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Southbound Itinerary: From Pretoria to Cape Town
Day 1 Embark: Pretoria, South Africa • Kimberly
8:30am: Board The Blue Train in the jacaranda city of Pretoria - the administrative capital of South Africa - and travel south through farmlands and along the “golden arc,” visible only by the mining shafts in the distance. The train departs the station at 8:50am.
En-route to Cape Town, stop in Kimberly for an off-the-train excursion. Kimberly was once the epicenter of a worldwide diamond rush. This city's checkered history is inextricably linked with the romance of those rare and beautiful stones.
Here The Blue Train guests are cordially invited to disembark, take a tour through the streets of modern day Kimberly, to visit the Kimberly Mine Museum and the “Big Hole.” The Blue Train luxury coach is used to transport guests; alternatively they can be taken on an historic electric tram when it is available.
Step back into a world of pioneers and adventurers, circa 1880. Marvel at the sheer magnitude of the "Big Hole," the largest hole in the world excavated by hand. At a replica of an alluvial-diamond diggers, try your luck at panning and possibly find a diamond of your very own!
Board The Blue Train once more and continue on to a southbound journey into the heartland of the Great Karoo. Dinner and overnight on the train. Blue Train (LD)
Day 2 Arrive Cape Town
Awaken to the sight of vineyards and orchards as you descend through mysterious and beautiful valleys and mountains, such as Drakenstein, Slanghoek and Elandskloof, towards Cape Town's imposing and instantly recognizable Table Mountain, sentinel and gateway to the African continent. Arrival time into Cape Town is approximately 12h20. (B)
Accommodations: With interiors created by a leading interior architectural design company, The Blue Train will rival many a five-star hotel in terms of elegance, grace, comfort, and style. The suites have been superbly redesigned to offer discerning guests the best that modern technology and superior craftsmanship can provide.
Each Blue Train suite has a fully appointed bathroom, featuring either a bath or a shower. All suites are equipped with telephone, television monitor, and individually controlled air-conditioning. A video channel allows guests to access short documentaries about the area through which the train is traveling. The suites are fitted with water-cooled air-conditioning system. Each suite has its own fresh air intake and individual coolant system. The passages are also air-conditioned with the same systems. Both suites and passages have the temperature adjusters and air speed regulators for individual preferred setting. During cold periods, all the systems are provided with heating cycles, not only from the air conditioning unit but also via under floor heating.
Guests may choose between a deluxe and a luxury accommodation.
Deluxe Accommodation:
Choice of twin-beds suite with a shower or a double-bed suite with a three-quarter-size bath.
Luxury Accommodation:
Choice of twin beds or double bed, and a full size bath with hand shower. Luxury suites are also equipped with CD players and video machines.
• USD rates quoted based on modest exchange rate as of January 2010. Your invoices will reflect the price in US dollars, based on the most current exchange rates.
• Transfers and any pre or post nights or tours can be added to complete your African program.
• Rates are per person sharing, inclusive of all meals, high tea, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and off-the train excursions (excluding French Champagne, caviar and external telephone calls)
• Maximum two guests per suite
• Arrival times and off-the train excursions cannot be guaranteed
• Special requests for meals (e.g. Kosher and Vegetarian) to be specified at time of reservation
• Bed preference (double or single) to be specified when making a reservation, as double beds are limited
• Guests are requested to check-in 1 hour prior to departure at The Blue Train lounges in Pretoria and Cape Town.
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