The Blue Train: Cape Town to Pretoria

From £3,499 per person // 9 days
Enjoy four days at leisure to explore the beautifully situated city of Cape Town. Then board the iconic Blue Train for an unforgettable journey through the landscapes of South Africa to Pretoria, with a stop at Kimberley Diamond Mines along the way.

The Blue Train: Cape Town to Pretoria

From £3,499 per person // 9 days
The Essentials
  • Enjoy a 4-night stay in stunning Cape Town exploring all the city has to offer
  • Board the iconic Blue Train for a stunning journey north to Pretoria
  • Luxurious two night rail cruise experience including fine dining and drinks
  • Spend two days exploring South Africa’s administrative capital Pretoria at the end of your trip
Tailor make your holiday
  • Decide when you would like to travel
  • Adapt the route to suit your plans
  • Upgrade hotels
  • Add extra nights, destinations and/or tours
What's included
  • Return flights from London to Cape Town and Johannesburg to London
  • Double De Luxe cabin on the Blue Train including all meals, drinks and excursion to Kimberley Diamond Mine
  • Private transfers Cape Town airport to hotel and Pretoria station to hotel & hotel to Johannesburg airport
  • 5 nights’ hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email, post or collection from our London office

 

Suggested Itinerary

The Blue Train: Cape Town to Pretoria
DAYS 1 & 2 - LONDON OVERNIGHT TO CAPE TOWN

Fly from London overnight to Cape Town. On arrival, a private transfer will be waiting to transport you to the The Hyde Hotel (or similar) on the famous Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, where you have a 4-night stay. Settle in and relax before heading out in the evening for dinner in one of the many restaurants this area of Cape Town has to offer.

DAYS 3, 4 & 5 - CAPE TOWN

Enjoy three full days to explore Cape Town at your own pace. This is the oldest city in South Africa and one of the most multi-cultural urban centres in the world, dominated by the easily recognisable backdrop of Table Mountain.

You can ascend Table Mountain, either by rotating cable car, or on foot if you’re feeling energetic! At the summit, you will be rewarded with stunning views over the city and Table Bay. Alternatively, why not visit the stunning UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens or take a ferry over to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held as a political prisoner for 18 years.

DAY 6 - BOARD THE BLUE TRAIN

This morning, check out of your hotel and meet your transfer driver, who will take you to the station. Enjoy pre-departure snacks and drinks before being escorted to your suite onboard the train by your butler.

Once the train has set off, canapés will be served with an aperitif before lunch in the restaurant car. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure in one of the train’s comfortable lounges, watching the changing scenery of South Africa pass by. Then later, it’s time to dress for a sumptuous dinner onboard, before post-dinner drinks, Cognac and cigars are served in the Club Car.

DAY 7 - ABOARD THE BLUE TRAIN

After breakfast at your own leisure, relax as you watch the stunning landscapes pass by your window. You might like to socialise with your fellow guests over a coffee in one of the Lounge Cars or perhaps take in the scenery from the Observation Car at the rear of the train.

After lunch onboard, you will arrive at Kimberley station. Here (weather and time permitting) you will disembark for a tour of the fascinating Open Mine Museum, which transports you back to the days of the diamond rush. Back onboard, why not enjoy an aperitif drink in one of the train’s lounges before a sumptuous 4-course evening meal served in the dining car. After dinner, relax in the Club Car with a digestif or retire to your cosy cabin.

DAY 8 - ARRIVE PRETORIA

Breakfast is served onboard the train and then you have another morning to relax and enjoy the onboard facilities on the train. Lunch is served in the restaurant cars and then, in the early evening, you’ll pull into the station at Pretoria and disembark. A private transfer will be waiting to take you to the Southern Sun Pretoria Hotel (or similar), where you have your final overnight stay.

 

 

 

DAY 9 - DEPART PRETORIA

Spend a last day in Pretoria before meeting your transfer driver at the hotel and driving to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Alternatively, why not extend your holiday with an exciting safari in Kruger National Park? You can fly into Nelspruit Airport and transfer to a safari lodge for a few nights before returning to Johannesburg Airport. Call us for details and prices.

Typical hotels on this itinerary

The Blue Train: Cape Town to Pretoria
Cape Town
The Hyde Hotel

Located in Sea Point, near the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, the Hyde Hotel offers modern, fully serviced boutique apartments and studios. All spacious studios and apartments come with a fully-equipped kitchen, seating & dining area, flat-screen TV and air-conditioning. There’s also an on-site restaurant, a gym and an inviting rooftop pool. A complimentary shuttle to the V&A Waterfront and Cape Town centre is available.

 

Pretoria
Southern Sun Hotel

The Southern Sun Hotel is situated between the Union Buildings and the Breytenbach State Theatre in the financial district of Pretoria. Bedrooms come with flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning and Wi-FI access. There is an a la carte retaurant, a bar, a gym and an outdoor pool surrounded by landscaped gardens. Eastwood Shopping Centre is within easy walking distance.

 

Upgrade your accommodation

The Blue Train: Cape Town to Pretoria
Cape Town
Taj Hotel Cape Town

Popular with Blue Train passengers, this luxury hotel occupies two historic buildings and a modern tower in the heart of Cape Town. Its elegant rooms combine old-world quality with modern amenities and offer city or Table Mountain views. The hotel features three restaurants, an Ayurvedic spa, a fitness centre and an indoor pool.

Cape Town
Belmond Mount Nelson

Enjoying a superb location at the foot of Table Mountain, and just a short stroll from downtown, this resort offers the perfect combination of tranquility and buzz. The rooms are a blend of understated charm and modern luxury with most offering balconies and Cape Town views. Facilities include two swimming pools, two restaurants, spa and fitness centre.

Cape Town
Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa

Poised above the Atlantic Ocean, this boutique hotel is flanked by the majestic Table Mountain National Park and the Twelve Apostles mountain range. The hotel offers 70 guest rooms, with unique features that include a holistic spa, private cinema, and breathtaking views from the legendary Azure Restaurant and The Leopard Bar.

From £3,499 Enquire Now
How Did You Hear About Us?
£ Pricing
From £3,499 per person

Prices are based on two people sharing a twin or double room in the hotels and a De Luxe Cabin on board the Blue Train. Single occupancy will incur a single supplement. The “from” price relates to the best-value departure date within that given month. Other departure dates in the same month may be a higher price due to availability at the flights, hotels and Blue Train rates.

Choose your departure date
Other holiday ideas you might like
Classic Orient Express: London to Venice
From £5,099
6 Days
Take the trip of a lifetime aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express en route to the City of Canals. After time at leisure here, return through the Brenner Pass Alpine route with a night in the Bavarian city of Munich.
From £5,099 per person // 6 days
Andean Explorer & Machu Picchu
From £3,299
11 Days
Take the luxurious Belmond Andean Explorer from Arequipa to Cusco, along one of the highest and most beautiful rail routes in the world. Your holiday includes a stay in Lima at the start of your holiday and an unforgettable day trip to Machu Picchu.
From £3,299 per person // 12 days
The Blue Train View More
Download Printable Itinerary
  • Download Printable Itinerary
Share this trip