South Africa and the Shongololo Express – February – September 2017
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Overview
Highlights
- Visit the Bourke’s Luck Potholes.
- Visit the capital city Mbabane
- Enjoy a visit to the Ngwenya Glass Complex
- Visit the city's, Hare Krishna Temple.
- See South Africa’s largest mosque
- See the rose bushes on this afternoon’s guided city tour, along with the Women’s Memorial and the Anglo-Boer Museum.
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Trip includes
- Transfers from Johannesburg airport to your Pretoria hotel and from your Pretoria hotel to the train; transfers from the train to your Cape Town hotel and from your Cape Town hotel to Cape Town airport.
- 1 night’s accommodation with breakfast in a 4 star hotel in Pretoria
- 1 night’s accommodation with breakfast in a 5 star hotel in Cape Town
- 14 nights on board the Shongololo Express from Pretoria to Cape Town in a Gold Cabin with breakfast and dinner each day
- Lunches where stated in the itinerary
- Each cabin receives a complimentary 1 litre bottle of drinking water per day.
- Excursions and entrance fees as mentioned in the itinerary
Itinerary
Your adventure begins as you arrive in Pretoria, one of South Africa’s three capital cities. You are transferred from the airport to your hotel for your overnight stay at the highly-rated Protea Hotel Fire & Ice! Menlyn (4 star). The remainder of your day is free for you to settle in and explore this bustling city.
This morning you make your way to the Rovos Rail station in Pretoria, and embark on a sightseeing tour before joining the train. The tour takes you to Soweto, the township that became infamous due to the apartheid laws of the 20th century. Among other sights you see t...
Today you visit the village of Pilgrim’s Rest, which developed from the gold rush in 1873. Today the village has been declared a National Monument, and is a fascinating living museum. Take the opportunity to discover the restored miners’ houses – many of which serve a...
The largest national park in South Africa, Kruger is home to an incredible number and array of wildlife – including more than 500 species of birds. It also boasts many rare creatures including the ‘Big Five’. During a full day in the park you should keep your eyes pee...
The tiny Kingdom of Swaziland covers only 17, 000 square kilometers, making it the second smallest country in Africa. The day’s tour will commence from Mpaka, driving through the Ezulwini Valley passing the Ludzidzini Royal residence, stopping at Swazi Candles and Man...
Early this morning you alight from the train and embark on a game drive at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park. The park is home to all of the Big Five, including the rhino. A conservation project – one of the earliest in the world – was launched here to protect their dwindling nu...
Today you set off for a tour of St Lucia Wetland Park. Covering more than 600,000 acres, the park stretches right up to the border with Mozambique and is a celebrated UNESCO World Heritage site. During the tour you can see the incredible diversity of landscapes that h...
After breakfast on board the train, today you explore Durban on a city tour, including the lively and colorful Victoria Market – a hive of activity and a feast for all the senses. Durban is the third largest city in South Africa, with its port and long stretch of beac...
Today’s excursions give you a poignant insight into the Anglo-Boer War, which lasted three years from 1899 and became the costliest war the British had fought to that point. Your first point of call is the Siege Museum in Ladysmith, which gives an overview of the conf...
Following a leisurely morning on the Shongololo Express, today you arrive in the attractive city of Bloemfontein. One of South Africa’s three capitals, the city is nicknamed the “City of Roses” due to the profusion of the colourful flowers found here. You will see the...
This morning you arrive in Kimberley, a town which developed around the discovery of diamonds in the 1890s. Here you visit the ‘Big Hole’ mining museum, which details the story of the diamond rush and the vast crater that it left. There is also a recreated township wi...
Tucked into the bend of the Sundays River, the Karoo town of Graaff-Reinet was established in 1786 and is the fourth oldest settlement in South Africa. It’s a stylish town with at least 200 historical buildings, restored pre-Victorian homes in almost every street and ...
Set beneath the impressive backdrop of the Swartberg Mountains, the town of Oudtshoorn is your destination for today. During your day here you discover some of the town’s best-loved attractions, including the superb natural wonder of the vast Cango Caves with their st...
Today begins with a scenic drive along the coast to Knysna, situated in the heart of South Africa’s Garden Route, between lush forests and a tranquil lagoon. From here you travel by ferry across the lagoon to the Featherbed Nature Reserve, where you can admire the dramatic scenery where the estuary opens out into the sea.
Your journey continues along the wonderful Garden Route and over scenic mountain passes to Hermanus, a town where whales can sometimes be seen from the cliffs – as close as five meters away. This has ensured the town’s status as “the whale-watching capital of the worl...
This morning the Shongololo Express arrives at the Rovos Rail station in Cape Town. Here you leave the train for the final time and embark on a tour of this famous city. Your first stop is the peaceful Company Gardens, followed by the diverting Bo-Kaap Museum. After f...
Today after breakfast, you are transferred to the airport for your flight back to the UK.
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Planet Rail.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Planet Rail Reviews & Ratings
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Joy
Apr 2020
Our holiday exceeded our expectations
My husband and I recently booked a holiday via Planet Rail and what a good call that turned out to be. We gave Guy and the team little time to arrange the holiday as...
Ian
Apr 2020
We have no hesitation in recommending Planet Rail
We were introduced to Planet Rail by friends who had enjoyed a holiday in the Italian Lakes. Having become disillusioned with over-organised trips with other operato...
Colin
Apr 2020
Excellent service and a faultless trip
Excellent service and a faultless trip. The staff are a pleasure to deal with ...
Tour Operator
Planet Rail was set up by Guy Saunders to offer you the opportunity to experience some of our favourite rail journeys and to visit some of our most treasured destinations. His aim is to give every one of you, our customers, the personal attention you deserve. Working from offices in rural North Yorkshire, Guy and his team are passionate about rail travel – and we believe it is as much the journey as the destination that excites us.
We also acknowledge that travel has a huge impact on our environment, which is why we promote holidays by rail (Rail is Greener than flying) wherever possible.
Guy has worked in travel for over 20 years at a senior level for companies including Eurocamp, MyTravel and Great Rail Journeys. He speaks fluent French, and Italian, German and Spanish, has lived and worked abroad, and has an extensive knowledge of Europe, North America and Australia.
His specialist knowledge of Italy, Switzerland and France, and, of course, rail travel, can help you to craft your perfect holiday. He lives in Stillington with his partner, Kate, and their 13 year old son, Finlay.
We are a small, family-run company with an ethical approach to travel and a belief in providing you with the human touch of a more personal and comprehensive service. Guy personally checks every detail of each customer’s holiday. Our goal is to ensure we do everything possible to organise the right holiday for you.
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