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SHONGOLOLO EXPRESS TRAIN -  GOOD HOPE

JOHANNESBURG TO CAPE TOWN


DAY 01 JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA / SHONGOLOLO EXPRESS

Arrive Johannesburg where you are met by train staff for start of your 16 day rail safari through South Africa with Cape Town as your final destination.
Today's tours include Johannesburg, Pretoria and Soweto.

DAY 02 MPUMALANGA / PANORAMIC ROUTE

Awake to an indigenous South African breakfast and the spectacular views of the Eastern Transvaal where you explore the endless cascade of mountains, forests and waterfalls, God's Window, Mac Mac Falls and the weathered rock formations at Bourke's Luck Potholes. The highlight of the tour " The Blyde River Canyon", the most beautiful canyon in South Africa, will not be missed.

DAY 03 KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

Enjoy game drives today in the world famous Kruger National Park. This is one of the world's most famous national parks and the oldest in Africa. It is 350km long from north to south with a maximum width of 90 km. The park harbors an unparalleled diversity of wildlife and is maintained by one of the world's most sophisticated management systems. You can stay on board the train in Hazyview tonight and re-enter Kruger Park tomorrow for more game viewing, or train personnel can help you with other options for overnight, including a stay in a bush camp or at a private game lodge.

Tour Add-Ons:
- Overnight at Private Game Lodge approx USD300 per person sharing
- Overnight at a bush camp in Kruger Nat'l Park approx USD195 pp sharing
- Open Vehicle Safari in Kruger approx USD110 per person

DAY 04 SWAZILAND

You will be charmed by this small though majestic Kingdom of tranquility with its rolling hills, temperate climate and friendly people. Today you will visit Mbabane - the capital, the National Museum Trust, various Crafts Workshops including candle and glass manufacturers and grass weavers.

DAY 05 NORTHERN ZULULAND / HLUHLUWE & UMFOLOZI PARK

Mapuhaland is an eco paradise, abounding in estuarine lagoons, rivers and swamp-forests, sand dune forests and marine reserves. Today you have another opportunity to book into a bush camp for the night. Proclaimed in 1897, the Hluhluwe Game Reserve is one of the oldest game reserves in Africa. It covers 23 067 ha and is linked to the nearby Umfolozi Game Reserve by a wide corridor of land which allows free movement of game between the two areas.

Tour add-ons:
- Boat Cruise on St. Lucia Estuary in a large flat bottom boat, seeing hippo's. crocodiles, water and land birds. Approx cost USD28 per person.
- Bush Camp overnight stay. Approx cost USD120 per person

DAY 06 SOUTHERN ZULULAND

Continue south today where the wildlife, vegetation, water and ancestral sites of the great Zulu nation await.
Today's touring options include:
- Battlefields of the Zulu Impi's against the Boers and British
- Cultural Heritage Tour including Ulundi, Museum of Zulu history & crafts
- Hluhluwe & Umfolozi Game Reserves (different regions visited today)

DAY 07 DURBAN

Morning arrival into Durban - South Africa's busiest seaport.
Daytime touring options include:
- Durban Highlights - cultural, military and scenic
- Indian Tour - visiting Hindu and Muslim temples and the Spice Market
- Botanical Gardens and Natal Sharks Board Tour

DAY 08 DRAKENSBERG / LADYSMITH

Awake to the mountain of dragons, South Africa's highest mountain range
with some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world.
Daytime touring options include:
- Royal National Park - mountain walks, horse riding and Bushman paintings.
- Ladysmith Battlefields and sights of the British War against the Boers

DAY 09 BLOEMFONTEIN / KIMBERLEY

Arrive in this region today to recapture Kimberley's glittering diamond days and visit Bloemfontein, South Africa's Judicial Capital.
Daytime Options include:
- Kimberley touring including The Siege, The Big Hole, The Cape to Cairo Dream and De Beers Diamond Exhibits
- Bloemfontein Botanical Gardens & Boer Military Museum
- Bloemfontein and Soetdoring Nature Reserve.

DAY 10 PORT ELIZABETH / GRAHAMSTOWN

This morning you awake in Port Elizabeth. After breakfast, set out on your daytime options which include:
- Addo Elephant Park
- Port Elizabeth - sandy beaches and historical highlights

Tour Add-On:
Visit the Black townships of Port Elizabeth with a local guide, and hear stories of the apartheid era. (Approx cost USD40 per person).

