The Shongololo Express, based at Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria, began operations in 1995 to provide a very special touring experience for visitors to Southern Africa. The 12- to 15-day tours traverse South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
The Good Hope/Golf Northbound 15-day journey is a fantastic introduction to the amazing country of South Africa. The Shongololo Express offers both a golfing and non-golfing itinerary with an amazing insight into virtually every well-known destination. Guests can enjoy the great variety of landscapes, shorelines, cultures, lifestyles and cuisines throughout the journey. This amazing itinerary is also offered in the reverse direction.
72 guests are accommodated in comfortable en-suite cabins with double or twin beds. Two historically appointed dining cars set the scene for meals, which are taken in one sitting. Modern and traditional local cuisine is on offer with a selection of distinguished South African wines available. Guests can also relax in the bar car, small smoking lounge or the observation car with an open-air balcony situated at the back of the train. The train carries a fleet of air-conditioned touring vehicles with professional guides on board who are ready to take guests on inclusive scheduled off-rail activities to experience the sights of the area. For the more adventurous, there are also specialized activities available at many locations from elephant-back riding to scuba diving.
ITINERARY:
Day 1: The adventure begins in Cape Town with a city tour. Guests then board the train and traverse the vineyard region to Worcester.
Days 2 & 3: Travel by road over scenic mountain passes to Hermanus, once a renowned whaling station. Golfing at Arabella. An overnight stop in Voorbaai is followed by a spectacular meander along the Garden Route to the natural paradise of Knysna where guests enjoy a lagoon ferry ride to Featherbed Nature Reserve. Golfing at Ernie Els Oubaai. Overnight in George.
Days 4 - 6: Crossing the Outeniqua Mountains, guests arrive in Oudtshoorn to visit an ostrich farm and the incredible Cango Caves. Golfing at Fancourt Golf Estate. Depart for overnight train to Graaff Reinet, where guests will enjoy a walking tour. Overnight train to Kimberly, home of the De Beers Diamond mine, where guests will visit the Big Hole, the Diamond Museum, the William Humphreys Art Gallery and the McGregor Museum. Golfing at the Kimberley Golf Club.
Days 7 & 8: Arrive in Bloemfontein, the city of roses, where guests will enjoy a full day tour city which includes the Women's Memorial, the Anglo Boer Museum, and the Oliewenhuis Art Museum. Overnight train to Ladysmith. Full-day battlefields tour taking in the SiegeMuseum, Wagon Hill and Spionkop. Golfing at the Champagne Sports Resort.
Days 9 & 10: The train arrives in Durban, South Africa's third largest city, where guests can either enjoy a full city tour (including the Victoria Market and uShaka Marine World) or enjoy a spiritual tour to Mariannhill Monastery, Hare Krishna Temple and the Mahatma Gandhi Settlement. Golfing at the Durban Country Club. Return to the train and depart for Empangeni. Tour the world heritage site, St. Lucia Wetland Park with an afternoon visit to Dumazulu Cultural Village. Optional golfing at Zimbali.
Days 11 & 12: Then it’s on to explore Hluhluwe wildlife reserve with a game drive. Afterwards guests will board the train and depart for Mpaka, Swaziland, where border formalities take place. The next morning guests will take a vehicle tour to visit Ngqenya Glass, Mbabane and Mazini. Golfing at Nkonyeni Golf Estate. Rejoin the train at Mpaka and depart for the overnight stop Malelane.
Day 13: This magnificent sojourn next takes guests through the Drakensberg Mountains to Kruger National Park where guests can take a full day game drive. Golfing at Leopard Creek, Nelspruit or White River. Depart for Nelspruit.
Days 14 & 15: Full day tour of the historical areas of Pilgrim’s Rest, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and God’s Window. The final day sees the train pulling into Rovos Rail Station where guests continue on a tour of Pretoria or Johannesburg and Soweto.
PRE- AND POST-TRAIN TOURS:
Individually tailored packages available upon request. Options around Pretoria include the Cradle of Humankind, Lesedi Cultural Village, the Apartheid Museum and the World of Beer. Options In Cape Town include Table Mountain, Robben Island, Winelands tour, Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Point and Simon’s Town, for example.
RATE INCLUDES:
- Accommodation onboard on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis
- Excursions accompanied by a qualified tour guide
- Entrance fees to places of interest
- Government tax
- Off-train accommodation
- Meals at lodges/hotels/clubs/resorts
RATE EXCLUDES:
- All beverages
- Lunches off the train
- Laundry
- Gratuities
- Gold course Fees
- Visas
- Travel insurance
- Personal Expenses
If you are a golfing enthusiast or just a lover of Africa then why not let the Shongololo Express show you all that South Africa has to offer. Contact one of our Adventure Specialists today by calling us at 604-736-7447 or by clicking on the button at the top of this page.
