Cape Town to Johannesburgby train from R690 (£33 or $50)Is Shosholoza Meyl South Africa's best-kept secret? 
Jo'burg here we come! Above, the Shosholoza Meyl train to Johannesburg speeds away from Cape Town, with Table Mountain in the background. Safe, comfortable, THE way to go! Photo courtesy of Discoverbyrail.com. You can easily swap a meaningless flight or an ugly bus journey for an epic overland rail adventure with comfy sleepers, showers, restaurant car & fabulous scenery. Cape Town to Johannesburg, an amazing 956 miles in 26 hours for an unbelievable £33 or $50 including sleeper - yes, you read that right!, see the Shosholoza Meyl section. Or for a touch of luxury for R2,840 (£160 or $280) try Premier Classe. |
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Safe, comfortable South African trains
Contrary to what you may have heard and to what many middle-class South Africans may tell you, taking the train is a remarkably safe, civilised & enjoyable way to travel between cities in South Africa. In fact, you'd be crazy not to consider it. There are several completely different train services:
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Shosholoza Meyl long-distance passenger trains
Comfortable & amazingly cheap, Shosholoza Meyl long-distance passenger trains link Johannesburg with Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth & East London. They're perfectly safe, and one of South Africa's best-kept secrets, highly recommended by travellers. The Cape Town to Johannesburg train passes the same wonderful scenery as the megabucks Blue Train, but costs only 690 Rand (£33 or $50) including a bed in a 2-berth or 4-berth sleeper. Durban to Johannesburg is even cheaper. Shosholoza Meyl's Tourist Class trains have modernised sleeping-cars and a restaurant car, a great alternative to flying and missing everything, or being stuck in a bus seat for whole days & nights. See train times, fares, photos & how to buy tickets. Not currently running, see update.
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Premier Classe trains
Luxury on a budget. Premier Classe trains link Cape Town & Johannesburg weekly for R3,120 (£189 or $235) including exclusive use of a cosy private sleeper and all meals & afternoon tea in the elegant restaurant car as you pass the fabulous South African scenery. There's a spacious lounge-bar car too. Highly recommended by travellers, who give Premier Classe rave reviews. See train times, fares, photos & how to buy tickets. Not currently running, see update.
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The Blue Train, Cape Town to Pretoria
A world-famous luxury train from Cape Town to Pretoria once or twice a week. It costs from 10,120 Rand (£895 or $1,300) one-way including meals, wine and even cigars. Worth it if you have the money. See train times, fares & how to buy tickets.
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Gautrain linking Jo'burg, Pretoria & Jo'burg airport
Gautrain is the brand-new safe and modern electric suburban train service around Johannesburg. The Airport Line links Jo'burg's O.R. Tambo international airport with Sandton. The North-South Line links Park Station in central Johannesburg (used by Shosholoza Meyl and Premier Classe long distance trains) with Sandton and Pretoria.
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Metro suburban trains
Suburban (Metro) trains around Johannesburg & Pretoria are not safe (which is why some South Africans will mistakenly tell you that all South African trains are unsafe), but those around Cape Town can be used if you're reasonably careful to travel from Cape Town to Stellenbosch, Paarl & Simon's Town. Metro train information.
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Cruise trains: Rovos Rail, Shongololo
There are several luxury cruise trains in South Africa, run by companies like Rovos Rail or Shongololo, aimed a tourists with western-style prices. Cruise train information.
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International travel to & from South Africa by train, bus & sea
Unfortunately, there are now no international trains (other than occasional tourist cruise trains) from South Africa to Namibia, Botswana or Zimbabwe, but for information on international travel by a combination of train and bus from South Africa to Zimbabwe, see the Zimbabwe page. For onward travel to Zambia and Tanzania, see the Zambia page. For travel to Namibia, see the Namibia page. For trains to Maputo in Mozambique, see the Mozambique page. For travel to Botswana, see the Botswana page. See the map here.
