Page 424 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

422 TRA VELLERS ’ NEEDS

Scenic Rail Travel are of a five-star hotel standard,
with air-conditioning and
Taking a holiday, or part of a holiday, in the form of a rail shower or bath facilities.
tour aboard a well-equipped sleeper train is an increasingly The most expensive suites,
popular choice. Once perceived as the domain of elderly occupying half-a-coach each,
travellers, scenic train travel now attracts adults of all ages, have a full-size Victorian roll-
top bath. The trains provides
although it is not aimed at families with young children. This 24-hour room service and
is a year-round activity, but prices will be higher in the busy there are two dining cars,
holiday periods. The advantages of such a tour are many: the which allow the entire comple-
“hotel” travels with its guests, it is possible to reach remote ment of passengers to enjoy
destinations while remaining in comfortable surroundings, dinner at a single sitting.
The Shongololo Express
and then, of course, there is the pleasure of rail travel. The specializes in adventure and
lazy pace of a steam locomotive is perfect for enjoying excitement, and is therefore a
South Africa’s wonderful sights. big hit with the younger crowd.
As a result, the style of the trains
is more casual, and the cabins
are fairly basic but comfortable.
There are two en suite options,
but the cheaper twin or single
cabins entail a walk to use
shower and toilet facilities. All
trains carry a fleet of air-
conditioned touring cars and
include a safari expedition.
Crisp linens, marble-clad
bathrooms and faultless service
set the tone for the magnificent
Blue Train, one of the world’s
most famous scheduled
A Rovos Rail steam train winding through the Eastern Transvaal services. Beautiful wood veneers
and fine detail add a 1950s
Choosing an Itinerary Which Train to Choose
ambience to the train. The
South Africa, with its year-long There are several different suites offer a choice of shower
pleasant climate and beautiful companies arranging a variety or bath and a selection of film
scenery, is the ideal destination of tours, from short day-trips to and radio channels. The lounge
for luxury train travel. However, it more lengthy affairs. cars are the perfect place to
is not a cheap holiday and it can Rovos Rail, which calls itself observe the panoramic views as
be sensible to avoid certain “the most luxurious train in the the train winds its way through
times of the year. In general the world”, lives up to its reputation, the Winelands, the Karoo Desert
cheapest fares are available in with traditional furnishings and and other impressive scenery.
May and August, while the exquisite decor. Two beautifully
period from September to rebuilt trains carry a maximum
December can be markedly of 72 passengers each. All suites Routes and Sights
more expensive. The scheduled route for the
South Africa’s rail holiday Blue Train links Cape Town and
itineraries are carefully chosen to Pretoria, and is a 2,600-km
reveal some truly stunning views, (994-mile) journey taking
and reach many destinations 27 hours through some of
that are difficult to access by South Africa’s most spectacular
road. It is a good idea to study scenery. Rovos Rail has a variety
the itineraries carefully. The Blue of itineraries. Its three-day Cape
Train, for example, is best taken Town to Pretoria route, which
from south to north as this route can be taken in either direction,
passes through the loveliest includes visits to Kimberley’s
stretches of scenery by day famous Big Hole and diamond
rather than at night. Other trips museum, as well as the historic
include safari expeditions and town of Matjiesfontein. The
stops in neighbouring countries. three-day route linking
Rovos Rail offers routes to Pretoria and Durban visits the
Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and a Battlefields and Zululand. A
magnificent tour to Dar es Border-crossing itineraries may take in sights game safari in the Nambiti
Salaam in Tanzania. such as Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe Private Game Reserve is also