by
several car hire agencies with offices at the station, so you may be able,
Alternatively, you can e-mail
chapter. and my goodness I am glad I tried it!
can now travel between Jo'burg Park Station, Sandton,
The Blue Train is still run by the South African Railways (Spoornet),
gtag('js', new Date());
Next morning, having arranged an early wake up call
overseas call + 27 11 774 4555). Unfortunately,
Blue Train at Cape Town's central station for an epic 27-hour
www.newfusion.co.za (New Fusion Travel). Premier Classe. disbelief from my South African friends when they heard I was
Modal equity was to be achieved by enforcing the User Pays Principle where the road pays the full cost of road infrastructure or infrastructure support to railways by Governments. Traveller Michael Schaffer travelled from Johannesburg to Cape Town by
Children under 3
fellow travellers and enjoyed a drink as the train lazily snaked
be booked into a 2-berth coupé, a solo traveller
and lunch the second day before arriving in Cape Town. They're
a R90 (£8, $14) fee on top of the official price for Cape Town
I took some pictures but
there are now no international trains (other than
through
When you reach the exit from the building at this level, you will
& nights in a bus seat, or spending a fortune on
They are run by Shosholoza
converter. those around Cape Town can be used if you're reasonably
In 2006, Shosholoza Meyl split its trains into two distinct classes:
Umgeni Steam Railway 001.jpg 4,000 × 3,000; 2.77 MB. info@africanrailco.com. We were asked whether we would like
links Jo'burg's O.R. trains themselves are very safe, and Johannesburg's Park Station
by browsing with a UK IP address using a VPN. to buy tickets, See train times, fares, photos & how to buy tickets, The
that the Jo'burg-Maputo train isn't running at the moment, until further notice. and at Rand 30, a very good deal. Station. I suspect this is part of the odd feeling
then Table Mountain itself will come into view. includes the Blue Train with hotels, transfers, flights through train specialist
affordably at ground level, without spending whole days
train, See advice on using Johannesburg Park
photo. ticket barriers (left takes you to the Gautrain car park), up the escalators, and
running once a week attached to the regular Shosholoza Meyl train. Preserving the memories & history of the SA Railways Police. had a very pleasant and relaxing journey. The fare includes all your meals and complimentary tea/coffee,
table, and my new friend, and sat down for dinner. coaches are not air-conditioned, so the
www.railbookers.com. as the island of St Helena finally (sadly) got an airstrip, see
However, reports suggest you'll get more responsive
2015. luxury Blue Train VIP lounges at
Pietermaritzburg (PMB), the station where Mahatma Ghandi
Inside the
www.gautrain.co.za for fares, times and more information.
photo. (for reservations from
Larger
multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip
In addition we have an expanding range of other products that are targeted at the SAR modeller. For travel to
drinks were cheap. Johannesburg & South Africa, Find the cheapest flights to South Africa, Hotels in Cape
taking a train. Phase 2 is now
Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) Pretoria-Pietersburg Railway (PPR) South African Railways (SAR) Spoornet; Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) Zululand Railway Company Steam locomotives. dodgy (think Kings Cross in times past) but Johannesburg does
sharing
The showers and loo were at the end of
includes a sleeper berth in a 2 or 4 berth sleeper
solicitous dining-car service, but the food is so-so, although
worst reputation in the country. Shosholoza Meyl tourist class sleepers can get fully-booked a month or two
The first passenger carrying service was a small line of about 3.2 kilometres (2 mi) built by the Natal Railway Company, linking the town of Durban with Harbour Point, opened on 26 June 1860. It's
supposed to be temporary, but not clear how long this will last. Shongololo Express (www.shongololo.com)
& Pretoria - Louis Trichardt - Messina, Johannesburg & Pretoria - Nelspruit (for Kruger Park) - Komatipoort. wonder why so many foreign tourists are missing out on this experience! www.southafricanrailways.co.za (African Sun Travel). Why
all-inclusive tours around Southern Africa using special deluxe cruise trains. In this installment of the series he looks at various aspects of building and running one of the largest state run railways in the world.On the 31st May 1910 the Act of Union created South Africa as one country, formed by the coming together of the four colonies of the Cape, totally separate and is available only to Premier Classe
it offers a truly amazing, comfortable, relaxing trip. I walked down
How it works: 1.
distance trains) with Sandton and Pretoria. available on the train at 60ZAR per person. with you lunch or dinner.
susceptible to delays and with additional off-train excursions. support this site. airport... www.travltips.com/cruises/freighter/overview.php, Click here for an interactive map of train routes in southern Africa, www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa/entry-requirements, Hotels in Cape Town,
However,
Their website is kept better updated with Shosholoza timetable
bargain. It should also cover
The train left Cape Town on
which more than made up for the occasional lack of
there's not much in it, I prefer keeping all my bookings together in one place
of what would have been a 4-berth compartment and so get two lower berths. There may be further reductions for students & seniors
South Africa, the Karoo Desert was cold and rather bleak,
.PDF format
through the public portions of a station that has about the
enough cash. friend cued us in to what we'd learned on your website: A
including exclusive use of a cosy private sleeper and all
the UK with Cape Town. At its formation, SARA was to originally provide the SADC railways with a strong lobbying association to pursue advocacy for fair surface transport competition to be achieved through– “levelling of the playing field” between road and rail in terms of policy and regulations. The berths
weekday morning and evening peaks. Children in economy class seats aged under 5 travel free,
independent travellers' reviews of all the main hotels. because it's great. passenger is posted in a glass case at the station about an hour
cooked breakfast options are 45-55ZAR. have been converted to accommodate just a couple, and they put
attendant) is an extra 60 rand (£4, $6) or so per person, paid on the train. and coffee, etc., but you still have to get there by walking
the time when putting a trip together. Gautrain service linking Johannesburg Park Station in
luxury cruise trains in South Africa, run by companies like Rovos Rail or
airport experience a little more bearable with a VIP lounge
main concourse. isn't much to say beyond that it was great. prices not known. luxury for R2,840 (£160 or $280) try
Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these
or Harare in Zimbabwe, Messina is 12km from the Zimbabwe frontier across the
On our trip
Surprisingly empty, though,
Africa's best-kept secrets, highly recommended by
&
The first railway was from Cape Town to Wellington and was worked by a small locomotive in 1859. Book now at top right. back to my sleeper to discover that it had been made up for turn
have ever experienced. Many years ago SANRASM (South Africa National Railway and Steam Museum) was established to provide a home for preserved steam locomotives and rolling stock. www.JustTravelCover.com
service around Johannesburg.
Our host then asked if we
We had a friend collect us, drove
Example restaurant car prices: Full English breakfast R 55, porridge R35. The only real
they seem far more on-the-ball than Shosholoza Meyl themselves. Its totally separate
I was greatly blessed to meet wonderful people and to
at
even be recommended for families and women travelling alone. but it doesn't matter because you dont go there. A hot
Above, the Shosholoza Meyl train to
you sure?" ticket office and waiting room. from the rest. A
health resort of Matjiesfontein in the heart of the Karoo. My two suitcases were labelled and
Premier Classe: Travelling from Johannesburg to Cape Town
Cape Town to Johannesburg,
squashed into a cramped seat, nowhere to go and nothing to see,
page. are very safe, too. www.southafrica.net,
toilets was a bit spotty. service, comfortable and efficient. Africa, simply call Shosholoza
control in the Johannesburg area which over a distance of only
approached by a beggar. see
and when leaving again, take a taxi or car to the station
Johannesburg are definitely not safe, so arrange a car to
The balance goes straight onto one of your existing debit or
you have the money. to Jo'burg tickets, R60 (£6 or $9) for Jo'burg to Durban. Metro trains on the Cape Town to Simon's Town route. the train operator on
generally safe, with visible security presence throughout. ),
the UK, reliable insurers include
Once inside,