Freight ships with limited passenger places and an occasional cruise liner link the UK with Cape Town. Start with your search with www.cruisepeople.co.uk, a UK agency which books both cruise liners and freighters. Also try www.travltips.com/cruises/freighter/overview.php & www.freightercruises.com. Cunard have occasional sailings from Southampton to Cape Town, see www.cunard.com. The St Helena steamship used to have very occasional sailings from the UK to Cape Town but these ended in 2018 as the island of St Helena finally (sadly) got an airstrip, see www.rms-st-helena.com.
Interactive map:
Click
a route for train info
Useful country information
Shosholoza Meyl trains
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Sunset from the train. Photo courtesy of Billy Shearer |
The Shosholoza Meyl long-distance passenger trains are perhaps South Africa's best-kept travel secret and an unbelievable bargain. Comfortable, cheap & perfectly safe, they link major cities including Johannesburg to Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth & East London. They're a great way to travel as they let you see South Africa comfortably & affordably at ground level, without spending whole days & nights in a bus seat, or spending a fortune on expensive tourist experiences like the Blue Train or Rovos Rail, or flying and missing everything. They are run by Shosholoza Meyl (www.shosholozameyl.co.za), originally part of South African Railways (Spoornet) and now a division of the Passenger Rail Authority of South Africa (PRASA, www.prasa.com). The Shosholoza Meyl name was launched in 2001 along with newly-refurbished brightly-coloured sleeping-cars. In 2006, Shosholoza Meyl split its trains into two distinct classes: Tourist class with sleeping cars with 2 & 4-berth compartments and a restaurant car serving full meals, snacks, beer and wine, and Economy class with sitter class seats and sometimes a restaurant car. In Tourist class, the sleepers even have hot showers at the end of the corridor!
IMPORTANT UPDATE 2023: Shosholoza Meyl trains were suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic, the rail network was then hit by looting and cable theft. Some trains were due to resume in December 2021, but didn't. In July 2022 it was reported that a weekly Jo'burg-Port Elizabeth and weekly Jo'burg-East London trains has resumed running, but nothing else. Cape Town-Jo'burg was due to resume in April 2022, but still hasn't resumed. Latest reports were that they may resume route by route in late 2022, with Durban-JHB in November and CT-JHB in December, but still no news in February 2023 and I will believe this when I see it.
Train times & routes
Johannesburg - Bloemfontein - Port Elizabeth
Johannesburg & Pretoria - Louis Trichardt - Messina
Johannesburg & Pretoria - Nelspruit - Komatipoort (for Kruger Park)
Johannesburg - Mafikeng - Kimberley
Shosholoza Meyl travel information
What are Shosholoza Meyl trains like?
Safety on Shosholoza Meyl trains
You can check Shosholoza Meyl train times at the official site www.shosholozameyl.co.za, but travel agency site www.southafricanrailways.co.za is kept better updated and is usually far more useful!
1. Cape Town - Johannesburg
* Until 2019, the Premier Classe train ran every week. In 2020 it was reduced to running some weeks only, once or twice each month, see www.southafricanrailways.co.za for dates.
** Pretoria: Shosholoza Meyl & Premier Classe trains no longer run through to/from Pretoria, since 2006 they start/finish their journey at Johannesburg. Remember that Johannesburg city centre isn't safe for visitors, but Johannesburg Park Station itself has security and is well-patrolled & secure. Be very careful if you walk outside the station. It's recommended that you either use the safe new Gautrain network to travel between Jo'burg Park Station, Sandton and Pretoria, or that you pre-book a car or taxi to pick you up at Jo'burg station when you arrive, and when leaving again, take a taxi or car to the station entrance. Pretoria is a safer city to use as a base when visiting the Jo'burg area.
Fares How to buy tickets What are the trains like? Are these trains safe? Yes! Cape Town to Johannesburg is 1,530 Km or 956 miles.
Fares How to buy tickets What are the trains like? Are these trains safe? Yes they are! Hotels in Cape Town, Jo'burg & Pretoria
2. Johannesburg - Durban
Johannesburg-Durban trains pass the spot near Estcourt where in 1899 young war correspondent Winston Churchill was taken prisoner by the Boers when the British armoured train he was with was derailed. They call at Pietermaritzburg (PMB), the station where Mahatma Ghandi was thrown off a train in 1893. Not just transportation, but a bit of history!
