Members of the Club (free to join- just subscribe to our newsletter) benefit from:

- Discount off the published prices of any journey;

- Free pre- or post-trip hotel (bed and breakfast) stay, 1 night, Cape Town or Pretoria. Free transfer from the hotel to the station. These offers apply to the following hotels - Pretoria: Sheraton Hotel or Castello Di Monte; Cape Town: Taj Hotel, African Pride 15 On Orange Hotel or The Westin;

- 50% child fare discount - age 6 - 11 years. 5 years and under free of charge, for conditions visit the Blue Train child policy;

NOTE: Train promotions cannot be combined, except with the Club and child fare discounts.

See more offers here

Fay says, "The 2-day journey on the renowned Blue Train between Pretoria and Cape Town is trouble-free and luxurious, fitting naturally into your touring plans for South Africa."

ABOUT THE BLUE TRAIN

The Blue Train has been synonymous with luxury and hospitality since 1946, travelling through some of the most diverse and spectacular scenery offered by the African sub-continent. Guests can expect personal and attentive service, a dedicated butler, comfortable accommodation, excellent fine-dining and exquisite wines.

The Blue Train presents honeymoon couples with the gift of complimentary Champagne and a blue leather photo frame.

The Train offers scheduled and charter services. The scheduled route is from Pretoria to Cape Town or vice versa and the charter routes are from either Pretoria to Durban or Pretoria to Hoedspruit.

ACCOMMODATION

Suites

The suite is a spacious lounge by day and a sanctuary by night with goose down duvets and pillows. Private bathrooms offer marble floor and wall tiles, marble basins with gold fittings, along with a shower/bath and under-floor heating in both the bathroom and bedroom.

All the suites have a writing desk, ideally positioned next to the window, where you can enjoy the view in style whilst putting pen to paper. Also provided are air-conditioning, radio/movie channels and a link to the driver's-eye-view camera. The GPS map on an overhead monitor means you can keep track of progress.

There are two types of suites.

The Luxury Suite has either twin or double bedded options with a long, deep bath for slow, luxuriant soaking - a rare treat on a train. The Luxury Suite extends the choice of radio and movie channels even further, with a private digital entertainment centre and a selection of music CDs and big-screen movies on DVD.

The De Luxe Suite features twin beds with shower, or a double bed with bath tub and hand held shower.

Note that De Luxe double bed suites are limited in number, and cannot be guaranteed.

Dining Car

Here the reassuring weight of Sheffield cutlery and crystal glassware on crisp white linen set the tone for the delights to follow. Choose from two dinnertime sittings, or dine in your suite. The dining car seats 42 people, with 2 sittings for lunch and dinner.

Each meal is accompanied by a selection of equally tasteful background music, ranging from smooth jazz to light classical to the mellow tones of the Soweto String Quartet.

Lounge Car & Club Car

Linking the private suites are two wooden-panelled cars - The Blue Train's Lounge and Club Cars are ideal for an apéritif, an interlude between meals, or an after-dinner conversation. Smoking is permitted in the Club Car. Entertainment includes cards, chess, or backgammon, or a volume from the library. In the main lounge car, high tea is served each afternoon.

A video camera on the front locomotive gives a driver's eye view of the scenery and is shown on a screen in the club car and on a TV channel in the suites.

The burnished surroundings of the club car is the single public area where smoking is permitted, this being at the back of the train.

Observation / Conference Car

The conference car (an observation car) is the ideal setting for family get-togethers, meetings, seminars, think-tanks or special occasions with a difference.

With sufficient notice, the conference car can be adapted for smaller and less formal sessions. With full business facilities, plush lounge seating and breath-taking panoramas of the passing countryside, this is an experience that no client or colleague will ever forget.

This car also has a paraplegic suite, with an easy-access shower for wheelchair users..

NOTE: Not all departures include the Observation / Conference Car; go here to the Blue Train Observation Car page for details.

CATERING

Continental or full English breakfast are served at your leisure. Lunch and dinner menus feature a selection of local cuisine from Karoo lamb and ostrich fillet to Knysna oysters, accompanied by award-winning wines from the Cape. Prepared from the freshest produce and ingredients, artfully presented in the finest Silver Service tradition, The Blue Train's legendary cuisine is an irresistible tribute to culinary mastery.

The Blue Train is fully equipped to accommodate vegetarian, Halaal, Kosher or other special dietary requirements, which should be specified when you make your reservation. Join us at one of two dinnertime sittings, or savour your meal in the comfort of your suite. A Continental or full English breakfast is served at your leisure.

PRE/POST ACCOMMODATION AND TOURS

Please ask if you would like to be informed of the above services.

The Luxury Safari Club simplifies your search for the ultimate safari experience. We have applied the same concierge approach to developing your wildlife experience.

ITINERARIES 2017/2018

Looking for a pre- and post-Blue Train safari? The Luxury Safari Club simplifies your search for the ultimate safari experience. We have applied the same concierge approach to developing your wildlife experience.

CAPE TOWN TO PRETORIA

Matjiesfontein (Northbound journey)

Founded by an immigrant Scotsman at a minor railway stop in 1884, Matjiesfontein became a fashionable oasis for the rich and privileged, renowned for a climate beneficial for chest complaints. Visited by Lord Randolph Churchill and Rudyard Kipling alike, it was also home to Olive Schreiner, one of South Africa's first feminist writers.

