The Blue Train
Treat yourself with an unforgettable experience aboard one of South Africa’s leading luxury trains.
This 5 star, 40 hour experience offers you around-the-clock butler service, 2 lounge cars (smoking and non-smoking), an observation car, carriages with gold-tinted picture windows and fully carpeted and soundproofed suites, all with en-suite bathrooms.
Situated behind the train’s engine is the Club car, where you can enjoy a Cuban cigar served after dinner while sipping on cognac, or any drink of your choice. If a game of backgammon, chess or cards is not for you, browse our library selection, enjoy the big screen or get lost in thought gazing up at the star-lit African sky.
Afternoon High Tea and after-dinner drinks are served in the Lounge car, situated in the middle of the train.
When not in use as a Conference car, the Observation car serves as an extension of the Lounge Car.
Dine with friends or enjoy a romantic dinner for two in the elegant Dining Car. You can also choose to dine in the privacy of your own suite. Our on-board chefs prepare dishes of the highest standard, regularly refreshing the menu and using only the freshest local ingredients. There is something to suite every taste, including Halaal, Kosher, gluten-free of vegan. Simply notify us at the time of reservation and our chefs will prepare a meal suited to your needs.
Dinner is elegant, with the dress code being formal. Tasteful background music compliments the evening. The Dining Car can accommodate 42 guests in a sitting, with 2 sittings when needed.
Upon confirmation of your reservation, Secrets VIP guests receive one night complimentary stay, at either the 5 star Castello Di Monte, Pretoria or The Taj Hotel, Cape Town with return transfers.
Gallery
Routes and suggested itineraries
Pretoria to Cape Town
The route between Pretoria and Cape Town is a 31-hour journey of 1 600 kilometres (994 miles), through some of the most diverse and spectacular scenery offered by the African sub-continent.
ITINERARY
Day 1
12:30
Register and check-in at The Blue Train Lounge, Pretoria Station.
Guests enjoy pre-departure snacks and drinks.
13:15
Boarding commences and butlers usher guests to their suites. Suite orientation done by butlers. Boarding concludes at 15:45
14:00
The Blue Train departs from Pretoria Station (will depart earlier if all guests have checked-in.)
16:00
High Tea is served in the Non-Smoking Lounge Car
18:30 – 20:00
First sitting for Dinner
(Dinner is an elegant affair. Gentlemen are requested to at least wear a jacket/
waistcoat). Guests enjoy post-dinner drinks, cognacs and Cuban cigars in the Club Car
before retiring to bed.
20:15 – 22:00
Second sitting for Dinner and guests enjoy post-dinner drinks, cognacs and Cuban cigars in the Club Car before retiring to bed.
Day 2
06:00 – 09:00
Breakfast is served.
09:30
The Blue Train arrives at Kimberley Station and guests disembark and gather at the Railway Museum, from where they will be ushered to a bus, which transfers them to the Kimberley Open Mine Museum.
10:00
Guests arrive at the Open Mine Museum for a tour of the mine.
Guests are first taken to view interesting and historical sites and then onto an enclosed ramp on the edge of the Big Hole.
12:30
Guests depart from the Open Mine Museum for Kimberley Station
At Kimberly Station guests are greeted with a glass of sherry. The sherry glass engraved with The Blue Train logo as a memento for guests to keep.
13:00
The Blue Train departs Kimberley Station for the southbound journey to Cape Town
After this exciting tour, guests are welcome to refresh themselves and enjoy apéritifs served at any one of the lounges.
13:00 – 14:15
First sitting for Lunch
14:30 – 16:00
Second sitting for Lunch
16:30
High Tea is served in the Non-Smoking Lounge Car
18:30 – 20:30
First sitting for Dinner
Guests enjoy post-dinner drinks, cognacs and Cuban cigars in the Club Car
before retiring to bed.
20:15 – 22:00
Second sitting for Dinner and guests enjoy post-dinner drinks, cognacs and Cuban cigars in the Club Car before retiring to bed.
Day 3
06:30 – 10:30
Breakfast is served.
12:00
The Blue Train arrives at Cape Town Station and butlers usher guests to the Arrival Lounge.
Pretoria to Kruger National Park
The Blue Train also travels to South Africa’s Limpopo Province, which is home to the Kruger National Park, one of the world’s finest game parks, and home to Africa’s Big Five. These one-way 19-hour journeys take place on selected months of the year, and offer guests an opportunity of some fantastic new “rail safari” combination packages with the many private safari lodges found in the Greater Kruger and Sabi Sands areas.
ITINERARY
Day 1
10:00
Register and check-in at The Blue Train Station Lounge, Pretoria Station.Guests enjoy pre-departure snacks and drinks.
12:15
Boarding commences and butlers usher guests to their suites. Suite orientation done by butlers. Boarding concludes at 12h30.
13:00
The Blue Train departs from Pretoria Station (Will depart earlier if all guests have checked-in.)
13:30 – 15:30
A five-course gourmet lunch is served in the Dining Car
16:00
High Tea is served in the Non-Smoking Lounge Car
Guests will enjoy pre-dinner drinks served at any of the lounges and are also welcome to refresh themselves prior to dinner.
18:00 – 20:00
First sitting for Dinner
Guests enjoy post-dinner drinks, cognacs and Cuban cigars in the Club Car before retiring to bed.
20:30 – 22:30
Second sitting for Dinner
Guests enjoy post-dinner drinks, cognacs and Cuban cigars in the Club Car before retiring to bed.
Dress code for duration of the trip is smart casual or Safari wear.
Day 2
05:00
The Blue Train arrives at Numbi Train Station. Guests disembark and are transferred through Numbi Gate in open safari vehicles to a sunrise game drive that will be conducted by professional tour guides.
After the sunrise game drive, guests will enjoy a bush breakfast at an exclusive unfenced location inside the Kruger National Park. After breakfast, guests will return to Numbi Gate using an alternative route back, thereby exposing guests to more of the Kruger area.
12:00 – 15:45
A five course gourmet Lunch is served in the Dining Car.
16:00
Guests are transferred to Numbi Gate
Guests are taken for a sunset game drive that will be conducted by professional tour guides. The sunset game drive will take place on the Nkambeni concession, an area of approximately 11 400 hectares and lies between the main entrance gates of Numbi and Phabeni and stretches past Shabeni Koppie near Pretoriuskop camp.
19:30
Guests transferred to Nkambeni Safari Camp where they will experience a spectacular boma dinner, which will include an interactive cultural experience provided by a local group with international accolades.
22:00
Guests transferred back to The Blue Train
Guests enjoy post-dinner drinks, cognacs and Cuban cigars in the Club Car before retiring to bed
Day 3
06:30 – 09:30
Breakfast is served in the Dining Car.
10:00
The Blue Train arrives at Pretoria Station and butlers usher guests to the Arrival Lounge
END OF A MEMORABLE JOURNEY
* Dinner is an elegant affair and men are requested to wear a jacket and tie and ladies elegant evening wear.
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