquarium

The Aquarium is located at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront and offers an exciting insight into the indigenous fresh and seawater creatures of South Africa.

Robben Island Tour

For nearly 400 years Robben Island was a place of banishment, exile, isolation and imprisonment. During the Apartheid years Robben Island became internationally known as the place of incarceration of Nelson Mandela and other heroes of the struggle.

Helicopter Flight

Various helicopter flight options departing from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, starting from only 15 minutes’ duration around the city bowl to half an hour or longer over the Cape Peninsula.

Table Mountain

Experience an awesome ride up Table Mountain in a cable car where the view from the top is spectacular. This activity is weather dependent.

Shark Cage Diving - Gansbaai

Participants will be picked up in Cape Town early in the morning and taken to Gansbaai, where their encounter with the “Great White” awaits them. Divers will be briefed about caging procedures before the cage is put down into the water. Once the first shark is spotted, the bait lines are drawn in and everybody has the opportunity to view and admire this magnificent predator of the sea.
(Full day. Neither the Cape Town City tour nor the Peninsula Tour will be possible if this option is chosen. Weather dependent)

The train remains stationary in Cape Town for two nights. On all evenings while stabled an evening shuttle service will be available to take guests to and from the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront.