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 Traveling
by train is a highly enjoyable, hypnotic escape into another world.
The preferred method of adventure by millions, trains romantically
carry wide-eyed travelers to the very brink of all that is wild
and wonderful, smoothly covering diverse terrains to connect the
four corners of the world.
 Each
continent boasts a legendary train trip, from the Glacier Express
in Switzerland to the Orient Express in Southeast Asia to The Ghan
in Australia. Yet of all the world’s great trains, South
Africa’s Blue Train is truly unique.
The Blue Train does not go around mountains; it goes through them.
It glides through thick forests where leopards stare down from trees
 with
fiery and curious eyes, and over deserts where watering holes draw
giraffes, elephants, wildebeests and zebras. It chases galloping
herds of gazelles across great fields of wildflowers and races cheetahs
through rocky brush.
And it serves a fabulous Karoo lamb, with a side of ostrich soup
and a superb South African Shiraz from a vineyard passing just outside
your window. For the Blue Train’s finest grace is its luxury,
second to none in the train world, schizophrenically rolling down
the track as both a train and a world-class hotel.
 Travel
agents call it an all-inclusive luxury rail cruise. This “cruise”
comes complete with breathtaking views of South Africa’s soul-inspiring
landscapes and visits to intriguing attractions and remote villages
along the way. As for the all-inclusive luxury, the Blue Train does
not disappoint. From butlers turning down your bed to complimentary
kimonos and slippers, the Blue Train cradles each guest in an opulence
that perfectly balances the wild surrounds outside the train.
 Voted
the world’s most luxurious train by the international travel
trade, the Blue Train got its name from its distinctive sapphire-blue
carriages. The track, originally laid in the 19th century in an
audacious bid to connect Africa’s southern tip with Cairo,
stretches nearly 2,000 miles from Cape
Town, South Africa’s capital, north through Pretoria
and up to Victoria
Falls in Zimbabwe.
The Blue Train could provide a world-class holiday even if the
entire trip was through a tunnel at night. But the main reason people
ride is for the scenery. Southern Africa has always attracted adventurers—romantic
souls in pith helmets searching for an experience unlike any other
the world could provide. The Blue Train provides these experiences
through four different routes, roaring along  prime
corridors of wildlife and incredible vistas.
From Pretoria to Cape Town, the train travels south through spacious
farmlands to Kimberly, the epicenter of the worldwide diamond rush.
After an off-train excursion through this historic town with the
“Big Hole,” a name that screams “Must See,”
passengers continue south through the heart of Great Karoo, where
vineyards and summer roses line the train’s descent through
beautiful valleys and mountains toward Cape Town’s imposing
and instantly recognizable Table Mountain.
 The
second route from Pretoria to Victoria Falls is a journey deep into
the continent, through the enduring plains of Botswana and Zimbabwe.
The train rambles through Matobo Hills National Park, commonly described
as a moonscape of endless granite humpbacks, before reaching Victoria
Falls, the greatest curtain of falling water on earth, known in
Zimbabwe as “the smoke that thunders.” On the return
trip, an excursion to Hwange National Park, one of Africa’s
last great elephant sanctuaries, completes the experience.
While the trip from Pretoria to Hoedspruit is the shortest of the
Blue Train routes, it may be the best for viewing the big five:
elephants, rhinos, buffalos, lions and leopards—oh my! The
train cuts through the Valley of the Olifants, the largest aggregation
of privately-owned wildlife reserves in the world, along with Kruger
National Park, the Drakensberg
escarpment and Blyde River Canyon.
Renowned for its dramatic views of the Indian Ocean, the Garden
Route transports passengers from Cape Town east to Port Elizabeth.
The route wanders lazily through the Langeberg mountains, across
fruit and wine regions toward the spectacular eastern seaboard.
Giant yellowwood trees and wildflowers surprise passengers en route
to the friendly city of Port Elizabeth, an historic landing place
of the British settlers of 1820. 
Whether you’re starting in Cape Town or Pretoria, or you
know that Victoria Falls is your final destination, the Blue Train
will get you there in pure South African style. To enjoy the best
of South Africa without feeling cheetah’d, plan your trip
in pure travel agent style.
 Travel
agents know when to visit South Africa, which months are best for
viewing the wildlife around watering holes, and when the climate
is best for touring. They can set up your off-train excursions,
book multiple Blue Train tickets for longer rides, combine trips
though other fine train retailers and help you hop-scotch across
South Africa’s greatest attractions.
Take in the five-star scenery of South Africa from the five-star
comfort of the Blue Train. Contact a trusted travel agent today
to plan a personal safari that’s right for your and your family,
and get ready to enjoy the perfect vacation to wild and wonderful
Africa.
Click here to find a travel agent
near you and start dreaming about Africa today.
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
Cape Town
National Arts Festival – April
Cape Times Waterfront Wine Festival – May
Cape Town Fashion Week at the CTICC – August
Blisters For Bread Family Fun Walk starts Green Point – August
Cape Town International Kite Festival – September
Simon's Town Penguin Festival – September/October
Blessing of the Fishing Fleet Festival – October
International Dragon Boat Festival – November
Photos
© Blue Train
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