The Blue Train Pretoria to Cape Town | 2-Night Luxury Train Journey

The Blue Train: Pretoria to Cape Town - A 2-Night South African Luxury Rail Journey

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Overview

The Blue Train's flagship southbound journey runs 1,600 kilometres from Pretoria to Cape Town over two nights, crossing the Highveld, the Karoo and the Hex River mountains before descending into the Mother City.

Since 1946 The Blue Train has been a byword for luxury rail travel in Africa. Its sapphire-blue carriages carry a maximum of 82 guests in fully carpeted, soundproofed suites, each with a private en-suite bathroom, and a butler is on call around the clock. Fine dining, exquisite Cape wines and a standard of service that has made the train a national institution are all included in the fare.

Guests choose between the De Luxe Suite, with a full bathroom and shower, and the larger Luxury Suite, which offers a deep bath and a private digital entertainment system. Two lounge cars, an observation car with panoramic windows and a Club Car for cards, chess and after-dinner conversation complete the on-board experience. An accessible suite with an easy-entry shower is available in the observation car.

The Blue Train is operated by Transnet Freight Rail. Palace Tours is a registered tour operator for the train and can package the journey with safaris, Cape Town stays, the Winelands and onward travel throughout Southern Africa.

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Itinerary

Your Itinerary

Bronze statue of Nelson Mandela with arms outstretched, in front of the Union Buildings, with South African flags.

Day 1

PRETORIA

Registration opens at The Blue Train lounge at Pretoria station; departure is at 12:00 hrs on 2026 dates and 13:00 hrs on 2027 dates. Settle into your suite as the train pulls away and the Highveld gives way to open country. Lunch is served shortly after departure, high tea follows in the afternoon, and dinner is a formal affair in the dining car.

Day 2

KIMBERLEY

The train arrives at Kimberley for the scheduled off-train excursion. A coach transfers guests to the Open Mine Museum for a guided tour of the historic diamond workings, ending at the viewing ramp above the Big Hole, once the largest hand-dug excavation in the world. Guests return to the train with a commemorative engraved sherry glass. High tea, pre-dinner drinks and dinner follow.

Day 3

CAPE TOWN

A leisurely morning on board as the train crosses the Hex River Valley and the Cape Winelands. Brunch is served before arrival in Cape Town at 18:00 hrs. Palace Tours can arrange your Cape Town hotel, transfers and touring, or continue your journey to the Winelands, the Garden Route or a Big Five safari.

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The Blue Train: Pretoria to Cape Town - A 2-Night South African Luxury Rail Journey

Dates & Prices

Prices are per person.

Fares

Choose a departure

Terms & Conditions

A deposit of 10 percent is payable to confirm an individual reservation, with the balance due 60 days before departure. Reservations for The Blue Train open on 2 January each year for the following year. Cancellation charges apply: 10 percent of the fare 60 days or more before departure, and 50 percent within 60 days. Rates are published by the operator in South African Rand and are subject to change until a booking is paid in full. Please contact us for the current price in US Dollars.

Inclusions & Exclusions

Inclusions:

Two nights on board The Blue Train in the suite category booked.
All meals on board – breakfast, lunch, high tea and a formal dinner.
All beverages on board, including a selection of Cape wines, spirits and champagne.
24-hour butler service.
The scheduled off-train excursion for the route.
Use of the lounge cars, observation car and Club Car.
Pre-departure use of The Blue Train lounge at the departure station.
All taxes and service charges on board.

Your tour price does NOT include international or domestic airfares, travel insurance, visas, items of a personal nature, purchases from the on-board boutique, or any hotel nights, transfers and touring before or after the rail journey. Palace Tours is happy to arrange all of these.

Children aged 5 and under travel free of charge when sharing their parents’ suite (maximum two children per suite). Children aged 6 to 11 pay 50 percent of the adult rate and occupy a separate suite. Children of 12 and over pay the full adult rate. Child ages are counted as at the date of boarding.

