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Above:  Boarding a StarLine train at Windhoek. Photo courtesy of Ishizaki, Naoichi

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South Africa - Namibia by train+bus

Zimbabwe or Zambia - Namibia by bus

Train travel in Namibia

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There are no international ferry links to Namibia, but it's possible to travel between Namibia and South Africa by train with only one relatively short section now sadly involving a bus.  It's also possible to travel between Namibia and Zimbabwe or Zambia by bus.

Cape Town or Johannesburg ► Windhoek:

• Step 1, travel from Cape Town to Kimberley by Shosholoza Meyl 'Trans-Karoo' passenger train, departing Cape Town 12:30 on Tue, Wed, Fri, Sun, arriving Kimberley at 07:21 next day.  This is a comfortable and safe tourist class train, with 2-berth & 4-berth sleepers and restaurant car.  As you leave Cape Town you get great views of table Mountain, pass through Stellenbosch & Paarl wine country, then into the veldt up the Hex River pass, with great scenery!  Fare 210 Rand (£15 or US$30) including sleeper.  Stay a day or two in Kimberley (visit the mining museum!).  See the South Africa page for more information (and photos) about Shosholoza Meyl passenger trains, and book by phone as shown or at the station.

• Alternative step 1, travel from Johannesburg to Kimberley by Shosholoza Meyl 'Trans Karoo' passenger train, departing Johannesburg at 10:30 on Mon, Tue, Fri, Sun, arriving Kimberley at 18:40 the same day.  This is a comfortable and safe tourist class train, with 2-berth & 4-berth sleepers and restaurant car.  Fare 110 Rand (£8 or US$15).  Stay a night or two in Kimberley (visit the mining museum!).  See the South Africa page for more information (and photos) about Shosholoza Meyl passenger trains and book by phone as shown or at the station.

• Step 2, travel from Kimberley to Upington by bus, as sadly things have degenerated so there's now only a bus link, no longer any civilised train.  The bus is run by InterCape, runs on Fridays & Sundays at 11:40 arriving Upington at 16:30 the same day.  Fare 180-230 Rand (£12-£16 or $23-$31).  Book online at www.intercape.co.za.  Stay overnight at Upington.  Unfortunately, the bus doesn't co-ordinate with the train, so at least 2 night stay is necessary in Upington!

• Step 3, travel from Upington to Windhoek by Starline passenger train.  The train leaves Upington on Thursdays & Sundays at 05:00, you need to briefly switch Starline trains at Keetmanshoop (arrive 16:30 depart 18:50), and you arrive in Windhoek at 07:00 next day (Fridays & Mondays).  The train is modern and air-conditioned, with reclining seats but sadly no sleepers.  Fare around N$180 (£11 or US$22).  See www.transnamib.com.na/Starline.htm.  Check that this train is still running from Upington - it's still shown on the Starline website & Thomas Cook Timetable as running from Upington, but there are rumours that it's been curtailed at Keetmanshoop.  If so, take a  bus to Keetmanshoop and resume train travel to Windhoek.

Windhoek ► Cape Town or Johannesburg:

• Step 1, travel from Windhoek to Upington by Starline passenger train.  Train leaves Windhoek at 19:40 on Tuesdays & Fridays, switch Starline trains at Keetmanshoop (arrive 07:00 depart 08:50) arriving Upington at 21:30 next day (Wednesdays & Saturdays).  The train is modern and air-conditioned, with reclining seats but sadly no sleepers.  Fare around N$180 (£11 or US$22).  Stay the night in Upington.  See www.transnamib.com.na/Starline.htm.  Check that this train is still running all the way to Upington - it's still shown on the Starline website & Thomas Cook Timetable as running to Upington, but there are rumours that it's been curtailed at Keetmanshoop.  If so, switch to bus travel at Keetmanshoop trather than Upington.

• Step 2, travel from Upington to Kimberley by bus, as sadly things have degenerated and there's now only a bus link.  The bus is run by InterCape, departs Upington 07:30 on Thursdays & Saturdays arriving Kimberley at 12:40 the same day.  Fare 180-230 Rand (£12-£16 or $23-$31).  Book online at www.intercape.co.za.  Stay overnight at Kimberley.