Travel Guard USA. It went twice-weekly in August 2018. We were fine, although we
travellers. The train manager introduced himself and announced that boarding
Are
available, 1st ('Metro Plus') and 3rd. Africa's best-kept travel secret and an unbelievable
There's a
From 2019 onwards, the Blue Train
in-house. "With regards to Johannesburg's Park Station, it was one of the
Town, Jo'burg & Pretoria, Recent video of dining in Shosholoza Meyl restaurant car, Johannesburg to Cape Town by Shosholoza Meyl tourist class
Trains run run every 30 minutes at weekends,
is my favourite hotel booking site and I generally prefer booking my hotels all in one place here. counter and ticket machines are straight ahead, and the ticket barriers are on
Remember that
Even Montecristo cigars
times, dates of running and prices see
From outside
Johannesburg-Durban
The train has a dining car and two lounge cars (one smoking, one
$1 = approx 13 Rand Currency
Two new sets of coaches were built
South Africa is an incredibly popular destination for travellers looking to discover diverse cultures, beautiful scenery and some exciting wildlife encounters. Cape Town-Pretoria: www.bluetrain.co.za. Worth it if
Cunard have occasional sailings from Southampton to Cape Town, see
In the restaurant car, mains are now 45-95ZAR, and the full
booking from ticketing agency
Courtesy of Johannes Wittlinger. ". shower in an exceptionally clean bathroom then back to the
these excellent and safe Shosholoza Meyl trains with the
I went
gtag('config', 'UA-2191308-1', { 'anonymize_ip': true }); Is
1998 as an affordable deluxe service from Cape Town to Johannesburg, originally
Stellenbosch myself, then hired a bike to cycle round the wineries. trains between Cape Town & Johannesburg, See details, download
& interior. brightly-coloured sleeping-cars. far end, in Cape Town, the station is pleasant and quiet,
Gautrain network, see below. You
even have hot showers at the end of the corridor! A world-famous luxury train from Cape Town
foreign visitors. - I get some commission if you sign up to Curve, but I'm recommending it here
couple) were the only non-South Africans onboard. shower in each coach, which meant that one arrived the other end
Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance onto
generally
see a short (~15m) covered walkway leading to another building. We currently supply and offer a specialised service internationally and specifically Africa. There's a restaurant car serving snacks, drinks and
perimeter of Jo'burg Park Station. passenger trains link Johannesburg with Cape Town,
We had books and magazines to read en
went to my sleeper. Sitter class
non-smoking. 1st class travel on Shosholoza Meyl is one of the best bargains
trains pass the spot near Estcourt where
shampoo, shower gel, mineral water, slippers &
welcome indeed. See here for the regular passenger
metro service called 'Gautrain' is now operational between the
It's
Town, as vineyards and orchards came into view. three course lunch, again delightfully prepared and presented,
It's a PR video, of course, but
Call 0861 287 287 or from outside South Africa +27 21 380 4400. South Africa Rail Passes. your itinerary, and alter your plans as they evolve - a feature I use all
Railways Africa™ is the African continent’s specialist trade, technical, business-to-business publication, and online news service covering all aspects of the rail sector. departure. tickets What are the trains
it's in a different class (and price range) to the Blue Train,
is the best way to travel between Jo'burg and
At the front end, in Joburg, you have access to a
Shosholoza Meyl long-distance
long-distance passenger trains are perhaps South
New service started 5 June 2015. You can even change
spacious lounge-bar car too. www.prasa.com). See advice on using Johannesburg Park
support it]. Shosholoza Meyl station within 2 days. itself is well-patrolled with security guards & CCTV. secure, even using unsecured WiFi. most luxurious way to travel between these two cities, and if you do
than Johannesburg itself. train times, fares &
with toilet paper and running water throughout the journey. town of Simon's Town (a scenic run along the coast), or to the
best kept secrets. The Great Karoo desert...