Frequently Asked Questions & Tips

1 What is the check-in procedure?

Register at The Blue Train Station Lounge at Pretoria Station, with shuttles to Irene Station from 11:30. Guests are requested to check in at least one hour before departure, and passports are required. Pre-departure refreshments are served in the lounge, and once on board your butler will show you to your suite and run through its features.

2 What is the dress code?

By day, smart casual. Dinner is an elegant affair: gentlemen are requested to wear a jacket or waistcoat and ladies elegant evening wear.

3 What is included in the fare?

Everything on board: your suite, all meals, all beverages including a selection of Cape wines, spirits and champagne, 24-hour butler service, the scheduled off-train excursion, and all taxes and service charges. Excluded are airfares, travel insurance, visas, purchases from the on-board boutique and anything before or after the rail journey - all of which Palace Tours can arrange.

4 What happens on the off-train excursion?

The fare includes one off-train excursion at Kimberley: a guided tour of the Open Mine Museum ending on an enclosed viewing ramp above the Big Hole, and an engraved Blue Train sherry glass to keep. It runs weather and time permitting.

5 Are children allowed on board?

Yes. Children aged 5 and under travel free when sharing their parents' suite, to a maximum of two per suite. The train cannot add a bed, mattress or cot, so children share their parents' bed; where that is impractical we recommend a second suite at the child rate. Children aged 6 to 11 pay 50 percent of the adult rate and occupy their own suite, and children of 12 and over pay the full adult fare. Ages are counted as at the date of boarding. Children are not permitted in the Club Car, and alcohol is not served to anyone under 18.

6 How much luggage can I bring?

Additional luggage is carried in the Luggage Car, limited to 50 kg per guest. Suite storage is limited, so pack an overnight bag for the journey itself. All luggage is security-scanned before boarding, and each suite has a lock-up safe for valuables.

7 Is smoking permitted on board?

Only in the Club Car, which is the designated smoking area and where cognacs and Cuban cigars are served after dinner. The Lounge Car is non-smoking, and children are not permitted in the Club Car.

8 Can special diets be accommodated?

Yes, but dietary requirements must be confirmed at the time your booking is confirmed. Last-minute requests may not be met, and the train does not provide meals for infants.

9 What deposit is required and when is the balance due?

For individual bookings made six months or more before travel, a 10 percent deposit is payable within 21 days of confirmation, with the balance due 60 days before departure. Bookings made within 60 days of travel require payment in full within 48 hours. Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable.

10 What is the cancellation policy?

Cancellations 60 days or more before departure incur a fee of 10 percent of the fare for individual bookings (25 percent for groups). Within 60 days the fee is 50 percent. Once a ticket is purchased a reservation may be changed within 90 days without a cancellation fee, though if rates have risen the difference is payable. Cancellation fees attract 15 percent VAT.

11 When do reservations open?

Reservations for The Blue Train open on 2 January each year for the following year. The Pretoria to Kruger safari runs on only one set of dates a year, so it is worth reserving early.

12 Do I need a passport or visa?

A valid passport is required and is checked at boarding. Guests must comply with South African government travel regulations in force at the time. Visa requirements depend on your nationality - ask us and we will confirm for your passport.

13 Should I book a flight for the same day I arrive?

No. The Blue Train specifically advises against same-day air travel on departure and arrival days. Schedules can shift for reasons beyond the operator's control and arrival times are not guaranteed. We will happily arrange a hotel night either side.

14 Is the train suitable for guests with limited mobility?

An accessible suite with an easy-entry shower is located in the observation car. Please tell us your requirements at the time of enquiry so we can confirm availability with the operator for your date.

15 Are pets allowed?

No. Pets are not permitted on The Blue Train.

16 How long is The Blue Train journey from Pretoria to Cape Town?

The flagship southbound journey covers about 1,600 kilometres over two nights. The train departs Pretoria at 12:00 on 2026 dates and 13:00 on 2027 dates, crossing the Highveld and the Karoo, stopping at Kimberley on day 2, and arriving in Cape Town at 18:00 on day 3 after the Hex River Valley and the Cape Winelands.

