The Blue Train route between Pretoria and Cape Town is a 27-hour journey of 1600 kilometres (994 miles), through some of the most diverse and spectacular scenery offered by the African sub-continent...
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PRETORIA TO CAPE TOWN ROUTE: On the southbound trip, the train departs from Pretoria main train station at 8:50 and arrives in Cape Town train station at 12:00 the following day. En route to Cape Town there is a stopover and excursion in Kimberley, where we take a step back in time to the days of the diamond rush.
Day 1
07:50 – 08:30 Register and check-in at The Blue Train Lounge, Pretoria Station. Guests enjoy pre-departure snacks and drinks.
08:30 Boarding starts Butlers usher guests to their suites. Suite orientation done by butlers.
08:50 The Blue Train departs from Pretoria Station
11:30 – 13:00 First sitting for Brunch
13:15 – 14:30 Second sitting for Brunch
15:30 High tea is served in the Lounge Car.
17:10 The Blue Train arrives at Kimberley Station. Guests disembark and assemble at the railway museum, from where they will be ushered to a bus, which transfers them to the centre of Kimberley to join an old tram for a ride down to the mine.
17:45 Guests arrive at the Open Mine Museum for a tour of the mine. Guests are first taken to the Diamond Die to try their luck to win a diamond, after which they will view, interesting and historical sites. Guests are also taken onto an enclosed ramp on the edge of the Kimberly hole.
18:35 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.
19:05 The Blue Train departs Kimberley Station for the journey Southbound to Cape Town.
After this exciting tour, guests are free to refresh themselves and enjoy pre-dinner drinks served at any one of our lounges. Remember, dinner is an elegant affair and men are requested to wear a jacket and tie or dress in traditional attire and ladies in elegant evening or traditional wear.
19:30 First sitting dinner
21:15 Second sitting dinner
Day 2
07:00 - 10:00 Breakfast is served on a first come first serve basis. Breakfast can also be served in-suite at the guests’ request.
12:30 The Blue Train arrives at Cape Town Station. Butlers usher guests to The Blue Train Lounge
CAPE TOWN TO PRETORIA ROUTE : On the northbound journey, the train leaves Cape Town at 08:50 and arrives in Pretoria at 12:30, in time for high tea the following day. En route to Pretoria there is a stopover and excursion in Matjiesfontein; with its Victorian buildings and original nineteenth century London lampposts it imparts to the traveller, the uncanny sense of entering a colonial time warp – an oasis suspended in a different age.
Day 1
07:50 - 08:30 Register and check-in at The Blue Train Lounge, Cape Town Station. Guests enjoy pre-departure snacks and drinks.
08:30 Boarding starts. Butlers usher guests to their suites. Suite orientation done by butlers.
08:50 The Blue Train departs from Cape Town Station.
11:30 – 13:00 First sitting for Brunch
13:00 – 14:30 Second sitting for Brunch
14:35 – 15:15 The Blue Train arrives at Matjiesfontein for a 45 minute off-the-train excursion.
On arrival at Matjiesfontein guests are invited for a glass of sherry at the bar. The sherry glass engraved with The Blue Train logo is a memento for guests to keep. 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.
15:20 The Blue Train departs for its northbound journey to Pretoria.
16:00 High tea is served in the Lounge Car.
17:00 After an exciting interlude guests are free to refresh themselves and enjoy pre-dinner drinks at any one of our lounges.
18:30 First sitting for dinner. Remember, dinner is an elegant affair and men are requested to wear a jacket and tie and ladies in elegant evening wear.
20:30 Second sitting for dinner
Day 2
07:00 - 10:00 Breakfast is served on a first come first serve basis.
Breakfast can also be served in-suite at the guests’ request.
12:30 The Blue Train arrives at Pretoria Station. Butlers usher guests to The Blue Train Lounge
01 Jul - 31 Aug 2011
R10 040 per person sharing twin / double deluxe
R5015 single supplement deluxe
R10 845 per person sharing twin / double luxury
R5425 single supplement luxury
01 Sep - 15 Nov 2011
R12 385 per person sharing twin / double deluxe
R6190 single supplement deluxe
R13 485 per person sharing twin / double luxury
R6570 single supplement luxury
16 Nov - 31 Dec 2011
R10 040 per person sharing twin / double deluxe
R5015 single supplement deluxe
R10 845 per person sharing twin / double luxury
R5425 single supplement luxury
01 Jan - 31 Aug 2012
R11 145 per person sharing twin / double deluxe
R5575 single supplement deluxe
R11 500 per person sharing twin / double luxury
R5745 single supplement luxury
01 Sep - 15 Nov 2012
R13 135 per person sharing twin / double deluxe
R6555 single supplement deluxe
R14 300 per person sharing twin / double luxury
R6960 single supplement luxury
16 Nov - 31 Dec 2012
R10 640 per person sharing twin / double deluxe
R5325 single supplement deluxe
R11 500 per person sharing twin / double luxury
R5745 single supplement luxury
Includes
All meals.
High tea.
Drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic).
Off-the train excursions.
Excludes
French champagne.
Caviar.
External telephone calls.
• Rates quoted are for a one-way journey and are subject to change without prior notification.
• Arrival times and off-the train excursions cannot be guaranteed.
• Reservations for children on request only.
• Special requests for meals (e.g. Kosher and Halaal) to be specified at time of reservation.
• Bed preference (double or single) to be specified when making a reservation, as double beds are limited.
• Guests are requested to check in 1 hour prior to departure at The Blue Train lounges in Pretoria and Cape Town.
Blue Train Departure Schedule