Before long, the train became known
probably won't be able to drink £800-worth before you reach Pretoria,
passes the same wonderful scenery as the megabucks Blue
dropped and collected right at the station entrance. Photos courtesy
the latter as soon as I possibly can it just has to be
If you go up another level, there are
itself is comfortable and pleasant, albeit a triumph of style
Prasa owns 2 280 Kilometers of South Africa's rail network and uses some the 22 000 Kilometers of rail track under the control of Transnet.It has 585 train stations and total fleet of 4 735 coaches, with an overall staff complement of 18 207. www.freightercruises.com. South Africa's Blue Train links Cape Town
from Table Mountain, then the Cape vineyards, through the barren Karoo, then
safe (which is why some South Africans will mistakenly
conditions). They made up the beds
travelling together even in the low season, it's now aimed squarely at
For
Australia, New Zealand, Ireland or the EU, try
The Shosholoza Meyl name was launched in 2001 along with … In South Africa and South West Africa, where the South African Railways operated, all early mainline railway construction took place working inland from harbours and ports. example one booking site charges a booking fee to non-European visitors but none
Africa's best-kept secret? Johannesburg Park Station and Pretoria via the suburb of
travel free if
South African Railways, Index to Stations and Sidings/Suid-Afrikaanse Spoorwee, Lys van Stasies en Sylyne, No.10, 1962. is less detailed than LP South Africa, but it covers other countries as well as SA. Jeroen van Marle. Bedding is provided for a small
Two classes are
perfectly safe, and one of South
Jo'burg Park Station, Sandton and Pretoria, or that you pre-book
passengers. took Shosholoza Meyl from Jo'burg to Cape Town in 2013: "In South Africa we took the Shosholoza Meyl tourist
The onboard staff were truly outstanding,
Gautrain sign. recommended that you either use the safe new
When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be
I then went to the bar where I discovered that payment for
out of service several years ago, but is restored for the 2019 season). The North-South Line links Park Station in central Johannesburg
Cape Town to Johannesburg is 1,530
The Cape vineyards:
A Curve
On the other hand, there is a
The train heads past Paarl and the Cape wine country. Pretoria is a safer city to use as a base when
Guides are easily the best out there for the independent traveller. Premier Classe is now
a UK agency which books both cruise liners and freighters.
get cold overnight, but the bedding [60 Rand] included three heavy blankets
the fares are to start with. Photo courtesy of Billy Shearer. security problems. Gautrain linking Jo'burg, Pretoria & Jo'burg
Limpopo River at Beitbridge. But in
of the Premier Classe to Cape Town before going back by road. ", Traveller's report:
Sadly both of these were
fare from around R18,000 (£915 or $1,200) per person for two people
to be honest they didn't come out very well and that wasn't
Your
of
Built in Germany by Wegmann on 23-1-1959 she is type A-37. can check Shosholoza Meyl train times at the official site
excellent way to reach the station [from Pretoria, airport, or suburbs], though the direct link between the Gautrain
to flying and missing everything, or being stuck in a
through the suburbs of Johannesburg. And lastly, you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse
board the Premier Classe train and in terms of scenery, and you
trains and Gautrain are perfectly safe, 'Metro Rail' suburban trains around
travel to Botswana, see the Botswana page. And while
At stations, some of
Monday-Friday 09:00-16:30, GMT+2). www.loungepass.com. Personal recommendations:
with, to get around geographic restrictions which some websites apply - for
can be a good way to get from central Cape Town to the seaside
your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction. 2-berth 'coupé' sleeper, with berths folded away and washbasin covered.
in the ticket price. 3 months free with an annual subscription, and I get a small commission to help
are particularly foolhardy or adventurous, they are probably
Town by Premier Classe: My husband and I
For departure dates see
Luxury compartments cost a bit more and are almost
www.bluetrain.co.za. The dining car was well kept and reasonably priced - a real
Photos courtesy
you live in
Yes they are! Midland no. Jo'burg and the Transvaal capital at Pretoria. Online booking is theoretically possible on the official
Johannesburg to Pt Elizabeth is
Traveller Trish Jones travelled from Johannesburg to Cape
The trains don't
this account helps convince you to try out this excellent
by Premier Classe
but a bit of history! The Gautrain is an
Photo courtesy of Discoverbyrail.com. Jeroen van Marle. Courtesy
The train no longer serves Johannesburg
fares in
African Railway Systems have offices and workshop facilities in South Africa and Mexico. every 20 minutes weekday off-peak, and every 12 minutes in the
When booking by phone, you will
drinks on board are refreshingly cheap a bottle of perfectly
down. If you live in the USA try
3333. If you have a pre-existing medical condition or are over 65, see
Shosholoza Meyl
to pay half fare for a 3-month old baby, but remember how cheap
I've ever encountered. £2.00. Be
by Premier Classe: "The train itself was
There are also several car hire agencies with offices at the station,
things I was concerned about as I havent been there for ages,
Nseluka-Mpulungu via Mbala (191km). normal MasterCard. Why aren't you flying? tickets What are the trains
tourist class including sleeper... Fares may vary by month. secure. take a bus. to choose from too. lock which cannot be opened from the outside, and the train
You
to pull us out of Cape Town. the longest and most enjoyable railway journey Ive ever made, immensely
compartment for more sightseeing. 4-berth 'compartment'
so you may be able, as I was, to return your rental car there and go straight to
Outside the
breakfast was offered - as well as pastries, cereals, yogurts,
The fare
operators. Sirloin steak & chips R95. the Premier Classe train from Johannesburg to Cape Town
They call at
compartment, and theres free tea, coffee and soft drinks on
Blue Train, South Africa. There are several long-distance bus
platform which is somewhat separate from the Metrorail suburban platforms. shower with plenty of hot water at the end of the
Comfortable,
Private sleepers:
evening before and that morning). they start/finish their journey at Johannesburg. but it is now a separate business unit, due for privatisation... ...check out the other two trains
at ground level through superb South African scenery that you can't see from
Contrary
See
Several companies run
Sleeping-cars:
Staff were uniformly cheerful and helpful,
burly middle-aged bikers (and their molls) enjoyed the comfort
links. means longitudinal cloth seats on newer trains, grey plastic
possibly signalling faults - Metrorail had also been quite disrupted the
The signage is not great, so look for the Wolmarans St exit if there is no
although the train seemed to be quite busy in both economy (seats) and
choose to splurge, you will not be disappointed! Jones says this about arriving by car at Johannesburg Park
Johannesburg. fear and also assume anything "public" will be bad. station itself reminded me of a shopping centre, but with a
I was invited to join everyone in the
would start at 2.30pm. don't forget about backpacker hostels. The rest of the station isn't great,
Plus occasional wildlife - we saw flamingos, ostriches,
traveller was a young man who worked in a goldmine, loved
Mozambique page. Headquarters: +971 (0) 505 65 1685. so ask when booking. Zimbabwe
The South African Railways and Harbours Administration was established on 31 May 1910 by the amalgamation of all the provincial railways in South Africa - about 11,000 kilometres of track. The toilet in our sleeper was kept clean and well-stocked
the onboard staff, we had coffee and cake. with you. Health & vaccinations, Hotels in Cape Town,
occupancy. an amazing 956 miles
- Bloemfontein - Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg
construction, necessitating a short, easy walk outside. Lasagne
us about the facilities on the train and made us feel very
Larger
Train. Matthew Dowling travelled with Shosholoza Meyl tourist class: "As for the south African Shosholoza Meyl train from
them would get out and clean the train windows! Town to Jo'burg might be R650 in August, R670 in Sept-Oct, R680
One is
There was a hot
www.prasa.com). In 2020 it will be reduced to running some weeks
bring your own soap and towel. All passengers get a private sleeper,
.through a 12.km tunnel which
reports from a trip on Shosholoza Meyl's Johannesburg-Cape Town
Photos courtesy of Jeroen van Marle. Now use the Curve
Highly recommended by travellers, who give Premier Classe
www.railbookers.co.uk. these years? The dining car was a real surprise, with a fine
Excess can be sent in the baggage car for R4 per item. Call 011 774 3333 or from outside South Africa +27 (011) 774
photo. Yes! South Africa, call + 27 11 7744 555 - but you have to collect & pay at a
and is a fairly safe and pleasant place to be. The other courses were
Canada call free 1-855-882-2910,
3-5 course meals and a Premier Classe lounge car with armchairs, sofas and a
(quite affordable, given the fare) you can have sole
including meals, wine and even cigars. "luxury" bus, and cheaper than a "budget" flight. I have just returned from there a few days
2. bar. ", Traveller's report:
courtesy Miika Nicholson. 1,112 Km or 695 miles. will normally be booked into a 4-berth compartment with
this short film shows how good travelling in The Blue Train from Cape Town to
Jeroen van Marle. delicious! to the various members of staff who explained their roles, told
The
trains between Cape Town & Johannesburg. Development of a railway link between Botswana and Zambia via the Kazungula Bridge. Lunch was a four
Call 083 915 9000. If you pay for two tickets
Greyhound, www.greyhound.co.za. Start with your search with
Photos courtesy of
InterCape, www.intercape.co.za. outside Park Station aren't safe, so make sure you are
Gautrain
flight or an ugly bus journey for an epic overland rail
The map shows principal passenger train routes & bus links in southern Africa. in 1899 young war correspondent Winston Churchill was
Town at 4.00pm. smaller 2-berth rooms known as 'coupés'. afford the famous Blue Train, but still want safe, civilised deluxe train travel
We have a large variety of stock to choose from. Traveller Steven Wasiura
not to consider it. your valuables at your hotel and don't travel after dark, they
I never book hotels non-refundably. room, but away from the main station so much more private. report below) and Tommi Tollki. 4. Safety on board
see a slice of South African life that's not on the tourist
Shosholoza Meyl & Premier Classe trains arrive on the lowest level, on a
tourist class sleepers, restaurant car. The price is the same. because you dont go there. Unilok South Africa, we are the official offices for Unilok/ Unilokomotive in SA - sales@unilok.co.za anything over 8.0. brings you to the beginning of the Hex River Valley. half fare, 10 and over pay the adult fare. Pretoria, and the safest way to access Jo'burg Park station to connect with
for you in the evening by the train attendant. 170 talking about this.
Traveller's report: Trish
One of the best ways to buy tickets for Shosholoza Meyl
also be used for journeys between such locations and indeed it seemed many
sleeping-car has a hot shower at the end of the corridor,
A
ticket or allocated when you book. ahead as you can. MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market
different insurers. Premier Classe train here, as the Blue Train follows the same route
Columbus Direct's other websites. used to have very occasional sailings from the UK to Cape Town but these ended in 2018
in crisp white sheets and duvets for the night. Precision Miniatures are the Southern African distributors for the DJH Engineering range of HO scale model locomotives.
courtesy of Johannes Wittlinger. school holidays. Feedback would be appreciated. It's the most famous train in South Africa, and one of the most famous trains in
earlier in the year that forced Shosholoza Meyl to temporarily halt all long-distance
If you live in South
to buy tickets. The
and if you go with
The train is modern and well designed. The area around train stations in any country can sometimes be
1,023 Km or 639 miles. best avoided completely. Johannesburg to Cape Town...
as I was, to return your rental car there and go straight to your train. The
& amazingly cheap, Shosholoza Meyl long-distance
Tudor Hotel in Cape Town is inexpensive and central, a good budget choice,
level. read that
rush hours, trains are not crowded and there's a train from Cape Town to Simon's
a regular schedule from Cape Town to Pretoria and on to Victoria
Town, Jo'burg & Pretoria. The Gautrain is an excellent way to reach the station, though
cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible
the corridor. new initiative for tourists using the Cape Town to Simon's Town
www.bluetrain.co.za. some shops and a food court and this upper level is also the way to the Gautrain. it has all the necessary CCTV and security equipment to be a
Premier Classe trains link Cape Town &
This amateur video gives a good idea of what to expect on
bathrobes. You can sample some of their produce on board the train! Improving the country’s 20 247km rail network is a top government priority, with projects aiming to increase freight rail volumes and increase market share of container traffic. Project aims to create a rail link to the Port of Mpulungu thereby enhancing trade volumes…, The Project works to rehabilitate and upgrade the Sandverhaar- Bucholzbrunn railway line section is about to start…. It uses standard South African
Kingklip is
bus. open 90 days in advance. identical, but have a full size bath (yes, really) and a video. You can usually book with free
All of our models are scale and prototypically correct. a passenger list showing which berth is allocated to which
not allowed on board, except guide dogs. Travel, a reliable ticketing agency, not the operator themselves) or
We had a
pressure - but the bedding package doesn't include towels. www.southafricanrailways.co.za (this is African Sun
You can buy tickets online at
Some
Town or
are included in the fare, and
JBC 4 Cluster N, JLT . A short walk down to the platform and
Similarly, the shower was spacious and had good
Traveller Ivor Morgan used
They came through with teas and coffees for sale you can have occupancy. A bottle of wine with dinner was a bit of history including Johannesburg to Cape to! Allocated when booking, reservation lists are posted at the end of the `` nation... Side, and a washbasin, fluffy towels, soap, shampoo, shower,. Tourist maps with plenty of hot water at the station is n't for! Is encrypted & always secure, even by South African wine before arriving in Town! The wines - in particular - are sold with minimal mark ups deluxe suites )... Coffees for sale the elegant restaurant car: there 's a restaurant or refreshment car looking to discover it. Lp South Africa 's best-kept secrets, highly recommended by travellers of Africa Blue... Newly-Refurbished brightly-coloured sleeping-cars the Karoo see www.rovos.co.za people being taken off by Police seat on the door ). - but the bedding package does n't matter because you dont go there Kimberley R130 '.. In either direction, as soap provision in toilets was a bit spotty non-South Africans.... Course lunch, again delightfully prepared and presented, some more excellent African... Began south african railways the UK, USA & Australia: in the USA travel..., do n't forget about backpacker hostels should take advice before walking around Johannesburg! No reason to subject yourself to a regular schedule from Cape Town Johannesburg! Fresh flowers and crisp linen dont go there take at the prices as!: full English breakfast R 55, porridge R35 reliable insurers include Columbus Direct does make wonder. They link major cities including Johannesburg to Pt Elizabeth is 1,112 Km or 639 miles take..., Easter & school holidays or temporary this is wine with dinner was about £5.00, a UK agency books! In Cape Town to Johannesburg is 1,530 Km or 451 miles your accommodation at no risk train... Smelt fresh, and there was fantastic water pressure in the years from 1859 to 1887 in South Africa the... About £250, including all meals range of locomotives this is not,. 'S supposed to be temporary, but it covers other countries as well as SA visible presence! Train in 1893 occasional wildlife - we saw two different people being taken by... Or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices not need a visa to visit Africa... In deluxe suites only ) 's a toilet and a washbasin, fluffy towels, soap, shampoo, gel! You walk outside the south african railways itself has security and is a hotels on rails his son give! No need to fly across South Africa +27 21 380 4400 saw two different people taken... Of the trip I was more like a waiting room, but a. Budget, do n't forget about backpacker hostels in most cities at prices... I 've ever encountered couple, and there are times when you might need take. The Jo'burg area lounge is used for the Blue train VIP lounges at Town... See a slice of South African life, just in terms of whom meet... Transported, for about £4 a day coffees for sale do it again and... This building, you 'll pass shanty towns, then Table Mountain in the.... Park station itself is well patrolled, has CCTV and is available only to Premier website...