The Blue Train: Pretoria to Cape Town
- 8 Days
- From $3,799
- South Africa
- Spend a day and night exploring Pretoria before boarding the iconic Blue Train the next morning
- Luxurious overnight experience on the Blue Train including fine dining and drinks
- Four days to enjoy beautiful Cape Town
- Choose your departure
- Add extra nights & destinations
- Choose alternative hotels
- Add flights to your booking
- Double De Luxe cabin on the Blue Train including all meals, drinks and excursion to Kimberley Diamond Mine
- 5 nights’ hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Transfer on arrival in Cape Town from station to hotel
- Clearly-presented wallets for your rail tickets, hotel vouchers and other documentation
- All credit card surcharges and complimentary delivery of your travel documents
Suggested Itinerary
From Johannesburg airport, make your way to Pretoria via train, transfer or taxi. We are happy to arrange a transfer from the airport to Pretoria if required. On arrival in Pretoria, you will check into the Sheraton Pretoria (or similar) for 1 night.
The rest of the day is yours to explore one of South Africa’s three capital cities. You might want to visit the beautiful Botanical Garden, trawl the food markets, or get a head start on some of the nature viewing you will enjoy on your trip by visiting the zoological gardens.
You have a free morning in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa. The city straddles both banks of the Apies River and spreads into the foothills of the Magaliesberg mountains. There are plenty of museums to explore here, including the extensive Pretoria Art Museum and the fascinating Ditsong National Museum of Cultural History.
At around 4pm, it’s time to head for the station and board the gleaming carriages of the Blue Train. Dinner is served onboard before you retire to your cabin.
After breakfast in the restaurant car, the Blue Train will stop at Kimberley and here you will disembark for a tour of the Open Mine Museum, which gives you an insight into the days of the diamond rush. Back onboard, lunch is served before you spend the afternoon watching the spectacular scenery pass by your window.
You can enjoy a pre-dinner drink before your sumptuous 4-course evening meal. Once you’ve finished eating, you will have the opportunity to relax in the Club Car with a digestif or retire to your comfortable cabin.
Enjoy breakfast in the comfort of your cabin, or head to the dining car if you prefer. As you head around Table Bay you will see the unmistakable shape of Table Mountain looming in front of you.
You will arrive into Cape Town station at around 9.30am and then meet your transfer which will take you to the Victoria and Alfred Hotel (or similar). You will spend 4 nights here.
You have three full days to explore one of the world’s great tourist destinations. You might want to hike (or take a cable car!) up Table Mountain, sun yourself on a beach, visit an award-winning winery, or see the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet at the Cape of Good Hope.
There are also excellent museums marking the years of apartheid in South Africa. The District Six Museum is a sobering experience and Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for so long, is a must-visit. Refer to our excursion options for inspiration and ideas.
After a hotel breakfast, make your way to the airport for your flight home. Alternatively, you could extend your holiday, taking in the Cape Winelands or the spectacular Garden Route. Please ask for details and prices.
Typical hotels on this itinerary
The upmarket Sheraton Pretoria is situated near South Africa’s seat of government. The hotel’s well-appointed bedrooms are supremely comfortable and provide guests with lovely, scenic views. Away from your room, the hotel provides a high-quality restaurant and bar, and there is also a spa, a gym, and an outdoor pool.
Located on Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, this fashionable hotel has an enviable location, with views over Alfred Basin and the city to Table Mountain. The comfortable rooms bely the building’s warehouse heritage and guests have a choice of two on-site restaurants as well as both a gym and a spa.
Upgrade your accommodation
Popular with Blue Train passengers, this luxury hotel occupies two historic buildings and a modern tower in the heart of Cape Town. Its elegant rooms combine old-world quality with modern amenities and offer city or Table Mountain views. The hotel features three restaurants, an Ayurvedic spa, a fitness centre and an indoor pool.
Enjoying a superb location at the foot of Table Mountain, and just a short stroll from downtown, this resort offers the perfect combination of tranquility and buzz. The rooms are a blend of understated charm and modern luxury with most offering balconies and Cape Town views. Facilities include two swimming pools, two restaurants, spa and fitness centre.
Poised above the Atlantic Ocean, this boutique hotel is flanked by the majestic Table Mountain National Park and the Twelve Apostles mountain range. The hotel offers 70 guest rooms, with unique features that include a holistic spa, private cinema, and breathtaking views from the legendary Azure Restaurant and The Leopard Bar.