subject: Top African Train Journeys [print this page] For many visitors to Africa, time is limited, and flights become the obvious mode of transport between highlights on destination itineraries. Yet rail journeys reveal the true heart of Africa. Trips between Cape Town and Pretoria show the mountainous and rich wine land regions of the Cape, the bare and scarce Karoo and rich grasslands of the Highveld. Here are the top African rail journeys.
Cape Town to Pretoria
With its diamond-encrusted history and sapphire-blue livery, the Blue Train is the longest established of the world's remaining luxury trains. Board the Blue Train in the jacaranda city of Pretoria and travel south through farmlands and along the 'golden arc'. En-route to Cape Town; stop in at Kimberly - once the epicentre of a worldwide diamond rush. Here, guests disembark, and visit the Kimberly Mine Museum and the 'Big Hole', the largest hole in the world excavated by hand.
Board the Blue Train once more and continue on to a southbound journey into the heartland of the Great Karoo. Awaken to the sight of vineyards and orchards as you descend through mysterious and beautiful valleys, towards Cape Town's imposing Table Mountain, gateway to the continent.
The city of Cape Town has a lot to offer in terms of places of interest. You can visit opaline beaches washed by the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, watch colourful old fishing boats in Kalk Bay, explore the old Malay slave quarters and wander through Greenmarket Square's famous flea market. The best of Africa is available on the Blue Train.
Edwardian Train Safari
Recapture the romance of a bygone era aboard the wood-panelled coaches of The Pride of Africa for a relaxing 6100km journey into the heart of Africa. Experience a world-class travel experience aboard the wood-panelled coaches of Rovos Rail. With plush Edwardian interiors, the Pride of Africa features a classic 1920s-style observation car, teak pillar-lined dining cars and three grades of sleeping car.
The train travels from Cape Town to Zimbabwe in Zambia and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, including stops at Kimberley, Pretoria, the Kruger National Park and Victoria Falls. A range of off-train excursions are available, such as Kruger Park Game - where travellers get to see a variety of wildlife, including cheetahs, leopards, lions, rhinos, elephants and impala in South Africa's largest game reserve.
At Victoria Falls guests can discover one of Africa's best-known natural wonders. At its highest, Victoria Falls drops a distance of 108m. You can also explore the Cape wine lands, where guests can explore some of South Africa's most famous wine estates in a region with a wine culture dating back 350 years.
Cape Town to Dar es Salaam
This magnificent sojourn will take you through South Africa with short tours of the diamond town of Kimberley and the capital city of Pretoria. Then a two-night stay in a private game lodge in the famous Kruger Park Game area, before crossing into Zimbabwe, with another stop at the Victoria Falls Hotel.
After crossing the mighty Zambezi River the train travels north eastwards through Zambia, joining the Tazara Railway line at Kapiri Mposhe. After a picnic at Kundalilia Falls, the journey continues the climb towards the Zambian/Tanzanian border. On the last day the train passes through the stunning Selous Game Reserve, the largest on the continent.
by: Sue Johnson
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