Cape Town, The Blue Train & Kruger National Park

Regional Departures Available

To make your travel arrangements even more convenient for you, we are excited to announce that we are now offering some regional airport options outside London for this tour.

To view prices and flight options, please click the 'View Dates & Prices' button and select the departure that you are interested in as options may vary. Alternative, click the image on the left to see flight options and call us on 01904 734 111 to book.

To Cape Town

We depart London Heathrow on a flight to Cape Town, arriving on the morning of Day 2. We enjoy an orientation tour of Cape Town taking in the main sights, before transferring to the 5-Star Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel for four nights, superbly located overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. After time to freshen up, we head out again to make the cable car ascent of Table Mountain to enjoy panoramic views of the city. Your evening is free to spend at leisure - perhaps take a walk around the wonderful waterfront set against a backdrop of sea and mountain views.

Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Bay

Today we travel to Cape Point on the Cape of Good Hope, at the south-western tip of Africa. At Cape Point we take the Flying Dutchman funicular railway up to a vantage point, where we can admire the awe-inspiring views. After lunch together, we travel along False Bay via Simon's Town naval base to the wonderful Penguin colony at Boulders Beach, home to Africa's only indigenous penguin, before making our way back to Cape Town.

Stellenbosch Vineyards

Today we travel by coach around two of South Africa's finest wine producing areas: the Franschhoek and Stellenbosch valleys. As well as enjoying lunch on a wine estate, we sample some of the local wines during a tasting session.

Cape Town

Today you are free to explore Cape Town further. Among the gorgeous natural landmarks, incredible displays of street art, and the brightly-painted buildings along the waterfront, the city boasts an array of sights that make it fascinating to discover. Perhaps visit Robben Island, where the late Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 18 years. Now a museum detailing the struggle for democracy in South Africa, the prison is UNESCO-listed.

The Blue Train

This morning we travel to the railway station to begin our journey on the iconic Blue Train. A Blue Train butler will escort you to your cabin and provide an orientation of the train before inviting you for brunch as we begin our journey to Pretoria. The service on board The Blue Train is impeccable, as we enjoy meals and drinks including afternoon tea, aperitifs and after our lavish formal dinner of local cuisine accompanied by wine from the Cape winelands, a selection of post-dinner drinks. The Blue Train passes through the southern reaches of the Swartland and enters the first of the Boland Mountain passes, before climbing through the famous winelands to reach the Karoo plateau. Our first stop is at Matjiesfontein - an historic Karoo village dating back to the early 1900s. Returning to the train, we continue through the vast Great Karoo hinterland, through the towns of Beaufort West, Victoria West and De Aar before turning north to Kimberley and heading towards the Free State.

The Blue Train to Pretoria

We enjoy breakfast on board the train as we travel towards the sprawling city of Johannesburg. We continue on to Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, where our journey on The Blue Train concludes. After alighting from the train we transfer by coach to the superb 5-Star Sheraton Hotel Pretoria. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Pretoria at leisure. The city has a fascinating history, and it was here that Winston Churchill was imprisoned during the Anglo-Boer War. Once a symbol of apartheid, the city now represents Mandela's movement towards unity and peace.

To Kruger National Park

Today we drive to Kruger Gate for a three-night stay in an area renowned for its wildlife. We stay at the Protea Hotel Kruger Gate, on the banks of the Sabie River.

Exploring Kruger

On both Day 9 and Day 10 we enjoy full-day game drives to track the iconic wildlife of Kruger National Park. A local, skilled ranger drives each jeep as we head out into the game park, finding us the best locations to see the animals and pointing out animals whose camouflage makes them almost impossible to spot. We start by tracking the big cats, still out from their night spent hunting. The park is home to the 'Big Five' (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo), all of which we hope to see during our two days of game drives. There are also many other species to be seen, large and small, as well as fascinating plants and colourful birds. The hotel will provide us with a lunchbox ahead of each day's game drive. We return to the hotel at Kruger Gate at mid-afternoon on both days. The rest of the day is then free for you to spend at leisure. You could relax in the spa or by the swimming pool, or take advantage of the nature reserve by the hotel and enjoy some extra game viewing at your leisure. A fascinating variety of birdlife can be spotted, and bush walks can be organised by the hotel.

Return to London via Johannesburg

We leave Kruger on the morning of Day 11, and drive back to Johannesburg. Here we board an overnight flight this evening to London Heathrow, arriving into Heathrow on Day 12.

Please note

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.