Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/604233
the blue train One of the top three luxury trains in the world, this sapphire blue five-star hotel on wheels is the epitome of old world extravagance. To ride this train between Cape Town and Pretoria is to step back into an era of posh excess and elegance, where exquisite, chef-prepared meals are expertly paired with fine South African wines and eaten with real silver; the heated marble floors and Irish linen of Luxury Suites are meticulously kept by a dedicated butler; and afternoon high tea is served in the Lounge Car before uninterrupted landscape and famous works of national fine art. On this 27-hour journey, you'll watch your individual suite be transformed from a spacious living space by day to a sanctuary of comfort at night, with a gold en suite bathroom, goose down and percale cotton bedding, and unstoppable views in De Luxe suites. Relax fully with complimentary WiFi, snacks and beverage service to your suite, and limited on-board laundry and valet service. Taste elevated cuisine with fresh, local ingredients like Karoo lamb, ostrich, venison, and the famous oysters of Knysna in a formal, black-tie dining room before retiring to the wood- paneled Club Room after dinner. As you pass through the fantastical landscape of South Africa at a leisurely speed of 58 mph, a journey on the Blue Train shows that you're certainly not letting life pass you by. THE BlUE TRAIn jOURnEy ITInERARy DAy 1: • Register and check in at The Blue Train Lounge, where you will be treated to pre-departure refreshments before being ushered to your suite by your dedicated Luxury Suite butler, or escorted to your De Luxe accommodations. • Enjoy a late-morning brunch in the classically elegant dining car. • Stop along the way for an excursion in Kimberley, the diamond-laden capital of the Northern Cape Province, on southbound routes, or at Matjiesfontein, a century- old town with a British essence, on northbound trips. • Take high tea in the Lounge Car, Victorian tradition. A lovely fix for this historic setting • Experience legendary cuisine during an artfully presented formal dinner. DAy 2: • Indulge in breakfast, served in the dining car or in-suite. • Arrive in Pretoria or Cape Town Station midday. The Blue Train | 19 SWAZILAND LESOTHO Cape Town Pretoria Durban East London Port Elizabeth Worcester Knysna Matjiesfontein Beaufort West De Aar Wellington Kimberley Klerksdorp