Fares How to buy tickets What are the trains like? Safety on board Johannesburg to Durban is 722 Km or 451 miles.
3. Johannesburg - Port Elizabeth
Fares How to buy tickets What are the trains like? Are these trains safe? Yes! Johannesburg to Pt Elizabeth is 1,112 Km or 695 miles.
Check status at www.southafricanrailways.co.za
4. Johannesburg - East London
Fares How to buy tickets What are the trains like? Are these trains safe? Yes! Johannesburg to East London is 1,023 Km or 639 miles.
Check status at www.southafricanrailways.co.za
How much does it cost?
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Fares may vary by month. For example, Cape Town to Jo'burg might be R650 in August, R670 in Sept-Oct, R680 in November, R690 in December & January. The fare includes a sleeper berth in a 2 or 4 berth sleeper compartment. Couples can request berths in a 2-berth compartment, though this can't be guaranteed. Bookings open 90 days in advance.
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Bedding (sheets, blankets, pillow, made up for you by the train attendant) is an extra 60 rand (£4, $6) or so per person, paid on the train.
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Children in tourist class sleepers aged from 0 to 9 pay half fare, 10 and over pay the adult fare. This arrangement was introduced in 2009. It seems harsh to have to pay half fare for a 3-month old baby, but remember how cheap the fares are to start with. Children in economy class seats aged under 5 travel free, children aged 5 to 9 inclusive travel at half fare, children aged 10 and over pay full fare.
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Return fares are twice the one-way fare.
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There may be further reductions for students & seniors in off-peak periods, so ask when booking.
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Luggage: You can take up to 25Kg of luggage into your sleeper compartment with you. Excess can be sent in the baggage car for R4 per item.
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Cars can be transported, for prices & booking contact www.shosholozameyl.co.za or (probably better) reliable agency www.southafricanrailways.co.za. Pets are not allowed on board, except guide dogs.
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Economy class fares: Cape Town to Johannesburg in a seat on the daily Economy class train costs 170 Rand (£12).
What are Shosholoza Meyl Tourist Class trains like?
Sleeping-cars: The sleeping-cars have 4-berth rooms called 'compartments' and smaller 2-berth rooms known as 'coupés'. The berths convert to seating for daytime use. Each compartment has basic leatherette bench seats which convert to bunks at night, and a washbasin with hot and cold water. Bedding is provided for a small extra charge (60 Rand, about £4, $6) and expertly made up for you in the evening by the train attendant. Each sleeping-car has a hot shower at the end of the corridor, with lockable shower cubicle & changing area - bring your own soap & towel. The coaches are not air-conditioned, so the windows open for a superb view of the countryside. A metal mesh screen is provided for use at night to allow cool air. Berth numbers aren't specified on your ticket or allocated when you book. Instead, reservation lists are posted at the departure station telling you your car and berth number. As far as is possible, two passengers travelling together will be booked into a 2-berth coupé, a solo traveller will normally be booked into a 4-berth compartment with passengers of the same sex. The price is the same. If you pay for two tickets (quite affordable, given the fare) you can have sole occupancy of a coupé. The whole train is all non-smoking.
Restaurant car: There's a restaurant car serving snacks, drinks and affordable complete meals. A full English breakfast hits the spot in the morning, and beer and a wine list is available for something to go with you lunch or dinner. The food is not expensive, even by South African standards. Restaurant car staff also come down the train to sell tea and coffee to you at your seat. Catering was originally sub-contracted to caterers such as BJ's, the South African equivalent of Wimpy, though is now back in-house. Recent video of dining in Shosholoza Meyl restaurant car. Photos courtesy of Jeroen van Marle
Example restaurant car prices: Full English breakfast R 55, porridge R35. Sirloin steak & chips R95. Chicken & chips or salad R55. Lasagne R70. Macaroni cheese R65. Castle beer R17 for 440ml. Wine prices not known.
What are Shosholoza Meyl Economy Class Trains like?
Sitter class seating: Economy trains have basic seating, which does not convert to berths. Fine for daytime journeys, and safe with travelling security staff on board, but not generally recommended for visitors on overnight trips unless you can't get a sleeper and are prepared to rough it. Most trains also have a restaurant or refreshment car.
How to buy tickets
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Bookings open 90 days before departure.
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Shosholoza Meyl tourist class sleepers can get fully-booked a month or two ahead, especially on the popular Cape Town to Johannesburg route, so book as far ahead as you can.
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Remember that this is Africa and trains can run late, sometimes hours not minutes, so don't book any tight onward connections - ideally allow an overnight stop before any connecting international flight.
Option 1, buy tickets online at www.shosholozameyl.co.za
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Online booking used to be possible on the official Shosholoza Meyl website www.shosholozameyl.co.za - click Book now at top right.
Option 2, buy tickets in person or by phone on 086 000 8888
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If you live in South Africa, simply call Shosholoza Meyl's freephone number 086 000 8888.
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From outside South Africa, call + 27 11 7744 555 - but you have to collect & pay at a Shosholoza Meyl station within 2 days. As this may be impractical, I suggest booking online as above or using African Sun Travel as shown below.
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Reservations are computerised, so any reservation office can book any journey in South Africa. When booking by phone, you will be given a booking reference number, and you must collect and pay for your tickets at a station within 2 days. Your ticket will not show your coach or berth number, but a passenger list showing which berth is allocated to which passenger is posted in a glass case at the station about an hour before departure.
Safety & security on Shosholoza Meyl trains: Not a problem!
Shosholoza Meyl tourist class trains are perfectly safe to travel on, and can even be recommended for families and women travelling alone. Sleeping compartments have both a normal lock and a security lock which cannot be opened from the outside, and the train manager and his assistants do a good job looking after their passengers. People who tell you that 'trains in South Africa are unsafe' have probably never been on one, and are confusing these excellent and safe Shosholoza Meyl trains with the suburban Metro trains around the big cities which they see adversely reported on South African TV. It goes without saying that the high-end Premier Classe and Blue Train services are very safe, too.
Safety & security at Johannesburg's Park Station
The long-distance trains themselves are very safe, and Johannesburg's Park Station itself is well-patrolled with security guards & CCTV. However, the streets surrounding Park Station in downtown Johannesburg are definitely not safe, so arrange a car to drop you off or pick you up right at the station entrance or ask the driver to meet you inside the station. You should take advice before walking around in Johannesburg city centre. However, things are improving and you can now travel between Johannesburg Park Station and Pretoria via the suburb of Sandton, using the safe new Gautrain network.
Traveller's report: Trish Jones says this about arriving by car at Johannesburg Park station to catch the Premier Classe train to Cape Town: "With regards to Johannesburg's Park Station, it was one of the things I was concerned about as I haven’t been there for ages, and I’m super cautious. We had a friend collect us, drove into the car park from the Rissik Street side, and much to my amazement it was spotless and well organized. Once inside, it’s a case of down the escalator, turn left, and straight into the Premier Classe Lounge (also used for The Blue Train) for check in. It’s totally separate and is available only to Premier Classe [and Blue Train] passengers. No hassles and I didn’t feel uncomfortable or threatened at all. The rest of the station isn't great, but it doesn't matter because you don’t go there."
Traveller's report: Steven Wasiura says "Park Station in Johannesburg was very busy and felt generally safe, with visible security presence throughout. The Gautrain is an excellent way to reach the station [from Pretoria, airport, or suburbs], though the direct link between the Gautrain station and Park is still under construction, necessitating a short, easy walk outside. There are also several car hire agencies with offices at the station, so you may be able, as I was, to return your rental car there and go straight to your train."
Traveller's report: Ivor Morgan says "The key point is that it's possible to transfer between Shosholoza Meyl & Premier Classe trains, long-distance buses and the Gautrain, without leaving the reasonably secure perimeter of Jo'burg Park Station. Shosholoza Meyl & Premier Classe trains arrive on the lowest level, on a platform which is somewhat separate from the Metrorail suburban platforms. Leaving the platform (where your ticket will be collected, so have it handy) an escalator takes you up to the main concourse. Long-distance buses leave from the main concourse level. The bus companies have their offices on one side, and there are waiting areas and departure gates on the other. If you go up another level, there are some shops and a food court and this upper level is also the way to the Gautrain. The signage is not great, so look for the Wolmarans St exit if there is no Gautrain sign. When you reach the exit from the building at this level, you will see a short (~15m) covered walkway leading to another building. Inside the entrance to this building, you can see escalators going down to the Gautrain. At the bottom of the escalators, there is a short passage: The Gautrain ticket counter and ticket machines are straight ahead, and the ticket barriers are on the left. Going the other way should be easier - turn right out of the Gautrain ticket barriers (left takes you to the Gautrain car park), up the escalators, and follow the covered walkway to the main station building. If there are no signs specifically for Shosholoza Meyl, follow the signs for Metrorail until Shosholoza Meyl signs appear."
Travelling from Johannesburg to Cape Town by Shosholoza Meyl tourist class train
Premier Classe trains
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Premier Classe: Travelling from Johannesburg to Cape Town in comfort & safety, aboard the Premier Classe train... Photo courtesy of Michael Schaffer. |
IMPORTANT UPDATE 2023: These Premier Classe trains stopped operating in 2020 due to Covid and have not resumed. The great South African Railways has been brought to it knees by mismanagement, corruption, vandalism & theft.
Cape Town - Johannesburg (once a week)
The Premier Classe train (www.premierclasse.co.za, if & when their site is working) is an affordable deluxe service aimed at both budget-conscious tourists and South Africans themselves. It's another of South-Africa's well-kept travel secrets, and it's already getting great reports from travellers who try it. If you can't afford the famous Blue Train, but still want safe, civilised deluxe train travel at ground level through superb South African scenery that you can't see from 35,000 feet, take a Premier Classe train. Premier Classe started out in 1998 as an affordable deluxe service from Cape Town to Johannesburg, originally running once a week attached to the regular Shosholoza Meyl train. But in 2006 it was made into a completely separate train. In 2008 they introduced a Jo'burg-Durban train and in 2013 they added a Jo'burg to Port Elizabeth train. Sadly both of these were discontinued in 2014. See advice on using Johannesburg Park Station.
The Premier Classe train is a hotels on rails. It uses standard South African Railways sleeping-cars (in fact, the same 1960s-1970s type used by Shosholoza Meyl) which have been refurbished to deluxe standards, and passengers are given twice the normal amount of space per passenger: Solo passengers get sole occupancy of what would have been a 2-berth coupé, two passengers get sole use of what would have been a 4-berth compartment and so get two lower berths. The sleeping-cars aren't air-conditioned, a big advantage for photographers as the windows open. There's a deluxe Premier Classe restaurant car serving 3-5 course meals and a Premier Classe lounge car with armchairs, sofas and a bar. The fare includes all your meals and complimentary tea/coffee, although alcoholic drinks cost extra. Premier Classe passengers can use the luxury Blue Train VIP lounges at Cape Town and Johannesburg stations. Premier Classe is now a division of the new Passenger Rail Authority of South Africa (PRASA, www.prasa.com). This amateur video gives a good idea of what to expect on board the Premier Classe train and in terms of scenery, and you may also find this account helps convince you to try out this excellent train service!
Pretoria, Sandton & airport connections: You can now travel between Jo'burg Park Station, Sandton, Pretoria & Jo'burg international airport on the safe new Gautrain network, see below.
Car transport: Cars can also be transported on these trains between Cape Town & Johannesburg, R 1,780- R 3,700 per car.
Premier Classe train timetable... You can check train times & fares at www.premierclasse.co.za (if working) or at www.southafricanrailways.co.za (African Sun Travel, a private agency but usually more reliable).
