BLUE TRAIN, CAPE TOWN AND SAFARI – 9 Nights / 10 Days

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 or exploring the wineries of 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.

OVERVIEW
Country South Africa
Duration 9 Nights/10 Days
Season Year Round
Trip Type Fixed departures based on Blue Train scheduled departures
Average Price Per Person US $ 5,000.00 - US $ 5,547.00
Age Restrictions Reservations for children are on request only and at the discretion of The Blue Train. Children aged 2 years and younger are to share with parents or guardians. A strict child policy applies on board the train.
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ITINERARY

Day 1: Johannesburg, South Africa
We meet you on arrival in Johannesburg’s OR Thambo International Airport and privately road transfer you to Illyria House, a sought-after boutique hotel in the heart of the Jacaranda City of Pretoria. It is an exclusive privately owned residence set in tranquil gardens overlooking the famous Union Buildings. Illyria House is a mere 5 minutes from Pretoria Railway Station where you will board The Blue Train in the morning. World class spa facilities are offered at Illyria just the indulgence to fight off any fatigue from your long flight.

Overnight Illyria House (D,B)

Day 2: Blue Train, South Africa
This morning starts early with a transfer to the train station in Pretoria to board your train to Cape Town. Boarding starts at 8:30 am when butlers usher guests to their suites. 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.
12:00pm – first sitting for lunch.
2:00pm – second sitting for lunch
3:30pm - high tea is served in the lounge car
5:10pm – The Blue Train arrives at Kimberley Station. Guest disembark and assemble at the railway museum, from where they will be ushered to a bus, which transfers them to the centre of Kimberley to join an old tram for a ride down to the mine.
5:45pm – Guests arrive at the Open Mine Museum for a tour of the mine. Guests are first taken to the Diamond Die to try their luck to win a diamond, after which they will view, interesting and historical sites. Guests are also taken onto an enclosed ramp on the e edge of the Kimberley hole.
6:35pm – Guests depart from the Open Mine Museum for Kimberley Station. At Kimberley Station guests are greeted with a glass of sherry. The sherry glass engraved with The Blue Train logo is a memento for guests to keep.
7:05pm – The Blue Train departs Kimberley Station for the journey Southbound to Cape Town. After this exciting tour, guests are free to refresh themselves and enjoy pre – dinner drinks served at any one of our lounges. Remember, dinner is an elegant affair and men are requested to wear a jacket and tie or dress in traditional attire and ladies in elegant evening or traditional wear.
7:30pm – first sitting for dinner
9:15pm – second sitting for dinner.

Overnight Blue Train - (FI)

Day 3: Cape Town, South Africa
7:00 – 10:00am – Breakfast is served on a first come first serve basis or may be served in-suite at the guest’s request.
12:20 pm - The Blue Train arrives at Cape Town Station. Butlers usher guests to the Blue Train Lounge.
Our driver guide will be waiting for you and will privately transfer you to The Table Bay Hotel at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront.
Relax in the comfort of this award winning hotel and later wander through the waterfront with its many restaurants and boutique shops, craft markets and buskers.

The Table Bay Hotel - (B)

Day 4: Cape Town, South Africa
We will meet you at the hotel reception this morning just after breakfast (around 8am) to start a full day tour of Cape Town.
Firstly, we travel to Table Mountain take the cable car to the flat summit with its misty mountain trails and panoramic views across ocean and shore. Cable car entrance is not included since the activity is dependent on good weather. Your peninsula tour continues to historic Simonstown and the boardwalks of the penguin-breeding colony at picturesque Boulders Beach. Sandy coves permit safe family bathing and encounters with the penguins in the sea. Your tour continues along the Cape Peninsula, with its fishing harbors, sheer cliffs and wave-swept coves to the incredible splendor of Cape Point and the old Cape Point Lighthouse, where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet. Then visit the fishing village of Hout Bay.

Overnight The Table Bay Hotel - (B)

Day 5: Cape Town, South Africa
Again we meet you at the hotel reception this morning just after breakfast (around 8am) to start a full day Wine tasting tour of the Winelands.
Driving to Paarl via Agter Paarl (a scenic detour), first port of call is the Laborie wine estate (belonging to KWV). Taste some international award winning wines. Continue to Franschoek, and en route view the prison from which Nelson Mandela was finally released. Franschoek is named after the French Hugenots who arrived in the Cape and contributed significantly to making the Cape Wine industry world class. Visit Rickety Bridge and Dieu Donne Estates. After lunch visit the French Huguenot Memorial, and continue to the second oldest town in South Africa – Stellenbosch. Visit the museum (consisting of 4 original houses) and enjoy exploring two more old Cape Wine Estates in the Stellenbosch region.

Overnight The Table Bay Hotel - (B)

Day 6: Cape Town, South Africa
A trip to Cape Town is not complete without Robben island. So we take in some of the special and historical interest buildings as we drive through Cape Town city. A tour of the Castle of Good Hope, the first recorded building in South Africa, demonstrates the many influences which have shaped South Africa’s history. Drive via District Six to the original Government Gardens. A short walk in the gardens allows for viewing of Parliament, national galleries, museums and other historic buildings. Time for specific interest tours is allowed eg: natural history, cultural galleries or museums. A short drive to the Bo Kaap museum, in the old Malay quarter of Cape Town, highlights a group of people who have contributed much to the culture of Cape Town. Continue down to the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront and the Nelson Mandela Gateway, and board a ferry to cross Table Bay to visit Robben Island.
The two Oceans aquarium can be visited either before or after Robben Island (included in tour cost)

Overnight The Table Bay Hotel - (B)

Day 7: Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, South Africa
We transfer you back to Cape Town Airport today for a regional flight to Johannesburg and a connection to Eastgate Airport in Hoedspruit, here a driver is waiting to road transfer you to Djuma Vuyatela Lodge in the heart of Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve. This is Big 5 country and game drives in Sabi Sand brings the visitor closer to lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant, not to mention the endangered wild “painted dogs” and cheetah.

Overnight at Djuma Vuyatela Lodge (FI)

Day 8: Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, South Africa
This morning starts with an early morning game drive before breakfast to catch a glimpse of the African bush as it awakens. There will be another game drive later in the day. Accommodation is in luxury thatched chalets, each with en-suite bathrooms including a private enclosed outdoor shower, air conditioning, over head fans, and mosquito nets, private deck with plunge pool. The lodge offers a library and a pool to cool off in, in the heat of the day. Two viewing decks overlook the African bush and the water hole.

Overnight at Djuma Vuyatela Lodge (FI)

Day 9: Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve, South Africa
The day is started with an early morning game drive with another later in the day and into the early evening. The clear bush air definitely works on the appetite and Bush Lodge offers a full English style buffet breakfast and high tea with savories and cakes, served in the afternoon. An optional nature walk in the bush led by an expert ranger is a great way to observe smaller animals and provides a superb bird watching opportunity.

Overnight at Djuma Vuyatela Lodge (FI)

Day 10: Johannesburg
We road transfer you to Hoedspruit Airport today for a flight back to Johannesburg for your onward journey.

Included:
Accommodations
Airport meet and greet
Airport to lodge / hotel road transfers
Meals as per itinerary
Blue Train activities
Butler service on the Blue Train
Safari activities in Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve
Park entrance fees
3 Full day tours in Cape Town