Description

This panoramic nine day journey winds its way from Pretoria to Cape Town and includes a golfing and non-golfing itinerary. After a game drive in the famous Kruger Park* guests head to Zululand for a game viewing at Hluhluwe, the oldest reserve in Africa. The train then travels the coast along St Lucia Wetland Park to Durban* for a city tour and through the valley of a Thousand Hills to Ardmore Ceramics. Enjoy a tour of Bloemfontein then continue overnight along the imposing Drakensberg Mountains to Port Elizabeth* for Addo Elephant Park. Then it's on to Oudtshoorn for an ostrich farm visit followed by an impressive rail descent through the Outeniqua Mountains to George*. After visiting the natural paradise of Kynsna, the train traverses the spectacular Garden Route to the winelands for a brandy distillery visit and across the Cape Fold Mountains before the magnificent expedition ends in Cape Town.

*Golfers play Leopard Creek at Kruger, Durban Country, Humewood in Port Elizabeth and Fancourt and Ernie Els Oubaai in George.

This itinerary is available in reverse, please contact us for the detailed itinerary from Cape Town to Pretoria, it includes golf on the same courses but some excursions are different.

Detailed itinerary for Pretoria to Cape Town.

Day 1

Golfers and Non-Golfers

10.00 Depart Pretoria and traverse the Highveld to the spectacular Drakensberg Mountains.

Day 2

08.00 Golfers play Leopard Creek near Kruger with lunch.

08.00 Non-Golfers enjoy a game drive in the Kruger Park with lunch.

17.00 Both groups rejoin the train at Komatipoort and depart for Zululand.

Day 3

Golfers and Non-Golfers

09.30 Game drive in Hluhluwe Reserve in Zululand.

13.00 Lunch is served as the train travels south alongside the St Lucia Wetland Park to Durban for the overnight stop.

Day 4

08.00 Golfers play Durban Country Club. After lunch enjoy a one hour scenic drive along the Midlands Meander to join the train in Lions River.

08.00 Non-Golfers have a short city tour of Durban before rejoining the train to traverse the Valley of a Thousand Hills to Ardmore Ceramics for a two hour afternoon visit.

16.00 Both groups traverse the Drakensberg via Bethlehem.

Day 5

09.00 Both groups disembark for a city tour of Bloemfontein.

13.00 Travel across the Drakensberg Mountains.

Day 6

07.00 Golfers play the Humewood course and after lunch rejoin the train in Port Elizabeth.

08.30 Non-Golfers enjoy a game drive at Addo Elephant Park before rejoining the train and departing to Port Elizabeth.

14.15 Both groups experience the train being turned round before departing for Oudtshoorn via Willowmore.

Day 7

09.00 Arrive Oudtshoorn.

10.30 Golfers transfer to George along the Montagu Pass. Tee off at Fancourt followed by dinner at the estate.

09.00 Non-Golfers enjoy a two hour ostrich farm visit, traverse the Montagu Pass.

18.30 Disembark for dinner at Fancourt Estate.

Day 8

07.00 Golfers transfer to Ernie Els Oubaai for tee off at 0800.

Non-Golfers are at leisure in Knysna or take a ferry ride to Featherbed.

13.00 Both groups depart George and travel along the Garden Route via the Outeniqua Mountains to the coast for Riversdale.

Day 9

11.00 Both groups enjoy a two hour tour of the KWV Brandy distillery, Worcester.

17.00 Arrive in Cape Town.

Location

This itinerary travels through five provinces (Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Kwazulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape) and Swaziland. The journey can either start or finish in Cape Town.

Accommodation

The trains offer three suite options: Pullman, Deluxe and Royal

The epitome of luxury with handsome wood panelling and period Edwardian features, the air conditioned suites accomodate two people offering the option of twin or spacious double beds. In the en-suite bathrooms, original fittings combine with the modern technology of hot showers, hair dryers and shaver plugs.

All suites are equipped with a mini bar, air conditioning, hairdryer, luggage shelf, cupboards and safe.

The Pullman Suites measure 7 sq metres and are equipped with a comfortable sofa seat during the day which converts to a double or twin beds for the evening and also have an en-suite bathroom with shower.

The Deluxe Suites measure 11 sq metres and have a lounge area and en-suite bathroom with shower.

The Royal Suites measure 16 sq metres and have a lounge area and full en-suite bathroom with Victorian bath and a separate shower.

Facilities

The general make-up of the train: Locomotive, generator car, staff car, guest sleepers, a non-smoking lounge car (36 guests), two non-smoking 42 seat dining cars, kitchen car, guest sleepers, smoking lounge and observation car at the tail.

Meals are served in one sitting only in the charming Victorian atmosphere of the dining cars and are complemented by a selection of South African wines. An enthusiastic team of chefs is responsible for overseeing the very important task of ensuring guests' every need is catered for. There's an accent on fresh local ingredients and traditional dishes such as game are a speciality. Breakfast is between 07.00 and 10.00, lunch at 13.00, tea at 16.30 and a formal dinner at 19.30. A gong heralds lunch and dinner.

For days on the train dress is smart casual. Evening attire is more formal - for gentlemen a jacket and tie is a minimum requirement while ladies we suggest cocktail/evening dresses or suits. Please include warm clothing for cold mornings and evenings.

In maintaining the spirit of travel of a bygone era, there are no radios or television sets on board. The use of mobile phones, laptops and essentially anything that has the ability to disturb other passengers is confined to the privacy of your suites only.

Smoking is only allowed in the privacy of your suite and in the club lounge.

Local Courses

Prices / Offers

Prices include:

Breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner, all alcoholic and other beverages

Excursions accompanied by a qualified tour guide

Entrance fees to places of interest

24 hour full room service and bar facilities

Limited laundry service

For golfers, Golf on Leopard Creek at Kruger, Durban Country, Humewood in Port Elizabeth and Fancourt and Ernie Els Oubaai in George.