The Blue Train

Location: Cape Town & Around | South Africa

Price guide: £££££ £350-£500 per person per night

One of South Africa’s most iconic travel experiences, discover the country’s beautiful and diverse landscapes in style aboard the Blue Train, a five-star award-winning ‘hotel on wheels’, whose famous guests include Nelson Mandela. Travel through rugged mountains, deserts, the Winelands, open farmlands, wildflowers and dams where flamingos gather.
Perfect forLovers of train travel looking for a different way to explore South Africa.
In the knowEach coach has a 24-hour butler to attend to your every need. In addition, you can be pampered before your journey and enjoy food and drink at the Blue Train's pre-departure lounges in Cape Town and Pretoria. 

Recommended for...

  • Train Journey
  • Landscapes & Scenery
  • History & Heritage
  • Service & Hospitality

Hotel Overview

Sense of Place

The Blue Train takes passengers on a 2-night journey between Cape Town and Pretoria, covering just over 904 miles or 1,660km. From Cape Town, it travels through Little Karoo and Great Karoo, one of the most scenic and lesser-visited parts of South Africa, and on to the historic diamond mining town of Kimberley. From there, the train continues through the mining country of Gauteng before arriving in Pretoria. The train also travels on selected journeys to Kruger National Park.

Rooms onboard the Blue Train

The comfortable wood-panelled suites offer a choice of double or twin beds with fine cotton linen and goose down bedding, alongside entertainment centres, large windows looking out over the ever-changing vistas, and private bathrooms featuring Italian marble and gold-plated fittings. They have air conditioning and underfloor heating, and are soundproofed.

There are Deluxe Suites (4 to a coach) and Luxury Suites (3 to a coach), with the latter offering more space.

Food & Drink

Indulge in beautiful cuisine in the Dining Car, which is freshly prepared onboard by expert chefs, with seasonal ingredients from the areas the train travels to, to give you a true taste of local cuisine. Your gourmet meals are accompanied by handpicked South African wines from an award-winning selection, while the afternoon tea in the Lounge Car is pretty special too.  

Facilities

Relax in a plush armchair and have a drink at the bar before dinner. After dinner, enjoy a glass of cognac, read a book from the library, play a board game or watch the big screen in the wood-panelled Club Car. The boutique shop offers unique souvenirs and gifts.

Activities onboard the Blue Train

Excursions you can enjoy along the way include a tour of the Open Mine Museum in Kimberley and a visit to the Victorian-style village of Matjiesfontein, on the fringes of Great Karoo.

Back onboard, there is an observation car at the rear of the train - head here to make the most of the views, from the daytime landscapes to the starlit skies.

Best time to go

Best time to travel

Good time to travel (but some limitations)

Travel is possible (but it’s not the best time)

Travel is not recommended

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Best time to go

Hotel location

The Blue Train travels between Cape Town and Pretoria, as well as into Kruger National Park.

More places to stay in Cape Town & Around

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Exsus Travel Limited t/a Exsus Travel. Registered in England and Wales at this address: 1 Burwood Place, London, W2 2UT. Company No. 3385363. VAT No. 719-221840.

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