The Blue Train
In its charisma and majesty combines five-star accommodation with the charm and romance of train travel, and is considered as one of the must-do itineraries as part of your visit to Africa, especially for the first time visitors.
The route between Pretoria and Cape Town is a 27-hour journey of 1 600 kilometres (994 miles), through some of the most diverse and spectacular scenery offered by the African sub-continent.
The Blue Train is truly an ideal way of ‘forced relaxation’, to start or end your holiday in South Africa.
So take a journey into a timeless world of grace and elegance, where breath-taking scenery stirs your imagination and luxurious comfort soothes body and soul. Sit back and enjoy being pampered on South Africa’s “Blue Jewel”.
This overnight, 27-hour journey takes travelers from Cape Town to Pretoria, or the reverse. The Blue Train glides smoothly through picturesque landscapes, all the while offering a gorgeous array of gourmet cuisine and carefully curated South African wines.
On the Southbound trip, the train departs from Pretoria Station at 8:30 and arrives in Cape Town at the Cape Town Station at 15:00 the following day.
En-route to Cape Town there is a stop-over and an excursion in Kimberley, where we take a step back in time to the days of the diamond rush.
On the Northbound journey, the train leaves Cape Town at 08:30 and arrives in Pretoria at the Pretoria Station at 15:00. The off-the-train excursion includes a stop at the Lord Milner Hotel in Matjiesfontein. On arrival at Matjiesfontein guests are invited for a glass of sherry at the bar.
The Victorian buildings and original nineteenth century London lampposts impart to the traveller, the uncanny sense of entering a colonial time warp – an oasis suspended in a different age.
Each Blue Train compartment has a fully appointed bathroom en-suite, featuring either a bath or shower; a telephone; television and individually controlled air-conditioning. A video channel allows guests to access short documentaries about the area through which the train is traveling, while a large screen in the Club Car provides a driver’s-eye view of the track ahead, courtesy of a camera mounted onto the front of the locomotive. Other innovations include CD players in the luxury compartments. The new Blue Train introduced a Club Car styled along the lines of a gentleman’s club and the ideal place for coffee and a post-prandial drink. This is in addition to the Lounge Car where guests are able to enjoy traditional high-teas. A new concept in wining and dining features cuisine created by The Blue Train Team. Fine South African wines along with wines from around the world are served. Professionally trained personnel are on call for guests in each compartment 24 hours a day. The 370 and 349-meter long trains have 17 and 16 carriages, accommodating 74 and 58 passengers, respectively with 27 staff on each train to look after them and travels at a maximum speed of 90km/h. The Blue Train is a dedicated five star luxury passenger train travelling in Southern Africa. Travel in a world of grace, elegance and romance.
06:30 Register and check-in at The Pretoria Station Lounge. Guests enjoy pre-departure drinks. Welcome snacks will be served on-board the train
07:30 Boarding starts. Butlers usher guests to their suites. Suite orientation done by butlers.
Boarding concludes at 08:00am
08:30 The Blue Train departs from Pretoria Station
(Will depart earlier once all guests have checked-in)
10:30-12:00 First sitting for Brunch
12:30-14:00 Second sitting for Brunch
15:30 High tea is served in the Lounge Car.
OFF-THE-TRAIN EXCURSION
(Weather & time-permitting)
17:10 The Blue Train arrives at Kimberley Station.
Guests disembark and gather at the railway museum, from where they will be ushered to a bus, which transfers them to the Kimberley Open Mine Museum.
17:30 Guests arrive at the Open Mine Museum
for a tour of the mine.
Guests are first taken to view interesting and historical sites. Guests are also taken onto an enclosed ramp on the edge of the Kimberly hole.
18:35 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.
19:10 The Blue Train departs Kimberley Station for the journey Southbound to Cape Town. After this exciting tour, guests are welcome to refresh themselves and enjoy pre-dinner drinks served at any one of our lounges.
19:30-21:00 First sitting dinner
21:15 Second sitting dinner
Guests enjoy post-dinner drinks, Cognacs and Cuban cigars in the Club Car before retiring to bed
Remember, dinner is an elegant affair and men are requested to wear a jacket and tie and ladies elegant evening wear.
07:00 – 10:00 Breakfast is served on a first-come-
first-served basis.
