Overview
Once a year The Blue Train leaves its Cape route to run a scheduled return safari service from Pretoria to Hoedspruit, the gateway to the Greater Kruger National Park. It is sold only as a return journey, and it is the shortest-supply departure the train operates: in 2027 it runs on a single set of dates, 24 to 26 June 2027.
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.
Itinerary
Itinerary
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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
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
The dress code for the duration of this safari journey is smart casual or safari wear. Neutral colours are sensible for the game drives, and a warm layer is advisable for the early morning drive, which departs before sunrise.
Dining on Board
All meals and beverages are included. A five-course gourmet lunch is served in the Dining Car after departure, High Tea follows in the Non-Smoking Lounge Car, and dinner is served in two sittings (18:00-20:00 and 20:30-22:30). On day two guests take a bush breakfast at an exclusive unfenced location inside the Kruger National Park, and a boma dinner at Nkambeni Safari Camp.
The Off-Train Excursion: Kruger National Park
The train arrives at Numbi Station at 05:00. Guests transfer through Numbi Gate in open safari vehicles for a sunrise game drive led by professional guides, followed by a bush breakfast at an exclusive unfenced location inside the park. A sunset drive takes place on the Nkambeni concession - roughly 11,400 hectares between the Numbi and Phabeni gates - and the day closes with a boma dinner at Nkambeni Safari Camp including an interactive cultural performance. The train departs Numbi at 22:00.
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.
Media Gallery
The Blue Train below Table Mountain
The observation car
The lounge car
The club car
The dining car
Dining aboard The Blue Train
A set dining table
A luxury suite by day
A double-bed suite
Turndown service
The honeymoon suite
Private en-suite bathroom
A bath drawn with petals
Afternoon tea in the lounge
High tea service
Personal butler service
Champagne at the bar
Watching the landscape pass by
Springbok carpaccio
The cheese board
Check Availability & Request a Quote
From $5,183 per person (double occupancy, USD) — live dates and rates are in the Book This Tour section above.
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