Blue Train Africa, South Africa

Blue Train OFFERS & NEWS

Be aware. Travel wisely. Live the moment.

NO CARD FEES / NO BOOKING FEES / NO JOINING FEES

Members of the Club (free to join - subscribe to our newsletter) benefit from :

- Club Discount of 2.5% off the published prices. No booking fee.

- 50% child fare discount - age 6 - 11 years. 5 years and under free of charge, for conditions visit the Blue Train child policy

- South African residency discount.

NOTE: Train promotions cannot be combined, except with the Club, SA resident and child fare discounts.

See more offers here

ABOUT THE BLUE TRAIN

The 2-night journey on the Blue Train between Pretoria and Cape Town fits naturally into your touring plans for South Africa.

The Blue Train has been synonymous with luxury and hospitality since 1946, travelling through some of the most diverse and spectacular scenery offered by the African sub-continent. Guests can expect personal and attentive service, a dedicated butler, comfortable accommodation, excellent fine-dining and exquisite wines.

The Blue Train presents honeymoon couples with the gift of complimentary Champagne and a blue leather photo frame.

The Train offers scheduled and charter services. The scheduled route is from Pretoria to Cape Town or vice versa and the charter routes are from either Pretoria to Durban or Pretoria to Hoedspruit.

Scroll down for detailed itineraries, dates and prices

or EMAIL THE CLUB

ACCOMMODATION

Suites

The suite is a spacious lounge by day and a sanctuary by night with goose down duvets and pillows. Private bathrooms offer marble floor and wall tiles, marble basins with gold fittings, along with a shower/bath and under-floor heating in both the bathroom and bedroom.

All the suites have a writing desk, ideally positioned next to the window, where you can enjoy the view in style whilst putting pen to paper. Also provided are air-conditioning, radio/movie channels and a link to the driver's-eye-view camera. The GPS map on an overhead monitor means you can keep track of progress.

There are two types of suites.

The Luxury Suite has either twin or double bedded options with a long, deep bath for slow, luxuriant soaking - a rare treat on a train. The Luxury Suite extends the choice of radio and movie channels even further, with a private digital entertainment centre and a selection of music CDs and big-screen movies on DVD.

The De Luxe Suite features twin beds with shower, or a double bed with bath tub and hand held shower.

Note that De Luxe double bed suites are limited in number, and cannot be guaranteed.

Dining Car

Here the reassuring weight of Sheffield cutlery and crystal glassware on crisp white linen set the tone for the delights to follow. Choose from two dinnertime sittings, or dine in your suite. The dining car seats 42 people, with 2 sittings for lunch and dinner.

Each meal is accompanied by a selection of equally tasteful background music, ranging from smooth jazz to light classical to the mellow tones of the Soweto String Quartet.

Lounge Car & Club Car

Linking the private suites are two wooden-panelled cars - The Blue Train's Lounge and Club Cars are ideal for an apéritif, an interlude between meals, or an after-dinner conversation. Smoking is permitted in the Club Car. Entertainment includes cards, chess, or backgammon, or a volume from the library. In the main lounge car, high tea is served each afternoon.

A video camera on the front locomotive gives a driver's eye view of the scenery and is shown on a screen in the club car and on a TV channel in the suites.

The burnished surroundings of the club car is the single public area where smoking is permitted, this being at the back of the train.

Observation / Conference Car

The conference car (an observation car) is the ideal setting for a family get-together, meetings, seminars or special occasions with a difference.

With sufficient notice, the conference car can be adapted for smaller and less formal sessions. With full business facilities, plush lounge seating and breath-taking panoramas of the passing countryside, this is an experience that no client or colleague will ever forget.

This car also has a paraplegic suite, with an easy-access shower for wheelchair users..

There is an Observation Car on all long and short haul journeys.

CATERING

Continental or full English breakfast are served at your leisure.

Lunch and dinner menus feature a selection of local cuisine from Karoo lamb and ostrich fillet to Knysna oysters, accompanied by award-winning wines from the Cape.

Prepared from the freshest produce and ingredients, artfully presented in the finest Silver Service tradition, The Blue Train's legendary cuisine is an irresistible tribute to culinary mastery.

The Blue Train is fully equipped to accommodate vegetarian, Halaal, Kosher or other special dietary requirements; mention on reservation.

Join one of two dinnertime sittings, or savour your meal in the comfort of your suite.

Here is an interview with the Blue Train Executive Chef Cresan.

Dinner Menu Example

PRE/POST ACCOMMODATION AND TOURS

Please ask if you would like to be informed of the above services.

The Luxury Safari Club simplifies your search for the ultimate safari experience. We have applied the same concierge approach to developing your wildlife experience.

ITINERARIES/DATES/PRICES 2024/2025

Cape Town to Pretoria

Kimberley (Northbound journey).

3 days/2 nights. The Blue Train leaves Cape Town at 12:00hrs (registration at the Blue Train lounge from 11:30hrs) and arrives on the third day in Pretoria at 18:00hrs.

Day 2, the train arrives at Kimberley Station in the afternoon. The bus transfers guests to the Open Mine Museum for a tour of the mine, a visit of historical sites and then onto an enclosed ramp at the edge of the Big Hole. Back at Kimberley Station guests are greeted with a glass of sherry. The sherry glass is engraved with The Blue Train logo and is a memento for guests to keep. After this exciting tour, guests are welcome to refresh themselves and enjoy aperitifs before dinner.

Day 3 and arrival in Pretoria at 18:00hrs.

Pretoria to Cape Town

Kimberley (Southbound journey):

3 days/2 nights. The Blue Train leaves Pretoria at 12:00hrs (registration at the Blue Train lounge from 11:30hrs) and arrives on the third day in Cape Town at 18:00hrs.

Day 2, the train arrives at Kimberley Station. The bus transfers guests to the Open Mine Museum for a tour of the mine, a visit of historical sites and then onto an enclosed ramp at the edge of the Big Hole. Back at Kimberley Station guests are greeted with a glass of sherry. The sherry glass is engraved with The Blue Train logo and is a memento for guests to keep. After this exciting tour, guests are welcome to refresh themselves and enjoy aperitifs lunch. High tea is served later allowing you to relax before pre-drinks and dinner.

Day 3 and arrival in Cape Town around 18:00hrs.

Dates and Prices 2024

Cape Town to Pretoria 2024: November 7,14,21. December 5,12,19

Pretoria to Cape Town 2024: November 4,11,18. December 2,9,16

2024: Low Season: 16 November–31 December

Prices are pre Club Discount and Per Person

2024: High Season: 01 September - 15 November

Prices are pre Club Discount and Per Person

Dates and Prices 2025

Cape Town to Pretoria 2025: January 9,16,30. February 6,13,20,27. March 13,20,27. April 10,17,24. May 8,15. July 10,17,24. August 14,21,28. September 11,18,25. October 9,16,23,30. November 6,13,20. December 4,11,18

Pretoria to Cape Town 2025: January 6,13,27. February 3,10,17,24. March 10,17,24. April 7,14,21. May 5,12. July 7,14,21. August 11,18,25. September 3,15,22. October 6,13,20,27. November 3,10,17. December 1,8,15

2025: Low Season: 1 January-31 August. 16 November–31 December

Prices are pre Club Discount and Per Person

2025: High Season: 01 September - 15 November

Prices are pre Club Discount and Per Person

Pretoria to Hoedspruit RETURN

This return tour offers a new “rail safari" combination packages with the many wildlife reserves and private safari lodges in the Greater Kruger and Sabi Sands area. The journey between Pretoria and Hoedspruit in either direction takes 19 hours. Please ask for the detailed itinerary.

The Kruger National Park is in South Africa's top three destinations. It is one of Africa's largest game reserves. It lies between the two provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in north east South Africa.

The Kruger National Park houses Africa's Big Five: Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Leopard and Buffalo and other numerous unique wildlife.

This is a return trip and include Sunrise & Sunset Game drives and a Boma dinner that will be accompanied by entertainment and traditional dancing.

Pretoria to Hoedspruit, depart 13:00, arriving Hoedspruit at 05:00 next day

Hoedspruit to Pretoria, depart 22:00, arriving Pretoria at 10:00 next day.

Dates and Prices 2025

Pretoria to Hoedspruit return:

2025: 26 - 28 June

Prices are pre Club Discount and Per Person

Contact us for Club Price and Offers

The Blue Train Private Charter / Hire

Available private hire round trip routes from Pretoria include:

Lunch or Dinner Charter. Two-night round trips from Pretoria to: Sun City / Durban / Kruger National Park / Magaliesberg

Other options available.

Contact us for more information.

LUXURY SAFARI CLUB

Pre/Post tours & accommodation. Please ask the Luxury Safari Club.

GENERAL INFORMATION, BLUE TRAIN

Travel & Health Advice. Here are travel and health advisories links to national governments and health agencies, including the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Included. All meals, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and off-the train excursions excluding French champagne, caviar and external telephone calls.

Prices are per person sharing. Prices quoted are ex Club Discount

Facilities. Temperature control per suite; 3 luxury suites per carriage, bathrooms with bath; 4 deluxe suites per carriage, 3 with showers, 1 with bath; luxury suites have hifi, audio CD and DVD systems; fax and postbox; first-aider on board with doctor available en route.

Smoking. Smoking is permitted in the Club Car.

Dress Code. Breakfast is casual. Lunch is smart casual. Dinner dress code is a jacket and tie for the men and elegant wear for the ladies.

Luggage. Storage space is limited in the cabin and soft top cases are recommended for easy storage. There is a luggage van for additional luggage (no restrictions on luggage), that a guest may not need during the journey.

Check-In. Guests must check in at least 1 hour before departure at The Blue Train lounges in Pretoria and Cape Town. All timings are approximate.

Passport. Please be aware that visitors to South Africa are required to have at least three blank VISA pages (not endorsement pages) in their passports in order to receive an entry visa. Passports must also be valid for at least six months from the guests' return home date. Recommend a validity of nine months to prevent any problems.

Child Policy. Please go here for the child policy of the Blue Train.

Unforeseen events/changes: itineraries, routes and times may change at any time for reasons outside the control of the train company. Every effort will be made by train staff to minimise any impact; the Luxury Train Club cannot accept any responsibility for any changes. The Club aims to keep itineraries as up to date as possible.

Coronavirus Notice: Go here for general travel and health advice from governments, WHO and other organisations.

Blue Train Covid Flexible Terms: Go here for special Covid terms and conditions.

Onward Travel. It is advisable to book flights the day after the train's arrival.

Looking for a pre- and post-Blue Train safari? The Luxury Safari Club simplifies your search for the ultimate safari experience. We have applied the same concierge approach to developing your wildlife experience.

Blue Train Fact Sheet here.

PICTURE GALLERY

In addition to the photos in the gallery at the top of this page, see more photos from the Blue Train

BOOKINGS & RESERVATIONS

All luxury train ticket prices are at publicly-quoted rates. Members get discount & the guarantee of any valid train offer.

Contact us to book The Blue Train or for more information.

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