PRETORIA TO CAPE TOWN

Kimberley (Southbound journey):

Following departure from Pretoria and after brunch and high tea, the Blue Train arrives at Kimberley Station. Guests visit the railway museum, followed by an old tram for a ride down to the Open Mine Museum and a tour of the mine. The tour includes a chance to win a diamond. Guests are taken onto an enclosed ramp on the edge of the Kimberley hole. Guests then return to the train for dinner, overnight and the remainder of the journey to Cape Town.

Route & Map

Southbound, the Blue Train departs Pretoria at 08:30 and arrives Cape Town at 13:00 (15:00 in 2018) the following day. En route to Cape Town there is an excursion in Kimberley, where we take a step back in time to the days of the diamond rush.

Northbound, the Blue Train leaves Cape Town at 08.30 and arrives Pretoria at 13:30 (15:00 in 2018) the next day. It stops at the historic town Matjiesfontein, where guests can visit the famous Lord Milner Hotel and the old car museum.

Dates and Prices 2017

Cape Town to Pretoria

2017: July 5,12,19,26. August 2,9,16,23,30. September 6,13,20,27. October 4,11,13,18,20,25,27. November 1,3,8,15,22,24,29. December 6,13,15,20.

Pretoria to Cape Town

2017: July 3,10,17,24,31. August 7,14,21,28. September 4,11,18,25. October 2,9,11,16,18,23,25,30. November 1,6,13,20,22,27. December 4,11,13,18.

Price Per Person, in South African Rand

2017: Low Season: 01 January – 31 August. 16 November – 20 December

2017: High Season: 01 September - 15 November

Dates and Prices 2018

Cape Town to Pretoria

2018: January 5,10,12,17,24,26,29,31. February 7,14,19,21,23,28. March 5,7,14,21,28. April 4,11,18,25. May 2,9,16,23,30. June 6,13,20,27. July 4,11,18,25. August 1,18,15,22,29. September 5,12,19,26. October 3,10,17,24,26,31. November 7,14,21,28. December 5,12,19,21.

Pretoria to Cape Town

2018: January 3,8,10,15,22,24,26,29. February 5,12,16,19,21,26. March 2,5,12,19,26. April 2,9,16,23,30. May 7,14,21,28. June 4,11,18,25. July 2,9,16,23,30. August 6,13,20,27. September 3,10,17,24. October 1,8,15,22,24, 29. November 5,12,19,26. December 3,10,17,19.

Price Per Person, in South African Rand

2018: Low Season: 01 January – 31 August. 16 November –31 December

2018: High Season: 01 September - 15 November.

PRETORIA TO HOEDSPRUIT OR HOEDSPRUIT TO PRETORIA

These tours offer some fantastic new “rail safari" combination packages with the many wildlife reserves and private safari lodges in the Greater Kruger and Sabi Sands area. The journey between Pretoria and Hoedspruit in either direction takes 19 hours and is approx. R9,000 less per person one way.

The Kruger National Park is in South Africa's top three destinations. It is one of Africa's largest game reserves. It lies between the two provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in north east South Africa.

The Kruger National Park houses Africa's Big Five: Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Leopard and Buffalo and other numerous unique wildlife.

Northbound: Pretoria to Hoedspruit, depart 15:00 on selected Friday afternoons, arriving Hoedspruit at 10:00 next day.

Southbound: Hoedspruit to Pretoria, depart 15:00 on selected Saturday afternoons, arriving Pretoria at 10:00 next day.

Departures in both directions are 15:00hrs, arriving 10:00hrs the next day – 19 hour journey.

Dates and Prices 2017

Pretoria to Hoedspruit: July 7. August 11.

Hoedspruit to Pretoria: July 8. August 12.

Price Per Person, in South African Rand

Dates and Prices 2018

Pretoria to Hoedspruit: March 16. June 15. July 13. August 10. October 19. December 14.

Hoedspruit to Pretoria: March 17. June 16. July 14. August 11. October 20. December 15

Price Per Person, in South African Rand

GENERAL INFORMATION

Included: All meals, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and off-the train excursions excluding French champagne, caviar and external telephone calls.

Facilities: Temperature control per suite; 3 luxury suites per carriage, bathrooms with bath; 4 deluxe suites per carriage, 3 with showers, 1 with bath; luxury suites have hifi, audio CD and DVD systems; fax and postbox; first-aider on board with doctor available en route.

Smoking: Smoking is permitted in the Club Car.

Dress Code: Breakfast is casual. Lunch is smart casual. Dinner dress code is a jacket and tie for the men and elegant wear for the ladies.

Luggage: Storage space is limited in the cabin and soft top cases are recommended for easy storage. There is a luggage van for additional luggage (no restrictions on luggage), that a guest may not need during the journey.

Check-In: Guests must check in at least 1 hour before departure at The Blue Train lounges in Pretoria and Cape Town.

Passport: Please be aware that visitors to South Africa are required to have at least three blank VISA pages (not endorsement pages) in their passports in order to receive an entry visa. Passports must also be valid for at least six months from the guests' return home date. Recommend a validity of nine months to prevent any problems.

Child Policy: Please go here for the child policy of the Blue Train.

Onward Travel: It is advisable to book flights the day after the train's arrival.

Looking for a pre- and post-Blue Train safari? The Luxury Safari Club simplifies your search for the ultimate safari experience. We have applied the same concierge approach to developing your wildlife experience.

PICTURE GALLERY

In addition to the photos in the gallery at the top of this page, see more photos from the Blue Train

BOOKINGS & RESERVATIONS

All prices are at publicly-quoted rates.

Contact us to book The Blue Train or for more information.

Please sign up to our newsletter to be kept informed of interesting trains and special offers.