Africa luxury train tours to Cape Town and Victoria Falls | Rovos Rail and the Blue Train

Imagine being pampered on a luxury train journey, winding across mountains and plains of Southern Africa, with world class cuisine, cocktails and en-suite comfort.

The romance of trains conjures up images of gentlemen with double breasted suits, ladies in wide-brimmed hats and grand ankle length dresses, relaxing in comfortable coaches with champagne and caviar. This elegance has been revived in Southern Africa by Rovos Rail and the Blue Train, offering pampering and butler services to the discerning traveler.

When steam trains first puffed along the tracks in Africa, the local tribesmen called them shongololos, an African name for millipede. Their purpose was purely transport and provided accessibility to the remote regions of Africa. Today’s train travel however provides much more.

Pamper yourself after your safari adventure, or en-route to you vacation destination along South Africa’s Cape shore. Luxury train journeys include routes connecting Johannesburg via Pretoria with Cape Town, the Garden Route and the Victoria Falls.

Blue Train
The Blue Train provides contemporary luxury and 24 hour service. It has been voted the “world’s leading luxury train” at the World Travel Awards for four years running. Its interior design, service and luxury compare with top five star hotels. Each suite on board the train has an en-suite bathroom with bathtub or shower, a telephone, TV monitor and individually controlled air conditioner. There are four suites per coach and a professionally trained butler is on duty on every coach to cater to the needs of his guests. The Club Car is designed along the lines of an old gentleman’s club for those who enjoy a good port wine and after dinner cigar or coffee. A large video screen provides a view of the scenery ahead of the train, courtesy of a camera mounted on the locomotive. For non-smokers, the Lounge Car provides a smoke free environment where high tea, various beverages and snacks are served. Staff is available 24 hours a day and professional chefs prepare world class cuisine for every meal. A choice of only the finest wines is served to compliment meals.

The Blue Train operates only one route: Pretoria - Cape Town or Cape Town - Pretoria. This route offers a very different perspective of the Southern African landscape, from flat open plains to rolling hills and mountains.

Rovos Rail
In contrast to the contemporary style of the Blue Train, Rovos Rail’s luxury trains are elegantly styled in authentic Edwardian era décor, with wood-paneled coaches remodeled and refurbished to mint condition. The only compromise in style is the modern but necessary convenience of air conditioning in every suite. Royal suites each have their own lounge and en-suite bathroom with Victorian bathtub. Deluxe suites each have a private lounge and private bathroom with shower. Guests enjoy the finest cuisine prepared on board, dining in 5 star luxury as Africa’s splendid scenery unfolds beyond the dining car windows, then relax between meals and excursions in the comfortable lounge and observation car at the rear of the train.

A series of journeys are available lasting from 24 hours to 2 weeks. African destinations linked by the luxury journeys include Cape Town, Victoria Falls, the desert landscapes of Namibia, and Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania.

The trains are hauled by steam, diesel or electric locomotives at various stages of each journey. Each train carries a maximum of 72 passengers in 36 superbly appointed suites.

Other rail excursions
Close to the ocean in the heart of South Africa’s scenic Garden Route is another quaint and historic train service. The Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe is one of the last steam* hauled scheduled passenger trains operating in Southern Africa and is a real treat for kids of all ages as well as the steam train enthusiast. *Note: The operator reserves the right to use a diesel engine without prior notice on any scheduled trip. In dry and windy conditions embers from the steam locomotive is considered to be a fire hazard.

The Choo-Tjoe offers its passengers a picturesque 42 mile (67 km) tour along the Garden route, parts of which are inaccessible by any other mode of transport. The train embarks from George at the Outeniqua Transport Museum where passengers can enjoy refreshments or wander through the art gallery, curio shop or model train room. In Knysna the train stops at the Water Front which offers boat rides, restaurants, art and craft exhibitions and a wide variety of shops. Relax and enjoy a most memorable train ride in one of the few remaining passenger steam trains left in the world.

This track is also used to access Kaaiman’s Grotto. The Grotto is a large natural cave with spectacular views of the ocean. It is only accessible by train, along the same route as that of the Choo-Tjoe. The train to the Grotto departs from the Outeniqua Transport Museum in George or the station in the coastal town of Wilderness. Diners enjoy a traditional South African dinner after savoring the magnificent ocean vistas and sunset over cocktails. Local wines or beverages are served and background music/entertainment is provided during the meal.

BLUE TRAIN AND SAFARI (Tour Code TASSFE04)
Luxury Tour
9 days / 8 nights in Africa
Fixed departures. Ask us for departure dates.

OVERVIEW:
Experience the very comfortably lodge living of Sabi Sands Game Reserve. The neighboring reserves are unfenced, including the famous Kruger National Park, ensuring great wildlife viewing including the Big 5. Combine this with the Blue Train and a few days lazing on the beach in Cape Town and you have the perfect vacation.

The Blue Train provides luxury and 24 hour service. It has been voted the “world’s leading luxury train” at the World Travel Awards for four consecutive years. Its interior design, service and luxury compare with top five star hotels.