* Until 2019, the Premier Classe train ran every week. In 2020 it will be reduced to running some weeks only, once or twice each month, see www.southafricanrailways.co.za for dates.
How much does Premier Classe cost?
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Cape Town to Johannesburg costs around R 3,120 (£189 or $235) each way per person including all meals and private sleeper.
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Slightly higher fares apply at peak times such as December-January, Easter & school holidays.
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Children under 3 travel free if sharing with their parents, children under 10 pay 80% of the adult fare, children 10 & over pay the adult fare.
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You can check fares at www.premierclasse.co.za (if working, it may well still not be!), www.southafricanrailways.co.za (African Sun Travel) or www.newfusion.co.za (New Fusion Travel)
How to buy tickets
Booking for Premier Classe opens 12 months ahead. You can request a Premier Classe booking online at www.southafricanrailways.co.za (this is African Sun Travel, a reliable ticketing agency, not the operator themselves) or www.newfusion.co.za (New Fusion Travel). Or you can book by phone calling the train operator on +27 11 774 4555 or + 27 12 334 8039 or (from within South Africa) 086 000 8888 (lines open Monday-Friday 09:00-16:30, GMT+2). Alternatively, you can e-mail your request to the train operator at info_premierclasse@transnet.net. There is more information at the Premier Classe website, if it's working, at www.premierclasse.co.za, with an online booking request form. However, reports suggest you'll get more responsive booking from ticketing agency www.southafricanrailways.co.za (African Sun Travel).
A journey from Cape Town to Jo'burg by Premier Classe train
For these photos I am indebted to Billy Shearer (read his trip report below) and Tommi Tollki.
The Blue Train, Cape Town to Pretoria
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The legendary Blue Train from Cape Town to Pretoria, one of the world's most luxurious trains... |
IMPORTANT UPDATE 2023: The Blue Train stopped running in 2020 due to the pandemic, but resumed in 2022. I 2023 it's believed to be running.
It's the most famous train in South Africa, and one of the most famous trains in the world. South Africa's Blue Train links Cape Town with Pretoria once or twice a week, year round. With a one-way fare from around R 36,000 (£1,750 or $2,000) per person for two people travelling together even in the low season, it's now aimed squarely at foreign visitors. However, The Blue Train is definitely the most luxurious way to travel between these two cities, and if you do choose to splurge, you will not be disappointed!
Blue Train timetable 2023
The Blue Train switched to a novel night-day-night schedule in 2019, a slower schedule but one less susceptible to delays and with additional off-train excursions.
For departure dates see www.bluetrain.co.za. See here for the regular passenger trains between Cape Town & Johannesburg.
The northbound journey includes a one-hour stop at the 19th century health resort of Matjiesfontein in the heart of the Karoo. The Southbound trip includes a stop at Kimberley for a tour of the Kimberley 'big hole' mining museum. The train no longer serves Johannesburg in either direction, as few tourists want to go there because of its security problems. The Blue Train rolling stock is also used to run irregular rail cruises on a couple of other scenic routes within South Africa.
How much does it cost?
How to buy tickets
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You can arrange a package which includes the Blue Train with hotels, transfers, flights through train specialist Railbookers. They have offices in the UK, USA & Australia:
In the UK call 0207 864 4600,
www.railbookers.co.uk.
In the USA call free 1-888-829-4775,
www.railbookers.com.
Canada call free 1-855-882-2910,
www.railbookers.com.
Australia call toll-free 1300 971 526,
www.railbookers.com.au.
New Zealand call toll-free 0800 000 554 or
see
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UK-based Tailor Made Rail can also organise a trip on the Blue Train. Call their dedicated seat61 phone line 020 3778 1461 and quote seat 61 when booking. From outside the UK call +44 20 3778 1461. Lines open 09:00-17:30 Monday-Friday. See www.tailormaderail.com/trains/the-blue-train.
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Or you can buy tickets at www.bluetrain.co.za.
What's it like on the Blue Train?
