Step aboard the iconic Blue Train as you journey to the world-famous Kruger National Park on this 3-day itinerary. Sit back and relax in the Lounge Cars as the train winds it's way to one of Africa's largest game reserves which houses Africa's Big Five: elephant, lion, rhino, leopard and buffalo as well as numerous other unique wildlife. Enjoy a full-day on safari in the park before making your way back to Pretoria.
Details
Overview
Itinerary Highlights
- Travel in style and luxury on board the iconic Blue Train
- Spend a full day in the world-famous Kruger National Park
- Enjoy a boma dinner at Nkambeni Safari Camp in the National Park
- Keep your eyes peeled for the Big Five: Elephant, Lion, Rhino, Leopard and Buffalo plus much more
Itinerary in Brief:
- Day 1: Pretoria Station to Kruger National Park
- Day 2: Full Day in Kruger National Park
- Day 3: Kruger National Park to Pretoria Station
Travelling with Eclipse
Peace of Mind
- Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
- 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
- We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
- No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
- Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
- Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
- We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
- Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
- Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
- Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
- Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.
Day 1: Pretoria Station to Kruger National Park
At around 10:00am this morning you will head to The Blue Train Station Lounge at Pretoria Railway Station. Here you will relax and enjoy pre-departure snacks and drinks. Boarding of the train will commence at 12:15pm when you will be ushered to your suite by the butlers. They will then give you an orientation before the train departs from the station at 1pm. Enjoy a five-course gourmet lunch in the dining car from 1:30pm - 3:30pm. Sit back, relax and enjoy the changing landscapes. High Tea will be served in the non-smoking lounge car at 4pm. Enjoy pre-dinner drinks in any of the lounges and take some time to freshen up before dinner is served. There will be two sittings for dinner, one at 6pm and one at 8:30pm which will be followed by post-dinner drinks, cognacs and Cuban cigars in the Club Car before retiring to bed.
Dress code for duration of the trip is smart casual or Safari wear.
Lunch and Dinner included.
Day 2: Kruger National Park
You will have an early start this morning, disembarking the train at 5:00am at Numbi Train Station. From here you will be transferred through Numbi Gate in open safari vehicles to a sunrise game drive which will be conducted by professional tour guides. Enjoy a bush breakfast in an exclusive unfenced location in the Kruger National Park. You will then return to Numbi Gate using an alternative route back, exposing you to more of the Kruger area.
Back on board The Blue Train lunch will be served in the Dining Car. Following this, you will once again be transferred to Numbi Gate for a sunset game drive. The sunset game drive will take place on the Nkambeni concession. The Nkambeni concession represents an area of approximately 11 400 hectares and lies between the main entrance gates of Numbi and Phabeni and stretches past Shabeni Koppie near Pretoriuskop camp.
Once the sun sets you will be transferred to Nkambeni Safari Camp where you will experience a spectacular boma dinner at Nkambeni Safari Camp, which will include an interactive cultural experience provided by a local group with international accolades.
The day ends when you are transferred back to The Blue Train to enjoy post-dinner drinks, cognacs and Cuban cigars in the Club Car before retiring to bed.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 3: Kruger National Park to Pretoria Station
Breakfast will be served in the Dining Car on a first-come-first-serve basis from 6:30am - 9:30am this morning as the train makes it's way back to Pretoria. Your expected arrival time at Pretoria Station will be 10:00am at which time the Butlers will usher you to the Arrival Lounge, marking the end of your luxurious 3-day rail journey.
Breakfast included.
About the Hotel
As time meandered from the 19th Century towards the dawn of the new era, a dream was born. A dream of harnessing steam technology to link Africa’s vast south to north, around the awe-inspiring mountain ranges that dot the continent, through the apparently arid desert landscapes, over untamed savannah grasslands teeming with wildlife. From the Cape all the way to Cairo... all of this on parallel lines of tempered steel.
It is from this dream that The Blue Train was born. Cairo was never to be, but the dreamers persevered and The Blue Train now traverses South Africa and its breath-taking scenery in a manner that befits the mystique that has grown around it.
Kings and presidents have indulged on this magnificent, moving five-star “hotel-on-wheels”. From love-struck honeymooners, to adulated celebrities. And even ordinary folk who romanticise about a life of spectacular luxury, a life that has seemed tantalisingly out of reach. Until now...
Room Types
Whats included?
- On-board accommodation
- Activities as specified
- Personalised butler service
- All meals and selected wine on-board
- Dinner in Kruger
What’s not included?
- International and internal airfares
- Arrival/departure taxes or reciprocity fees, visa fees where applicable
- Travel insurance
- French Champagne
- Gratuities
- Any items not mentioned as included
Notes
Remember, dinner is an elegant affair and men are requested to wear a jacket and tie and ladies elegant evening wear.
Price Assurance
At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.
Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.
Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.
Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!
Destination: Africa
From its endless deserts and burning sunsets, to its abundance of wildlife and diversity of culture, the African Safari has it all. There is nowhere else on the planet with such incredible natural beauty and rich traditions than Africa. Discover your own Africa with a tailored tour through some of the most dynamic and stunningly beautiful natural landscapes the world has to offer.
Downloadable travel guide
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