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South Africa’s Luxurious Travel Option

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LUXURY TRAIN JOURNEYS

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SOUTH AFRICA’S HIDDEN TRAVEL GEM

For many of us, Africa is associated with safari game drives through the expansive, sun-soaked landscape. South Africa is no different, known for the dramatic ‘veldt’ and luscious Garden Route.

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However, one of the country’s best kept secrets are the luxury train journeys available for truly elegant and romantic travel. Two of which are ranked among the top 25 rail tours in the world, alongside the Orient Express and Prestige Continental Express.

Here are South Africa’s top three rail tours:

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1. The Blue Train

The oldest luxury rail journey in South Africa, the Blue Train has been in operation since 1923. The Blue Train encompasses luxury travel from the finest cuisine to personal butlers to Cuban cigars. It offers a scenic and relaxing way of taking in the contrasting and beautiful South African countryside whilst experiencing the luxury of a bygone era.

The train offers two journeys. The first is a 31-hour journey from Pretoria to Cape Town with stops at Kimberley ‘the diamond town’. On the return journey, travellers have an off-train excursion to Matjiesfontein, the preserved Victorian Village.  The second journey takes travellers from Pretoria to Kruger National Park, one of South Africa’s top travel destinations.

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2. Rovos Rail

Founded in 1986 and going on its first journey in 1989, Rovos Rail allows travellers to discover Africa in vintage Victorian steam trains. Like the Blue Train, travellers are guaranteed a truly luxurious experience with fine cuisine, wood-panelled coaches and five-star accommodation.

The Rovos Rail also offers a journey from Pretoria to Cape Town with stops in Kimberley and Matjiesfontein. A three-night journey takes travellers from Pretoria across the Tropic of Capricorn through to Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River. For those not wanting to forgo the safari experience, the Durban Safari is a three-day safari between Pretoria and Durban where travellers visit the Nambiti Conservancy Game Reserve, Spionkop Game Reserve and the Valley of a Thousand Hills.

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3. The Shongololo Express

The Shongololo Express operated by Rovos Rails offers three train tours ranging from 12 to 15 days across South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The journeys are reminiscent of a bygone era that allow travellers a glimpse into the elegance of African exploration.

Their flagship Good Hope tour runs both south and north routes between Pretoria and Cape Town with several stops including the Kruger Park, Swaziland, Durban, Kimberley, the Cango Caves, Knynsa and Hermanus. The Southern Cross tour takes travellers on a scenic journey from Pretoria to the Victoria Falls with stops in Kruger Game Reserve, Swaziland, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The Dune Express journey travels through  Kimberley, the Fish River Canyon, the Kalahari Desert, and Namib Desert as it takes travellers from Pretoria to Walvis Bay in Namibia.

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Intrigued by the idea of a train journey through Africa?

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