The Blue Train offers two types of room: Deluxe compartments have either a double bed or two single beds and en suite shower or small bath. Luxury compartments cost a bit more and are almost identical, but have a full size bath (yes, really) and a video. The train has a dining car and two lounge cars (one smoking, one non-smoking) and both of the two trainsets have an observation car at the rear, allowing you to look back along the line (one of the was damaged and taken out of service several years ago, but is restored for the 2019 season). Meals and drinks (and even Montecristo Havana cigars!) are included in the fare, and there is an extensive list of South African wines available. You probably won't be able to drink £800-worth before you reach Pretoria, but you can have a dam' good try... For pictures of the scenery between Cape Town and Pretoria, see the scenery shots from the Cape Town to Johannesburg journey by Shosholoza Meyl train here and by Premier Classe train here, as the Blue Train follows the same route as far as Jo'burg.
Watch the video: The Blue Train
It's a PR video, of course, but this short film shows how good travelling in The Blue Train from Cape Town to Pretoria can be.
Airport Line: Sandton ► Johannesburg International Airport, see www.gautrain.co.za
Phase 1 of the modern standard-gauge metro service called 'Gautrain' is now operational between the Jo'burg suburb of Sandton and Jo'burg's OR Tambo international airport. Using brand-new standard-gauge electric trains, it has all the necessary CCTV and security equipment to be a safe and comfortable means of transport for locals and tourists alike. Trains run every 30 minutes at weekends, every 20 minutes weekday off-peak, and every 12 minutes in the weekday morning and evening peaks. See www.gautrain.co.za for fares, times and more information.
North-South Line: Johannesburg (Park Station) ► Sandton ► Pretoria Gautrain, see www.gautrain.co.za
Phase 2 is now open, with safe modern Gautrain service linking Johannesburg Park Station in downtown Johannesburg (the station used by Shosholoza Meyl and Premier Classe long-distance trains) with the suburb of Sandton and the administrative capital Pretoria. Gautrain is the best way to travel between Jo'burg and Pretoria, and the safest way to access Jo'burg Park station to connect with your Premier Classe or Shosholoza Meyl long-distance train. Trains run run every 30 minutes at weekends, every 20 minutes weekday off-peak, and every 12 minutes in the weekday morning and evening peaks. See www.gautrain.co.za for details.
Suburban Metro trains
Metro trains around Johannesburg & Pretoria
Although long-distance Shosholoza Meyl trains and Gautrain are safe for tourists, 'Metro Rail' suburban trains around Johannesburg, Soweto and Pretoria are different matter. Unless you are particularly foolhardy or adventurous, they are probably best avoided completely. In 2022, work to restore normal metro services continues.
Metro trains from Cape Town to Stellenbosch, Simon's Town & Paarl
Metro Rail suburban trains around Cape Town have always been less of a problem and as long as you take care, leave your valuables at your hotel and don't travel after dark, they can be a good way to get from central Cape Town to the seaside town of Simon's Town (a scenic run along the coast), or to the wine regions at Stellenbosch or even Paarl - I've taken the metro train to Stellenbosch myself, then hired a bike to cycle round the wineries. But always check current local travel advice as the situation can change and there have been incidents, even if that may not be the norm. On the other hand, there is a new initiative for tourists using the Cape Town to Simon's Town train service to tour the coast.
Two classes are available, 1st ('Metro Plus') and 3rd. Metro Plus means longitudinal cloth seats on newer trains, grey plastic seats on the older ones, 3rd class means plastic bench seats. Outside the rush hours, trains are not crowded and there's a train from Cape Town to Simon's Town or Stellenbosch every hour or two, taking about an hour. Make sure you sit in a carriage with other travellers. To reach the wineries, bicycles can be hired in Stellenbosch, for about £4 a day.
In 2022, work to restore normal metro services continues. In mid-2022, trains are running between Cape Town & Fish Hoek, but Fish Hoek to Simonstown is out of action. The Cape Town-Stellenbosch line is also still out of action.
Cruise trains
Several companies run all-inclusive tours around Southern Africa using special deluxe cruise trains.