DAY 11 OUDTSHOORN / GARDEN ROUTE

Oudtshoorn is the tourist capital of the Little Karoo. Ascend through the inspiring and beautiful rail route over Outeniqua Pass to the magnificent Garden Route. The surrounding countryside is outstanding. The nearby Swartberg Pass and Seweweekspoort are geological, floral and engineering masterpieces - two of South Africa's scenic highlights.
Daytime optional touring includes:
- Cango Caves
- Ostrich and cheetah farm
- A visit to the small town of Prince Albert
- Bartholomew Dias Museum
- Mossel Bay

Tour Add-Ons:
- Cango Crocodile and Cheetah Land. (Approx USD15)
- Seal Island Cruise (Approx USD20)

DAY 12 GARDEN ROUTE / MOSSEL BAY

After breakfast, set out on the optional touring of your choice:
- Sights & sounds of Knysna including the famous Knysna Heads
- Robberg Nature Reserve - dolphins, bird-watching
- Arts & Wood Crafts Route

Tour Add-On:
Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe train. Approx cost USD15

DAY 13 WINELANDS / STELLENBOSCH

The romantic mood of the Winelands with stretches of vineyard set against their mountain backdrop.
Daytime options include:
- Wine Route - visit various wine estates and the French Huguenot Museum
- Whale spotting in Hermanus (seasonal between July and November)
- Travel the Four Passes Route
- Three Village Walkabout - architectural, historical, cultural towns of Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek

DAY 14 CAPE TOWN AND DAY 15

These two days are spent with the same guide, touring the Cape Peninsula and the City.
Daytime options over the next 2 days include:
- Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve and Cape Point, Boulders Penguin Colony, Chapman's Peak Drive, Hout Bay, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden and Kalk Bay fishing harbour.
- Table Mountain, SA Museum and Company Gardens. Bo Kaap and its Museum, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, District 6 and its museum.

Tour Add-Ons include:
-Helicopter flight over the city and peninsula (20 min). Approx USD75.00 pp
-Robben Island Tour. Approx USD40.00 pp
-Cable Car ride to top of Table Mountain. Approx USD25.00.

DAY 16 CAPE TOWN

Day at leisure before you are transferred by train staff to the airport in time for departing flight.
-Shongololo rail safari ends here
    

    SOUTHBOUND -  2009 DEPARTURE DATES

          
27 Jan - 11 Feb 2009
21 April - 06 May2009                                  25 Aug - 09 Sept 2009                              17 Nov - 02 Dec 2009

     

    

     NORTHBOUND -  2009 DEPARTURE DATES

                 

17 February - 04 March 2009                         12-27 May 2009                                           15-30 September 2009                                 21 December-05 January 2010

                                                     

 

 

2009  PRICE

IVORY CLASS PER PERSON SHARING:    Rands 32,700.00
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:                                      Rands 2575.00

GOLD SUITE PER PERSON SHARING:        Rands 40,300.00

COMMODORE SUITE PER PERSON SHARING: Rands 42,100.00

EMERALD SUITE PER PERSON SHARING: Rands 54,500.00

 

The above rates include breakfasts, dinners, overnight accommodations, 15 days of touring, English speaking drivers/guides throughout and transportation off the train each day in minivans.   Optional excursions like a night at a private game lodge on safari are additional.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

The Good Hope train operates in both directions, and accommodates 108 guests in 9 sleeper carriages.   Each Ivory carriage has 5 double and 2 single carpeted compartments, one shower and two toilets.  There is a fan, heater, plug point, coffee machine, safe, hand basin with hot and cold water, folding table and beds as opposed to bunks. 

The Commodore Suites are new on the Train since 2007 and offer private bathroom, air-conditioning and heating.  Gold Suites also offer the same amenities but have bunk beds instead of regular beds, and the upper bunk beds are slightly smaller than standard beds.

If you wish to add Victoria Falls or anything before or after the Train journey, this too can be arranged.  Anything is possible.  

                           FOR OUR LATEST SOUTHERN AFRICA BROCHURE, CALL                                    

1-800-358-8530  OR SEND US AN E-MAIL.

US citizens do not require visas for travel to South Africa nor Swaziland.   South Africa does, however, require TWO CONSECUTIVE BLANK PAGES in your passport for entry into South Africa, and a 6-month validity.  All other passport holders must check with their local Consulate offices at time of booking.

Anti-malaria tablets must be taken throughout. No shots are required at this time.

We require a non-refundable deposit of 20% per person to proceed with reservations and the balance will become due and payable 60 days before date of travel. All major credit cards are accepted in our offices as well as cheques.

 

In US & Canada:  1 - 800 - 358-8530


 
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