The most popular steam train routes take one on a journey off the beaten track and through some of the country’s most scenic wonders, including the haunting semi-arid Karoo region and the lush vegetation of the Garden Route.
Most tour companies will tailor your steam train trip according to your interests, whether it be game viewing, the winelands in the Western Cape or panoramic scenic wonders.
Luxury travel from the Fairest Cape
As a prime destination, Cape Town has many steam train routes to enjoy, including the premier vintage experience and steam safaris offered by Rovos Rail.
Billed as the most luxurious steam train experience in the w
orld, this 5-star hotel on wheels is a privately-run service and cabins are beautifully furnished with full amenities, including en suite bathrooms and air conditioning.
Classic Carriages and Cuisine
Two dining cars and a lounge with a glass-ended observation car mean you can relax, take in the scenery and watch the world go by. There are no radios or television on board and if owner Rohan Vos had his way, cellular phones would also be banned.
Whereas most trains travel at a speed of 140 kilometres per hour, these old trains have a top speed of 60 kph, and this has much to do with the relaxation the journey is famous for.
Royal suites are 16 square metres in size, and a deluxe suite is 11 square metres, with a maximum of 3 cabins per carriage. Food served on the train is legendary: 4-course experience not to be missed by discerning gourmet palates.
Steam Safaris and Historical Tours
Rovos Rail’s Pride of Africa routes include a regular 2-day trip to Tshwane in Gauteng, a 7-day journey from Cape Town to Swakopmund (May) and a 14-day epic voyage via Victoria Falls to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania (July). Expect beautifully restored wood-panelled Edwardian-era carriages drawn by steam locomotives for part of the trip.
The Union Limited steam rail company has a number of steam sight-seeing tours along the Western Cape, including day trips to the winelands, the fruit growing regions in the Robertson Valley and Oudtshoorn, known for its ostriches and Cango Caves.
The Scenic Garden Route
The most famous steam train is the Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe, the last steam-hauled passenger train in the country, dating back to 1903, which runs daily between George and Mossel Bay.
The George to Knysna line is part of the Transnet Heritage Preservation Foundation and up until floods in 2006 about 115 000 passengers travelled on this spectacular route annually. Severe storms have resulted in the closure of the line until it is rebuilt.
You can still enjoy the 62 kilometre George to Mossel Bay route, which takes 2 hours each way and takes in vistas of the Indian Ocean and endless beaches.
Once at Mossel Bay’s Diaz Museum Station, passengers can visit the Maritime Museum, aquarium, or grab a bite to eat.
Off the Beaten Track in the Eastern Cape
With the Eastern Cape’s 9 tour routes offering lush wilderness, semi-arid desserts, untamed beaches and malaria-free game lodges, one shouldn’t miss out on a journey on Port Elizabeth’s historical Apple Express.
The steam train journeys to the nearby town of Thornhill, and the highlight is the 77m high Van Stadens Bridge, the highest narrow gauge bridge in the world. At 285 kilometres long, it is also the longest 2 ft gauge railway in the world. It’s a full-day trip (every second Saturday), with 2 scheduled stops, that ends with a relaxing lunch break in Thornhill.
Colonial Charm in KwaZulu-Natal
The 25-year-old Umgeni Steam Railway, a non-profit society dedicated to preserving South Africa’s steam railway heritage, has a number of excursions to offer the steam train traveller, including a twice monthly trip from Kloof in Durban to Inchanga Station, a colonial station built in 1895.
After the 1-hour trip through one of the oldest running tunnels and up some of the steepest gradients in the country, you can enjoy the station craft market, pony rides for children, visit the model railway display and numerous food outlets or enjoy a cold beer at the local Stokers Arms Station pub.
Bygone Gauteng and Beyond
In Johannesburg, the Magaliesberg Express has a monthly day steam train trip to the quaint town of Magaliesberg, where one can enjoy a picnic or lunch at the country hotel.
For those wanting to take in the Gauteng sights further afield, the Friends of the Rail organise various steam trips throughout the year, including trips to cultural areas like the mining town of Cullinan and Tshwane.
©Photographs are courtesy and copyright of Wayne Holtzhausen
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