The Blue Train - Cape Town to Pretoria 2024/25

Itinerary

3 days / 2 nights

Day 1 : Depart Cape Town

Register and check in from 10:00 at The Blue Train Lounge at Cape Town Station and enjoy a pre-departure drink with snacks before your butler shows you to your luxurious cabin on board The Blue Train. At 12:00 the train pulls out from the station and follows the northbound tracks of Cecil John Rhodes, who dreamed of a railroad from Cape to Cairo.

Relax in your cabin or one of the lounge cars and watch the beautiful South African panorama glide effortlessly by. Enjoy high tea in the non-smoking Lounge Car and a superb dinner on board as the trains heads north.

Before you drift to sleep, glance through the window at a sky filled with a trillion stars and look forward to a second day on board this beautiful train.

Day 2 : Kimberley

Breakfast is served between 07:00 and 10:00 and can be taken either in the Restaurant Car in in your suite. Enjoy the morning watching the scenery go by or chatting with fellow travellers before lunch is served on board.

After lunch, the train will arrive at Kimberley Station where you will disembark for an off-the-train excursion at this historic town. Kimberley, capital of the Northern Cape Province has a notable historical importance because of its diamond mining past and the siege during the Second Boer War. Fortunes were made here by entrepreneurs such as Cecil Rhodes and Barney Barnato, and De Beers, the world known diamond company can also trace its roots to the early days of this mining town.

Passengers will gather at the Railway Museum, from where they will board a bus for the journey to the Kimberley Open Mine Museum. At the museum, guests will be shown around the interesting and historical sights before being taken to an enclosed ramp on the edge of the 'Big Hole', an open-pit and underground mine claimed to be the largest hole in the world excavated by hand.

Return to Kimberley Station where you will be greeted with a glass of sherry. The sherry glass is engraved with the Blue Train logo and is a momento for you to keep. Back on board the Blue Train guests are welcome to refresh themselves and enjoy aperitifs before dinner.

After a sumptuous dinner, guests can enjoy post-dinner drinks, cognac and Cuban cigars in the Club Car before retiring to bed.

Day 3 : Pretoria

Breakfast is served between 07:00 and 10:00. Enjoy watching the scenery pass by before lunch. The train arrives into Pretoria around 18:00. Guests disembark and make final farewells beforetheir onward journey.

Download a Copy of the Itinerary

One of the elegant lounges on board The Blue Train

Your Luxury Suite at night

Beautiful scenery along the route

Cape Town to Pretoria Departure Dates

Departures 2024 :

January 11, 18, 25.

February 1, 8, 15, 22, 29.

March 7, 14, 21, 28.

April 4, 11, 18, 25.

May 9, 16.

July 11, 18.

August 8, 15.

September 5, 12, 19.

October 10, 17, 24, 31.

November 7, 14, 21.

December 5, 12,19.

Departures 2025 :

January 9, 16, 23, 30.

February 6, 13, 20, 27.

March 6, 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.

Three-Day Itinerary : 2024/25

Day 1 :

10:00

11:15

Boarding commences. Butlers usher guests to their suites. Suite orientation done by butlers.
Boarding concludes at 11:45

12:00

The Blue Train departs from Cape Town Station. Canapés will be served on board.

13:00 - 14:15

First sitting for lunch.

14:30 - 16:00

Second sitting for lunch.

16:00 - 17:00

Guests enjoy leisure time at any of the exquisite lounges and are welcome to refresh themselves prior to dinner.

18:30 - 20:00

First sitting for Dinner.

20:15 - 22:00

Second sitting for Dinner.

Remember, dinner is an elegant affair and men are requested to wear a jacket and tie and ladies elegant evening wear.
Guests enjoy post-dinner drinks, Cognacs and Cuban cigars in the Club Car before retiring to bed.

Day 2 :

07:00 - 10:00

Breakfast is served on a first come first serve basis.

11:30 - 13:00

First sitting for lunch

13:15 - 14:30

Second sitting for lunch

15:00

The Blue Train arrives at Kimberley Station.
You arrive at the Open Mine Museum for a tour of the mine. Guests are first taken to view interesting and historical sites and then taken onto an enclosed ramp on the edge of the Big Hole.

17:00

Guests depart from the Open Mine Museum for Kimberley Station.
At Kimberley Station guests are greeted with a glass of sherry. The sherry glass engraved with The Blue Train logo is a memento for guests to keep.

18:30

The Blue Train departs Kimberley Station for the northbound journey to Pretoria.
After this exciting tour, guests are free to refresh themselves and enjoy pre-dinner drinks served at any one of the train's lounges.

18:30 - 20:00

First sitting for dinner.

20:30 - 22:00

Second sitting for dinner.

Day 3 :

07:00 - 10:00

Breakfast is served on a first come first serve basis.

11:30 - 13:00

First sitting for lunch

13:15 - 14:30

Second sitting for lunch

18:00

The Blue Train arrives at Pretoria Station.
Butlers usher guests to the Arrival Lounge.

Train Fares Cape Town to Pretoria 2024/25 :

Deluxe Suite from £TBA per person

Luxury Suite from £TBA per person

Prices are per person, sharing a twin/double suite, one way.

Please note that all prices shown are intended as a guide only, as rates can vary depending on currency fluctuations etc. The correct prices will be quoted at the time of booking.

Price Includes :

Accommodation on board the train.
All table d'hôte meals and room service.
All alcoholic and other beverages, except for certain imported beverages.
Sightseeing excursions and entrance fees.

Please note: All timings and itineraries shown are for your guidance only. Confirmed timings and itineraries will be supplied with your travel documents.