• Step 3, travel from Kimberley to Cape Town by Shosholoza Meyl 'Trans-Karoo' passenger train, departing Kimberley at 18:40 on Mon, Tue, Fri, Sun, arriving Cape Town at 12:41 next day.  This is a comfortable and safe tourist class train, with 2-berth & 4-berth sleepers and restaurant car.  You leave Cape Town with great views of table Mountain, passing through Stellenbosch & Paarl wine country, then into the veldt, with great scenery!  Fare 210 Rand (£15 or US$30) including sleeper.  See the South Africa page for more information (and photos) about Shosholoza Meyl passenger trains and book by phone or at the station.

• Alternative step 3, travel from Kimberley to Johannesburg by Shosholoza Meyl 'Trans Karoo' passenger train, departing Johannesburg at 07:21 on Mon, Wed, Thur, Sat, arriving Kimberley at 15:23 the same day.  This is a comfortable and safe tourist class train, with 2-berth & 4-berth sleepers and restaurant car.  Fare 110 Rand (£8 or US$15).  Stay the night in Kimberley.  See the South Africa page for more information (and photos) about Shosholoza Meyl passenger trains and book by phone or at the station.

Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) or Livingstone (Zambia) ► Windhoek:

• A bus run by www.intercape.co.za leaves Vic Falls at 11:00 on Wed, Fri, Sun or Livingstone at 12:00, arriving Windhoek 06:45 next day.  Fare 455-580 Rand (£32-£41 or $64-$84).

Windhoek ► Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) or Livingstone (Zambia):

• A bus run by www.intercape.co.za leaves Windhoek at 16:15 on Mon, Wed, Fri arriving Livingstone at 13:00 or Vic Falls 14:00 next day.  Fare 455-580 Rand (£32-£41 or $64-$84).

More information:

If anyone has any more information. photos or travel reports that would be useful for this page, please e-mail me!

Starline passenger trains...

Regular passenger trains marketed as 'Starline' are run by TransNamib, on the following routes:

• Windhoek - Swakopmund & Walvis Bay, runs daily except Saturdays, departs 19:55 , arrives next day at Swakopmund 05:20 & Walvis Bay 07:15.

• Walvis Bay & Swakopmund - Windhoek, runs daily except Saturdays, departs Walvis Bay 19:00, Swakopmund 20:45, arrives Windhoek 07:00 next day.

• Windhoek-Tsumeb, runs Mon, Wed & Fri, departs 18:15, arrives 10:50 next day.

• Tsumeb - Windhoek, runs Mon, Wed, Fri, departs 11:40 arrives 05:40 next day.

• Windhoek - Keetmanshoop, runs daily except Saturdays, departs 19:40 , arrives at 07:00 next day.

• Keetmanshoop - Windhoek, runs daily except Saturdays, departs 18:50, arrives 07:00 next day.

• Trains also link Windhoek with Gobabis, and Tsumeb with Walvis Bay, and one or two minor routes. 

See www.transnamib.com.na/Starline.htm for the complete Starline timetable. 

On board the trains:  Starline trains have two classes, Business Class and Economy, both with reclining airline-style seats in modern, air-conditions cars.  There are no sleepers, just seats.  There are vending machines but no restaurant car, so take your own food and drink.

Above:  A StarLine train at Windhoek railway station. Photo courtesy of Ishizaki, Naoichi		Above:  Business class reclining seats on a StarLine train. Photo courtesy of Ishizaki, Naoichi

Fares:  Windhoek-Walvis Bay N$80 (£5 or US$10), Windhoek-Keetmanshoop N$87 (£5.50 or US$11), Windhoek-Tsumbeb N$67 (£5 or US$9).  Children under 2 free, children 2 but under 12 half fare.

How to buy tickets:  Call central reservations at Windhoek on +264 (0) 61 298 2032, or email paxservices@transnamib.com.na.

The Desert Express...

TransNamib also operate a weekly tourist-orientated train between Windhoek & Swakopmund called the Desert Express.  The train has sleepers (with en suite shower/toilet), a restaurant, bar & lounge.  See www.desertexpress.com.na for more details.

• Departs Windhoek 12:00 (13:00 in summer) on Fridays, arrives Swakopmund 10:00 next day.

• Departs Swakopmund 15:00 on Saturdays, arrives Windhoek 10:30 next day.

• Fares:  N$1,850 (£115 or US$230) sharing, N$2,400 (£150 or $300) single occupancy.

• Buy tickets:  Via their website, www.desertexpress.com.na

Above:  Outside Windhoek railway station. Photo courtesy of Ishizaki, Naoichi		Above:  Windhoek station platform. Photo courtesy of Ishizaki, Naoichi

More information:

If anyone has any more information or travel reports that would be useful for this page, please e-mail me..!

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