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Rovos Rail (www.rovos.co.za) runs a 5-star cruise train to a regular schedule from Cape Town to Pretoria and on to Victoria Falls. The train consists of beautifully restored South African coaches with all the usual tourist facilities - lounge, restaurant, private sleeping compartments and showers. Meals are included in the tour price. For times, dates of running and prices see www.rovos.co.za.
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Shongololo Express (www.shongololo.com) also operates a 3-star cruise train on various routes in Southern Africa and into neighbouring countries.
Buses in South Africa
The trains don't go everywhere in South Africa, and there are times when you might need to take a bus. There are several long-distance bus operators. Useful internet addresses are:
TransLux, www.translux.co.za. Call 011 774 3333 or from outside South Africa +27 (011) 774 3333
Greyhound, www.greyhound.co.za. Call 083 915 9000.
InterCape, www.intercape.co.za. Call 0861 287 287 or from outside South Africa +27 21 380 4400.
I
strongly recommend buying a good guidebook - and I think the Lonely Planets and Rough
Guides are easily the best out there for the independent traveller.
You won't regret buying one!
LP Southern Africa is less detailed than LP South Africa, but it covers other countries as well as SA. Alternatively, you can download just the chapters or areas you need in .PDF format from the Lonely Planet Website, from around £2.99 or US$4.95 a chapter.
Click the images to buy online at Amazon.co.uk...
Accommodation in South Africa
Hotels in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban or anywhere in South Africa...
Personal recommendations: The Tudor Hotel in Cape Town is inexpensive and central, a good budget choice, from 440 Rand (£33 or $65) per night. Pretoria is a better place to stay than Johannesburg itself.
Backpacker hostels
www.hostelworld.com: If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels. Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.
Flights to South Africa
1) Check flight prices at Opodo, www.opodo.com...
2) Use Skyscanner to compare flight prices & routes worldwide across 600 airlines...
3) Lounge passes...
Make the airport experience a little more bearable with a VIP lounge pass, it's not as expensive as you think! See www.loungepass.com
Travel insurance & other tips
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Always take out travel insurance
Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover. It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit. An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself. Here are some suggested insurers. Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.
www.staysure.co.uk
offers enhanced Covid-19 protection & gets 4.7 out of 5 on
Trustpilot.
www.columbusdirect.com
is also a well-know brand.
If you live in the USA try
Travel Guard USA.
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Get an eSIM with mobile data package
Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected. Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list. Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.
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Get a Curve card for foreign travel
Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top. A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing. The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.
How it works: 1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android. 2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses. 3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card. 4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app. You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.
I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader. The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out). I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great. See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.
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Get a VPN for safe browsing. Why you need a VPN
When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure. A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi. It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply. See VPNs & why you need one explained. ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription. I get a small commission to help support this site.
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Carry an Anker powerbank
Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged. I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet. Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from Buy from Amazon.com.
Fares: Jo'burg to Messina in economy seat from R100, in a tourist class sleeper berth from R160.
This train has economy class seats, tourist class sleepers, restaurant car. For travellers bound for Bulawayo or Harare in Zimbabwe, Messina is 12km from the Zimbabwe frontier across the Limpopo River at Beitbridge. This route was discontinued in 2014 but was reinstated from March 2018. It went twice-weekly in August 2018.
The Jo'burg - Komatipoort train was discontinued in December 2014, but resumes operation as from late March 2015. It now has tourist class 2 & 4 bed sleepers as well as economy seats.
Komatipoort station is 14km from the Croc Bridge entrance to Kruger National Park.
* See the Mozambique page for full details about travel between Johannesburg & Maputo by train.
** IMPORTANT UPDATE: In mid-2019 it was reported that the Jo'burg-Maputo train isn't running at the moment, until further notice. It is not clear how permanent or temporary this was.
Fare from Cape Town to East London approx R 650 in Tourist sleeper class.
Fares: Jo'burg to Mafikeng R100, Mafikeng to Kimberley R130. New service started 5 June 2015.