Namibia by Private Train - May 2020
An escorted tour from Pretoria to Walvis Bay aboard the Shongololo Express
- 12 May 2020
We are delighted to have chartered the Shongololo Express Private Train from our associates at Rovos Rail to bring you this spectacular journey exploring the amazing landscapes and rugged grandeur of Namibia, a country of compelling beauty, abundant sunshine and seemingly endless space. Travelling from Pretoria in South Africa, our train winds its way through stunning vistas to the desert and mountainous landscapes of Namibia, with stops along the way to view some remarkable scenery and diverse wildlife. The beauty and the colours of Namibia truly need to be seen to be believed and are brought right to the compartment doors of our comfortable rolling hotel, while enjoying the excellent service for which Rovos Rail is renowned. Spend nights in the Namib Desert and at Etosha National Park in stylish lodges and enjoy adventurous game drives.
Highlights of our journey are numerous and include Fish River Canyon, Africa’s largest canyon, wildlife rich Etosha National Park, one of Southern Africa’s finest and most important game reserves and the rugged Atlantic coast, Swakopmund which is located on the Skeleton Coast and an excellent example of German colonial architecture. However, for many the ultimate highlight will be the sand dunes at Sossusvlei for which Namibia is so renowned. Sossusvlei lies in the heart of the Namib Desert and is home to the world’s tallest sand dunes, some of which tower over 300 metres high. Watching the changing mood and colours at sunrise is a once in a lifetime experience.
Useful links & Travel Advice
Please find a selection of useful websites to refer to for information from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, on visa requirements, NHS travel health advice and other useful travel tips.
Shongololo Express
The Shongololo Express, as a rolling hotel, offers sleeping compartments in two categories, two air-conditioned dining cars, a bar car and an observation car. The tempting three course dinners are served in a single sitting. The bar car, open around the clock, is ideal for relaxing over a cocktail or a glass of South African wine and is a popular spot for reading. Complimentary tea and coffee are available on board at all times.
Itinerary
Day 1 - London to Johannesburg, South Africa.
Fly by scheduled flight.
Day 2 - Pretoria.
Arrive into Johannesburg this morning and transfer to the Sheraton Pretoria Hotel for an overnight stay. This afternoon we take a tour of Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa and visit the Union Buildings designed by the famous colonial English architect, Sir Herbert Baker. Completed in 1913, it now houses the offices of the President and Ministers and the buildings overlook the city towards the once fortified hills to the south. A grand bronze statue of “Oom Paul (Kruger)”, the patriarch president of the ZAR or old Transvaal Republic, surrounded by his Boer fighters, dominates Church Square at the centre of the city. Before leaving the capital behind we visit the Voortrekker Monument which commemorates the Great Trek of the 1830s. We return to the hotel and enjoy a welcome dinner this evening. Accommodation & Dining: Located opposite the Union Buildings, the five-star Sheraton Pretoria Hotel is elegantly designed and the facilities include an outdoor swimming pool and a health club. The 175 lavish guestrooms all feature cable TV and a marble bathroom with luxury amenities. (D)
Day 3 - Embark Shongololo Express.
Enjoy a morning at leisure. This
afternoon we transfer to the
Rovos Rail station at Capital Park
in Pretoria which, once a bustling
hub of steam locomotion in the old
Transvaal is now the headquarters
for Rovos Rail. We will have the
opportunity to tour this gracious,
colonial-style railway station and the
ever-expanding railway museum.
The eyes of rail enthusiasts will
be drawn to the vast carriage and
locomotive sheds where teams
of dedicated personnel keep the
rolling stock in perfect order. We embark the Shongololo Express
and depart the Gauteng region and
pass the Highveld. Enjoy dinner on
board and a relaxing evening in the
bar-wagon.
Accommodation & Dining:
Shongololo Express. (B, D)
Day 4 - Kimberley.
This morning we
will reach the historical train station
of Kimberley, the city of diamonds.
At the end of the 19th century, the
town experienced a real diamond
rush, from which the diamond
empire of De Beers emerged,
led today by the Oppenheimers
and founded by Cecil Rhodes.
On arrival, view the famous Big
Hole, once the largest diamond
mine in the world and visit the
lovingly restored original buildings
of Kimberley’s Belle Epoque.
Accommodation & Dining:
Shongololo Express. (B, L, D)
Day 5 - Upington.
Morning tour of
Upington which the railway reaches
by means of a bridge 1067 metres
long, the second longest bridge in
South Africa. Sir Thomas Upington,
attorney general of the Cape, was
the man principally responsible for
liquidating the business activities
of the Orange River pirates and
capturing their leader, Klaas Lucas.
When the desperadoes were finally
chased away in 1884, the town
was founded on the banks of the
Orange River and named Upington
in honour of Sir Thomas. Thanks to
the Orange River, the region was
predestined for winegrowing and
we will enjoy a tasting at Bezalel
Wine & Brandy Estate. Return to
the train at lunch time and continue
in the direction of Namibia.
Accommodation & Dining:
Shongololo Express. (B, L, D)
Day 6 - Fish River Canyon, Namibia.
Arrive in Holoog this morning for our
visit to the Fish River Canyon, second
only to the Grand Canyon in Arizona
in geological importance. Eroded
over many millennia, the canyon is
the second largest natural gorge
in Africa, 161 kilometres long, 549 metres deep and, in some places, 27
kilometres wide. Baboon, rock dassie,
ground squirrel and klipspringer are
often seen in the canyon, while the
presence of leopard and mountain
zebra is indicated by tracks left at
waterholes. Enjoy the stunning views
and the opportunity to take a short
walk along the canyon’s edge. We
return to the train and depart for Aus.
Accommodation & Dining:
Shongololo Express. (B, L, D)
Day 7 - Kolmanskop and Luderitz.
Today’s tour begins with a bus ride
to the ghost town of Kolmanskop,
where the first diamonds were
found in Namibia in 1908. From
here, the harbour town of Luderitz
is a short journey through the
Sperrgebiet (the “Restricted
Diamond Area”). After crossing the
historical Luderitz peninsula, we
will reach Diaz Point, set against
the backdrop of the dramatic
Atlantic waves. Back on board
at Aus station, our private train
continues on its journey north.
Accommodation & Dining:
Shongololo Express. (B, D)
Day 8 - Keetmanshoop & Quiver Tree Forest.
This morning we visit Garas
Park where we will see the unique
quiver trees and the interesting
rock formations. The quiver tree
is not really a tree, rather a plant
of the genus aloe, as evident from
its scientific name, and one of the
few species of aloe that reaches
tree proportions, it can grow seven
to nine metres high. Return to the
train and depart for Mariental.
Accommodation & Dining:
Shongololo Express. (B, L, D)
Day 9 - Sossusvlei & Sesriem Canyon.
This morning we transfer
to Sossusvlei Lodge, situated at
the entrance gate to the Namib-
Naukluft Park. We visit the Sesriem
Canyon, shaped over millions of
years by the Tsauchab River; it is
one of the few places in that area
that holds water all year round. The
early Afrikaans explorers named the canyon after the fact that they had
to use six (ses) leather straps (riem)
tied together to create a rope long
enough to lower water buckets into
the canyon below. Overnight at our
lodge.
Accommodation & Dining:
Overlooking the red sand dunes
of the Namib Desert, Sossusvlei
Lodge offers an outdoor pool and
a dining terrace overlooking a
floodlit waterhole frequently visited
by springbok and hyena. The 45
air-conditioned, tented rooms have
their own bathroom and feature a
private patio area. (B, L, D)
Day 10 - Sossusvlei and Namib-Naukluft Park.
The dunes of the
Namib Desert were created by sand
carried by the wind from the coast
of Namibia. The sand here is five
million years old and is red in colour
due to its iron-oxide content. As the
lighting changes with the time of
day, so does the appearance of the
dunes’ characteristic colour, allowing
for interesting photographs at any
time. The wind in the Sossusvlei
area blows from all directions which
means that the type of the dunes
here are known as “star dunes”.
This is because the winds cause
the sand to form a star shape with
multiple arms. Early morning is the
best time to see these giant dunes
and we take a scenic drive through
the Namib-Naukluft Park before we
return to our train.
Accommodation & Dining:
Shongololo Express. (B, L, D)
Day 11 - Windhoek.
Enjoy a morning
tour of Windhoek. Situated in
Namibia’s central highlands,
Windhoek is an attractive city
surrounded by clusters of hills
and the impressive Auas and
Eros Mountains. The city tour of
Windhoek starts with a visit to the
TransNamib Transport Museum.
The museum is situated in the
Windhoek Railway Station and was
built from 1912 to 1913. In front
of the building is the narrowgauge
locomotive (vintage 1900), which used to operate between
Swakopmund and Windhoek. At
the top of Robert Mugabe Avenue
is the Christuskirche or Evangelical
Lutheran Church which we will
drive past, this is one of the city’s
most striking landmarks and was
built from local sandstone and
completed in 1910. Romanesque,
neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau styles
influenced its design and Kaiser
Wilhelm II donated its stainedglass
windows. Return to our
train and depart for Otjiwarongo.
Accommodation & Dining:
Shongololo Express. (B, L, D)
Day 12 - Etosha National Park.
After
breakfast we transfer to Mokuti
Etosha Lodge in Etosha National
Park for an overnight stay. The
park offers excellent game viewing
in one of Africa’s most accessible
venues. Zebra and springbok
are scattered across the endless
horizon while the many waterholes
attract endangered black rhino,
lion, elephant and large numbers
of antelope. The Etosha Pan, an
extremely flat salt pan, lies at the
heart of the National Park. This
shimmering “great white place”,
as its name says, is the largest salt
pan in Africa and with herds of
wild animals passing through is
an unforgettable experience. We
take an afternoon game drive and
return to our lodge for dinner and
an overnight stay.
Accommodation & Dining: Mokuti
Etosha Lodge offers two outdoor
pools, a spa and gym. Tambuti
Dining Room and Marula Bar serve
a variety of dishes and the open-air
Boma Restaurant serves African grill
specialities in a magical setting with
its thatched roof and chandeliers.
There is also a pool bar and an
evening bar for drinks and snacks. All
106 spacious rooms have a private
bathroom and mosquito door and
are decorated with Namibian crafts
and rich fabrics. (B, L, D)
Day 13 - Etosha National Park.
This
morning we take an early morning game drive followed by breakfast.
Afternoon departure for Kranzberg.
Accommodation & Dining:
Shongololo Express. (B, L, D)
Day 14 - Walvis Bay for Swakompund.
We arrive at Walvis
Bay and, after breakfast, bid our
train farewell and transfer to the
Strand Hotel Swakopmund for an
overnight stay. This afternoon we
will enjoy a tour of the city and, in
the evening, we will have a farewell
dinner in a local restaurant.
Accommodation & Dining:
Nestled on the beach, Strand
Hotel Swakopmund features a spa,
rooftop garden, restaurants and
bars. All 125 rooms offer free Wi-Fi,
minibar, electronic safe and plasma
television. (B, D)
Day 15 - Windhoek to London.
After
a morning at leisure we transfer to
the airport for our return scheduled
flight to London.
Dining: (B)
Day 16 - London.
Arrive today.
Dates and Prices
Prices per person based on double occupancy12 to 27 May 2020 | ||
---|---|---|
Category | Price | |
Gold Cabin | £6195 | |
Emerald Cabin | Fully Booked | |
Gold Cabin for sole use | Fully Booked | |
Emerald Cabin for sole use | Fully Booked |
Tour Reference Code: LANAMIBIA20
Price Includes: Economy class scheduled air travel • Overnight accommodation in Pretoria • Nine nights aboard the Shongololo Express • Overnight accommodation in Sossusvlei, Etosha National Park & Swakopmund • Meals as listed (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) • Excursions • Entrance fees • Local guides • Onboard Train Manager • Noble Caledonia Tour Manager • Transfers • Airport taxes.
Not Included: Travel insurance, visas, meals other than those indicated, drinks, gratuities.
NB. Itinerary and lodges subject to change.
Shongololo Express
The Shongololo Express, as a rolling hotel, offers sleeping compartments in two categories, two air-conditioned dining cars, a bar car and an observation car. The tempting three course dinners are served in a single sitting. The bar car, open around the clock, is ideal for relaxing over a cocktail or a glass of South African wine and is a popular spot for reading. Complimentary tea and coffee are available on board at all times.
Also of Interest
Ultimate Uganda - 2020
A unique escorted exploration of Uganda’s wildlife & wonders
Ultimate Uganda
Ultimate Uganda
Itinerary at a glance
- Kampala / Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary / Murchinson Falls National Park / Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve / Kibale Forest National Park / Queen Elizabeth National Park / Lake Mburo National Park
The Legendary Silk Road by Private Train
From Ashgabat to Almaty aboard the Orient Silk Road Express
Orient Silk Road Express
Orient Silk Road Express
Itinerary at a glance
- Ashgabat / Nisa / Merv /Bukhara / Khiva / Samarkand / Shakhrisabz / Tashkent / Turkestan / Almaty
The Trans-Siberian Express
A Journey through Russia by Private Train aboard the Golden Eagle
Golden Eagle
Golden Eagle
Itinerary at a glance
- Moscow / Kazan / Yekaterimburg / Irkutsk / Lake Baikal /Ulan Ude/ Ulaan Baatar / Vladivostock / Seoul
Wonders & Waterways of Southern Africa
A unique escorted tour to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia & Zimbabwe including three nights exploring Lake Kariba aboard the African Dream
African Dream
African Dream
Itinerary at a glance
- Cape Town / Kirstenbosch / Cape Winelands / Cape Peninsula / Victoria Falls / Chobe National Park / Impalila Island / Kasane / Matusadona National Park / Kariba
Journey from Victoria Falls by Private Train
An escorted journey between Victoria Falls & Pretoria aboard the Shongololo Express
Shongololo Express
Shongololo Express
Itinerary at a glance
- Victoria Falls / Matopos National Park / Hwange Game Reserve / Antelope Park / Great Zimbabwe Monument / Limpopo Province / Kapama / Swaziland / Maputo / Kruger National Park / Pretoria / Soweto / Johannesburg
Crossroads of Cultures by Private Jet
A 21 night escorted tour by private jet visiting Jordan, Oman, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Uzbekistan & Georgia
Crossroads of Cultures
Crossroads of Cultures
Itinerary at a glance
- Aqaba / Wadi Rum / Petra / Muscat / Nizwa / Kerala / Kathmandu / Thimpu / Tiger's Nest Monastery / Paro / Thimpu / Samarkand / Tbillisi
Book with Confidence
Speak to one of our advisors on 020 7752 0000