17 What is the difference between the De Luxe Suite and the Luxury Suite on The Blue Train?

Both are carpeted, soundproofed suites with a private en-suite bathroom and 24-hour butler service. The De Luxe Suite has a full bathroom with shower, while the larger Luxury Suite adds a deep bath and a private digital entertainment system. Fares start from US$2,507 per person sharing, and the exact fare for each departure and suite is shown on this page.

18 Can I travel alone on The Blue Train from Pretoria to Cape Town?

Yes. Solo travellers can book a suite for single occupancy, with fares starting from US$3,760. The exact single fare for each departure and suite category is shown on this page.

19 Which Blue Train departures from Pretoria to Cape Town are on sale?

There are over 70 departures on sale, running from 5 October 2026 to 13 December 2027. Each date, with its live fare and suite availability, is listed on this page. Only 82 guests travel on each departure, so popular dates can fill well ahead.

20 How do I ask a question or book The Blue Train from Pretoria to Cape Town?

Every departure listed on this page can be booked directly online. If you would like help with a Cape Town hotel, transfers, the Garden Route or a Big Five safari, email travel@palacetours.com, call 786-408-0610, or message us on WhatsApp at https://wa.me/17864080610, where a travel specialist or our AI assistant will answer.

Check-in Information

Register and check in at The Blue Train Station Lounge, Pretoria Station. Registration opens at 11:00 and guests are asked to check in at least one hour before departure. Pre-departure beverages and canapes are served in the lounge, and shuttles transport guests to Irene Station from 11:30. Boarding commences at 12:45 and butlers usher guests to their suites for orientation. Passports are required at check-in.

Dress Code

By day the mood is relaxed and smart casual dress is perfectly appropriate. Dinner is an elegant affair: gentlemen are requested to wear a jacket or waistcoat, and ladies elegant evening wear. Guests who prefer a more relaxed evening may dine at the earlier sitting.

Dining on Board

All meals and beverages are included. Breakfast is served from 07:00 to 10:00 on a first-come-first-served basis. Lunch and dinner are served in two sittings in the Dining Car - dinner at 18:00-19:30 and 20:00-21:30 - and High Tea is served each afternoon in the Non-Smoking Lounge Car. On the first afternoon a light lunch is served in the Lounge and Observation Cars as the train pulls away.

The Off-Train Excursion: Kimberley

Weather and running time permitting, the train pauses at Kimberley. Guests gather at the Railway Museum and are transferred by coach to the Kimberley Open Mine Museum for a guided tour of the historical sites, ending on an enclosed ramp on the edge of the Big Hole. Back at Kimberley Station guests are greeted with a glass of sherry, and the engraved Blue Train sherry glass is theirs to keep. The excursion is included in the fare.

Luggage

All luggage is security-scanned before boarding. Suite storage is limited, so pack an overnight bag for the journey; additional luggage is carried in the Luggage Car, limited to 50 kg per guest. Each suite has a lock-up safe for valuables.

Smoking and the Club Car

Smoking is permitted only in the Club Car, where post-dinner drinks, cognacs and Cuban cigars are served. Children are not permitted in the Club Car. The Lounge Car is non-smoking.

Children on Board

Children aged 5 and under travel free of charge when sharing their parents’ suite, to a maximum of two children per suite. The train cannot accommodate an additional bed, mattress or cot, so children share their parents’ bed; where that is impractical we recommend booking a second suite at the child rate. Children aged 6 to 11 pay 50 percent of the adult rate and occupy a separate suite; children of 12 and over pay the full adult rate. Ages are counted as at the date of boarding.

Before You Travel

Dietary requirements must be confirmed at the time your booking is confirmed - last-minute requests may not be met. A valid passport is required. Travel insurance is strongly encouraged. The Blue Train advises against same-day air travel on departure and arrival days, as train schedules can shift. No pets, firearms or flammable goods may be carried.