The Blue Train in South Africa is a gift from above for you who are fed up with the hassle of air travel and happen to also have pretty deep pockets. Wouldn’t you rather feel the nostalgia of an old fashioned, luxurious and relaxing way of travel? Today’s travelers are stressing through airports full of annoying security rules, squeezing into tiny airplane seats, and arrive at their destination with king size cankles and major jet-lags. All in the purpose of getting to their destination as fast as possible. So why don’t we just take a step back in time, and let the journey be the destination on the classic, historic and famous Blue Train of South Africa?
National Geographic describes South Africa’s old luxury trains as “dominated by nostalgia for the golden age of travel – sparkling crystal, creaking mahogany paneling, fine cuisine and a decent cocktail in a heavy tumbler to celebrate sunset”. I have never been aboard the Blue Train, but I chose to trust their words! And the fact that this train has been frequented by presidents, kings, queens and other sorts of high class important people, makes it easy to believe that this is not an ordinary commute. It is more like a 5 star, rolling hotel.
Schedule and Rates
The only downside about this marvelous alternative to air travel is the fact that it’s not really an alternative at all, unless you’re flying between Cape Town and Pretoria. The Blue Train’s schedule has traditionally been strictly restricted only to Pretoria – Cape Town (and the other way, naturally) once or twice a week. However, recently it
has been slightly expanded to also include Pretoria – Durban and Pretoria – Bakubung Game Lodge. But if you have the big cash available (then I mean the really big), you can also charter the whole train to go other places, as long as there is a railroad leading there.
Riding the Blue Train from Pretoria to Cape Town takes about 27 hours, crosses 16 000 kilometer, offers the most amazing scenery and will cost you anywhere between 10 000 Rands and 19 000 Rands per person. The price depends on season, class of service and single / double occupancy. For more information, check out their website for the Blue Train Schedule and Blue Train Rates.
Blue Train Photos:
All photos in this article are from the Blue Train Website. I recommend to view the pictures below with PicLens.
Thanks for the article and great pictures! I have also not ridden the Blue Train but it is one of my life-long dreams. Hopefully it will happen…and thanks for publishing a great blog!
The Blue Train travels an approximately 1,600 kilometer (1,000 mile) journey in South Africa between Pretoria and Cape Town. It is one of the most luxurious train journeys in the world. It boasts butler service, two lounge cars (smoking and non-smoking), an observation car, and carriages with gold-tinted picture windows, in soundproofed, fully carpeted compartments, each featuring its own en-suite (many of which are equipped with a full-sized bathtub).
The service is promoted as a “magnificent moving five-star hotel” by its operators, who note that kings and presidents have travelled on it.