I have heard good things and a few bad things about the Blue Train. Had a travel agent talk me out of it on my last trip to South Africa. Thinking about going this route from Pretoria to Cape Town and spending a few days in Cape Town. Looking for personal experiences. Thank you.

My wife and I have discussed this as an option for our next trip to RSA. The write ups about it are fantastic. While she is not a fan of caviar, hightea, or some of the other 5 star excentrices, she does like luxury!

We are really looking at the wine tour. All of the info on the website is extroridinary.

Take a look at this option to the Blue Train:

Rovos Rail

Thank you Judge. I had a travel agent suggest Rovos rail and to avoid the Blue Train and I could not remember the name. Have you traveled on them? They both seem very nice. Thank you.

300,

In 2006 my wife and I rode the Rovos Rail from Pretoria to Cape Town. It was hands down fabulous. I thought it was a great way to get over the flight and acclimate. I really enjoyed the Karoo. I gave a brief description here.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...=838101554#838101554

I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Cheers

Does the Rovos and/or the Blue Train go all the way to Tanzania? Or are they limited to South Africa? Seems like I have read somewhere that they have trips into a number of countries.

quote:

Originally posted by Bamabow:
300,

In 2006 my wife and I rode the Rovos Rail from Pretoria to Cape Town. It was hands down fabulous. I thought it was a great way to get over the flight and acclimate. I really enjoyed the Karoo. I gave a brief description here.

http://forums.accuratereloadin...=838101554#838101554

I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Cheers

Thank you Bamabow. That was a very helpful report.

300,
One thing I should mention. At the time we traveled, Rovos could not accomodate guns. On this trip I borrowed a rifle to hunt the last five days. This is a significant consideration. Were we to do this again (I would like to ride the Garden Route)I would likely borrow a gun again. We've hunted RSA twice since then and Rifles are a constant PIA.

Good luck

quote:

Originally posted by Bamabow:
300,
One thing I should mention. At the time we traveled, Rovos could not accomodate guns. On this trip I borrowed a rifle to hunt the last five days. This is a significant consideration. Were we to do this again (I would like to ride the Garden Route)I would likely borrow a gun again. We've hunted RSA twice since then and Rifles are a constant PIA.

Good luck

Thanks again, that was another question I had. I was curious what to do with our guns while on the train. I will have to do some thinking.

Is there a way to store guns in south Africa while touring for a few days? I have heard previous posters thru the years mention storing their guns at the Afton Guest House for a few days while doing tours. Is this an option?

The Afton folks were most gracious last year to store our rifles in hard cases, while we toured Kruger NP and the Tangala Game Reserve. They just need to know ahead of time that you want to leave something in their vault.

Blue Train Sells for a Rand
Julius Baumann
12 August 2010


Johannesburg — TRANSNET was negotiating to sell the Blue Train to the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) for R1, acting CEO Chris Wells stated in Transnet's annual report released yesterday.

Mr Wells said previous attempts to dispose of Transnet's 100% shareholding in the luxury train service were terminated when a deal could not be reached with the preferred bidder. Prasa then approached Transnet as a potential buyer.

Prasa Rail CEO Tumisang Kga- boesele said yesterday the sale was to have been completed by the start of the 2010-11 financial year, but Prasa was awaiting confirmation of state financial support for the loss-making entity . The Blue Train is forecast to make a R65m loss in 2010-11.

"When we took over Shosholoza Meyl we only received R400m in subsidies, yet we had to carry a loss of R1,2bn as we began the costly process of turning the service around. We cannot afford to have the added cost of the Blue Train without additional support," he said.