South
African History Tour
With The Famous Blue Train
19 DAYS - Or Compare with the
17-Day or the 12-Day
Shorter version
Covering the Highlights of the African Paradise
Sterkfontein Caves
- Pretoria - Johannesburg
- Sandton
- Soweto - Cape Town
Robben Island and Townships Tour - Cape Wine Route - Table Mountain
and Victoria and Alfred Waterfront Tour - East London - Nelson
Mandela Freedom Trial Tour - Gold Reef City
Pilanesburg and Sun City Tour . And of course the Ultra
Deluxe : The Blue Train
SOUTH
AFRICAN HISTORY TOUR WITH BLUE TRAIN
Click here for images of the De Luxe Suites
on board the train
19 DAYS
The
Blue Train has an aura of mystique about it. Kings and presidents
have travelled on this magnificent moving five-star hotel. And
of course it is time to welcome you as well on board this extra
special train as our most welcome an d honored guest . Its very
name has become synonymous with the ultimate in luxury and personal
service.
Day
1 - Wednesday - Weekly year round - Arrive Johannesburg
Our local rep will collect you from airport and help with your
private transfer to your hotel : Sample Hotel : The 5 star Michaelangelo
Hotel.
Day
2 - Thursday - Sandton - Soweto
Morning at leisure to shop at Sandton City.
Soweto Township Tour.
Explore the busting neighborhood life of the township and visit
two Nobel Prize winners’ previous homes. Explore the historical
Hector Petersen Memorial and the Baragwaneth Hospital and enjoy
a tour through Nelson Mandela’s home. We stop off at either
Wandies or Sekumzi’s for a traditional feast of African
delicacies and beer. After lunch, we depart from Soweto and make
our way to the Apartheids museum where you embark on a journey
of discovery of the racial segregation experienced by millions
of South Africans. We return to your hotel at 16h00 pm.
Overnight Jnb hotel - 5* Michaelangelo Hotel.
Day
3 - Friday - Sterkfontein Caves
Depart Johannesburg at 09h30 and make our way to the Cradle of
Humankind. You will be met by your guide and start your journey
back in time through the Sterkfontein Caves the home of Mrs. Ples
a skull which derives its name from Pleasianthropus (meaning almost
human). After your informative tour enjoy a light lunch and time
to shop for curious before your return journey to your hotel.
Overnight Jnb hotel- 5* Michaelangelo Hotel.
Day
4- Saturday Pretoria City Tour
A morning tour, which includes a visit to the historical Voortrekker
monument, Paul Kruger’s House, Church Square and the City
Hall. End the morning with a visit to the Union Buildings and
lunch.
Overnight Pretoria hotel – 5 star Sheraton Hotel.
De Luxe Suite Layout
De Luxe Suite - Double - Night
Day
5 - Sunday - The Blue Train
Transfer to depart Pretoria on Blue Train to Cape Town. Overnight
train in De Luxe Suite with all meals
included.
The route between Pretoria and Cape Town is a 27-hour journey
of 1 600 kilometers (994 miles), through some of the most diverse
and spectacular scenery offered by the African sub-continent.
On the southbound trip, the train departs from Pretoria mid-morning
and arrive in Cape Town just after lunch the following day. En
route the train stops at the famous diamond town of Kimberley
where guests can explore the Diamond Museum and the Big Hole,
the biggest man-made hole in the world.
Day
6- Monday - Cape Town
Arrive Cape Town. Transfer to Cape Town hotel for overnight –
5 star Table Bay Hotel.
Upgrade on board the Blue Train
to Luxury Suite
Sample Twin Luxury Suite - Day use
Day
7 - Tuesday Robben Island and Townships Tour
Our tour endeavours to identify and understand the culture of
the New South Africa. We proceed through the historic Malay Quarter
discovering the origins of our multi-cultural city and its people.
The tragic saga of “Forced Removals” then unfolds
as we drive through the remains of the once vibrant District 6
and visit its living museum. Then it’s off o the Townships,
visiting examples of ‘black’ and ‘coloured’
townships focusing on development issues of Education, