The Blue Train
The Blue Train has been synonymous with luxury hospitality since 1946
Rate: Journey Dependant – See Below
The Blue Train has been synonymous with luxury hospitality, tourism and leisure since 1946.It offers a unique way of experiencing some of Southern Africa’s magnificent landscapes and landmarks. On board the train, guests indulge with fine cuisine accompanied by some of the best wines South Africa has to offer. Around-the-clock personal Butlers see to the guests’ every need for the duration of their experience; be it in the comfort of their private suites or at any one of our exquisite lounges.
Suite Facilities
On The Blue Train luxury assumes a new dimension, becoming the working definition of everything your heart desires. You’ll feel it from the moment you step into your suite, transformed from an elegant, spacious lounge by day, into a sanctuary of comfort and slumber by night.
The De Luxe suite offers you a choice between twin beds (with shower) or double beds (with bath).
Luxury suites are more spacious and offer twin or double beds with bath facilities.
All suites on board The Blue Train come equipped with a writing desk, ideally positioned next to the window, where you can note the view in style. Each suite is a world on its own, with an individually controlled air-conditioning system and a private entertainment centre with a choice of movie channels and radio stations. The Luxury Suite takes the choice even further, with an inviting selection of compact disks and movies on video and DVD.
You can also tune into the driver’s eye view camera, and watch the world ahead as you swiftly glide along.
The Luxury Train is synonymous with the luxury of personal service that comes as standard with a dedicated Butler at your beck and call to ensure the ultimate definition of luxury in motion.
Fine Dining
The Train provides fine dining and the gourmet cuisine is complemented by the carefully selected, best South African wines.
All meals are freshly prepared on board the train by Executive Chefs. In keeping with the classically romantic ambience of the 42-seater dining car, lunch is a casual affair, while dinner is formal. Men are requested to wear a jacket and tie or dress in traditional attire and ladies are requested to dress in elegant evening wear or traditional attire.
Elegant Lounge Facilities
The warm ambience of the elegant lounge car with its large windows allows for panoramic views of the passing countryside. Enjoy high tea in the warm surroundings of the lounge car or meet for a pre-dinner drink.
Should you prefer the more relaxing ambience of a gentleman’s pub atmosphere, then the club car is the ideal place to be, offering impeccable service with its card tables, a small library and a fully-equipped bar. Here guests can watch a short film about the areas, which the train is passing. After dinner guests can also enjoy a Cuban cigar before they retire to their suites.
Description of route and off-the train excursions
Pretoria – Cape Town – Pretoria
The route between Pretoria and Cape Town is a 27-hour journey through some of the most diverse and spectacular scenery the sub-continent has to offer. Southbound, off-the train excursions include the diamond town of Kimberley where one can explore the Big Hole and the Diamond Museum. Northbound, visit the historical town of Matjiesfontein where the Victoria 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.
Tailormade Charters
Why not charter The Blue Train for strategic meetings, product launches, VIP breakfasts, lunches, dinner and cocktail parties, weddings and more. You can also book a charter with a difference such as a Golfing or Safari charter through the unique beauty of the “Valley of the Olifants” along the Kruger National Park, or to other attractions of the Mpumalanga or Kwazulu-Natal Provinces. Charters are not limited to the charter options or the routes mentioned above. Charters are dependant on rail network’s compatibility with The Blue Train’s technology.
Business “Unusual” – Conference Facility
The conference facility offers a venue for up to 22 delegates. Equipped with audio visual and technical equipment for a high-level business meeting or small conference, this is surely one of the most spectacular meeting venues for the discerning businessperson. The Conference car can also be adapted for smaller meetings offering a more relaxed atmosphere.
The Train offers far more than just a journey. It is an all-inclusive experience offering a combination of unsurpassed luxury travel, five star accommodation, fine cuisine, personalised butler service and routes that offer breathtaking views of the countryside.
So take a journey into a timeless world of grace, elegance and romance, where spectacular scenery stirs your imagination and luxurious comfort soothes your body and soul.
THE BLUE TRAIN – UNIQUE ATTRIBUTES
- Strong heritage
- Panoramic size windows
- Modern and Technological advancement of the product (Driver’s Eye View camera, unique coupling, air-cushion suspension system, TV monitor in the suites, improved automated entertainment system, GPS)
- Travel throughout day and night (don’t have to stop for our guests to enjoy a peaceful night’s rest)
- On board entertainment (TV monitors in room enabling guests to watch movies, selection of music channels and radio stations to listen to etc.)
- Unique conference facility
- On board boutique selling exquisite jewellery pieces and Blue Train branded mementos
- Luxurious, comfortable experience
The Blue Train
PRETORIA • CAPE TOWN • PRETORIA
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.
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.
Guests are reminded that check-in time at the Pre-departure Lounges at both the Pretoria and Cape Town Stations is an hour prior to departure.
[table “” not found /]PRETORIA • HOEDSPRUIT • PRETORIA
South Africa is synonymous with a number of things, including amongst others; Cape Town with Table Mountain, Robben Island, Kruger National Park, to name but a few.
The Blue Train, which already traverses to and from Cape Town on a weekly basis, will be adding a new route to another South African iconic site, the Kruger National Park in the Hoedspruit area. The Hoedspruit / Kruger National Park route, which is currently available on charter, will be added to The Blue Train’s 2016 schedule and will happen bi-annually. The Blue Train will travel from Pretoria and stop at Hoedspruit Station, where guests will then be transferred to their preferred Lodges in and around the Kruger National Park, as per their chosen itineraries organised with their tour operators.
The Kruger National Park is in the top three destinations that visitors want to see while on holiday in South Africa. It is one of Africa’s largest game reserves covering an area of 19,633 square Kilometres (7,580 sq miles) between the two provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in northeastern part of South Africa. The Kruger National Park houses Africa’s Big Five : Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Leopard and Buffalo and other numerous unique wildlife.
Other activities to do while at the Kruger National Park include but are not limited to: game drives, bird- watching, camping, bush walking safaris, a visit to the Blyde River Canyon, etc.
The Blue Train
Rates and Departure Dates
HIGH SEASON:
01 September 2020 – 15 November 2020
LOW SEASON:
01 January – 31 August 2020 & 16 November – 31 December 2020
2020 RATES | ||
---|---|---|
PRETORIA – CAPE TOWN – PRETORIA | ||
Suite type | Low season | High season |
Luxury Double – rate per person sharing | R25 820-00 | R32 135-00 |
Luxury Single rate – including supplement | R38 725-00 | R48 200-00 |
De Luxe Double – rate per person sharing | R20 615-00 | R25 445-00 |
De Luxe Single rate including Supplement | R30 920-00 | R38 155-00 |
PRETORIA – KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – PRETORIA | ||
Suite type | Low season | |
Luxury Double rate per person sharing | R47 040-00 | |
Luxury Single rate including Supplement | R70 560-00 | |
De Luxe Double per person sharing | R37 630-00 | |
De Luxe Single rate including Supplement | R56 445-00 |
DEPARTURE DATES | |||
---|---|---|---|
PRETORIA TO CAPE TOWN 2020 | |||
Month | Day | Month | Day |
January | 8,13, 15, 20, 22, 27 | July | 6, 13, 20, 27 |
February | 3, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26 | August | 17, 24, 31 |
March | 2, 9, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30 | September | 7, 14, 21, 23, 28 |
April | 1, 6, 13, 20, 27 | October | 5, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 |
May | 4, 11, 18, 25 | November | 2, 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30 |
June | 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 | December | 7, 14, 16 |
CAPE TOWN TO PRETORIA 2020 | |||
Month | Day | Month | Day |
January | 11, 16, 18, 23, 25, 30 | July | 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 |
February | 6, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29 | August | 20, 27 |
March | 5, 12,19, 21, 26, 28 | September | 3, 10, 17, 24, 26 |
April | 2, 4, 9, 16, 23, 30 | October | 1, 8, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31 |
May | 7, 14, 21, 28 | November | 5, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26, 28 |
June | 4, 11, 18, 25 | December | 3, 10, 17, 19 |
PRETORIA – KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – PRETORIA 2020 | |||
18 – 20 June 2020 | |||
30 July – 01 August 2020 |