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Great Rail Journeys · Independent

South Africa's Blue Train & Cape Town

Luxury Blue Train from Cape Town to Pretoria with Cape Town hotel stays

Illustration of South Africa's Blue Train & Cape Town

Great Rail Journeys' nine-day South Africa journey combines leisure time in Cape Town with two nights aboard the legendary Blue Train, a luxury sleeper that travels from Cape Town to Pretoria in the style of the golden age of travel. You arrive in Cape Town on Day 2 and enjoy two free days (Days 3 and 4) to explore the city, with optional paid excursions available. On Day 5, you board the Blue Train for a 54-hour journey through diverse South African scenery. The train features a restaurant car with dress-code dining, a Club Car for evening drinks, and a nostalgic dining car serving all meals. Day 6 includes a stop and guided tour of Kimberley's Open Mine Museum, a historic diamond mine. You arrive in Pretoria on Day 7 for a final night in a 5-star hotel before flying home. Accommodation ranges from 4-star to 5-star properties. This journey suits luxury travellers, repeat rail travellers, couples, and independent explorers who appreciate unguided time alongside curated rail experiences.

What to know before you look closer

  • Flights from London Heathrow to Cape Town and return from Johannesburg are not included in the from-price and must be booked separately.
  • Hotels in Cape Town and Pretoria are listed as options; your final choice depends on availability and tier selected.
  • Days 3 and 4 in Cape Town are unguided; optional excursions (winelands tour, safari, peninsula tour, and others) cost extra.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: In flight

    UK to Cape Town

    Your adventure begins today when you take your British Airways overnight flight from London to Cape Town.

  2. Day 2overnight: Cape Town

    Arrival in Cape Town

    On arrival in Cape Town today you'll be transferred to your hotel. Choose between handpicked 4* and 5* hotels on a B&B basis.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3overnight: Cape Town

    Exploring Cape Town

    Enjoy a free day in Cape Town today and get to know the city better. Hike the mountains including Table Mountain, spend time on the stunning beaches, visit a brewery, sample excellent street food, or choose one of the optional excursions available at a supplement.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4overnight: Cape Town

    Exploring Cape Town

    Enjoy a second free day in Cape Town. Visit a museum and an art gallery, take your camera to the beach, shop for souvenirs, take a hike in the mountains, visit one of the city's amazing food markets, or choose one of the optional excursions for a guided tour.

    Meals: Breakfast

  5. Day 5railovernight: Blue Train

    The Blue Train

    Transfer from your hotel to the station where the elegant Blue Train awaits. The luxurious train takes you from Cape Town to Pretoria on a 54-hour journey through diverse and spectacular scenery. Canapes are served as the train departs. Lunch is served in the nostalgic dining car. An elegant dinner is served in the restaurant car (dress code: jackets or waistcoats for men). Retire to the Club Car for an after dinner drink.

    Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  6. Day 6railovernight: Blue Train

    Kimberley

    A continental or full English breakfast is served in the dining car. Relax and watch the stunning scenery pass by until lunch. After lunch you'll arrive at the Open Mine Museum for a tour of this historical mine. Following the tour the train departs to Kimberley Station where you're greeted with a glass of sherry. The train departs again before dinner, which is served onboard, as you make your way to Pretoria.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  7. Day 7railovernight: Pretoria

    Arrive Pretoria

    Take your breakfast in the restaurant car as the Blue Train rolls along showcasing the inspiring landscapes of South Africa. After lunch onboard you'll arrive in Pretoria, disembark and be transferred to your hotel. Choose from handpicked 5* hotels on a B&B basis.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

  8. Day 8overnight: In flight

    Johannesburg to the UK

    Spend some time appreciating your hotel or experience a little of Pretoria before heading to the airport. You'll be transferred from your hotel to Johannesburg Airport for your overnight flight back to the UK.

    Meals: Breakfast

  9. Day 9

    Arrive UK

    You'll arrive back in London, filled with memories to last you a lifetime.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3Free day in Cape Town to hike Table Mountain, visit breweries, sample street food, or explore the beaches.
  • Day 5Embark on the Blue Train at Cape Town station for a 54-hour journey to Pretoria; canapes served as the train departs, lunch and elegant dinner in the dining car.
  • Day 6Tour the Open Mine Museum in Kimberley, a historic diamond mine, before the train continues overnight to Pretoria.

Included

  • 4 nights' 4-star hotel accommodation on a B&B basis
  • 2 nights on board the Blue Train in a Deluxe Cabin
  • All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Meals as specified onboard the Blue Train (canapes, lunch, dinner, breakfast)

Not included

  • Flights from London Heathrow to Cape Town and from Johannesburg to London Heathrow
  • Cancellation and travel insurance
  • Optional excursions

Questions travellers ask

Is the Blue Train journey included?
Yes. The package includes two nights aboard the Blue Train in a Deluxe Cabin from Cape Town to Pretoria, plus all meals onboard (canapes, lunch, dinner, and breakfast).
Are flights included?
No. Flights from London Heathrow to Cape Town and from Johannesburg back to London are not included and must be booked separately.
What is the itinerary?
Day 1: Overnight flight to Cape Town. Days 2-4: Cape Town hotel stays with two free days to explore. Days 5-7: Two nights aboard the Blue Train from Cape Town to Pretoria, with a stop in Kimberley on Day 6. Days 8-9: Return flight to London.
What hotels are included?
Great Rail Journeys offers a choice of 4-star and 5-star hotels in Cape Town (The Portswood Hotel, The Taj Hotel, or The Table Bay Hotel) and 5-star options in Pretoria (Ivory Manor Boutique Hotel or Castelo di Monte), all on a bed and breakfast basis.
How much walking is involved?
The free days in Cape Town can include optional hiking Table Mountain; the Kimberley mine tour and train travel involve standard walking and stairs. The itinerary is not strenuous overall.
What optional activities are available?
Cape Town optional excursions include winelands tour, Cape Point tour, safari, walk to freedom tour, peninsula tour, and city tour, all at an additional cost.

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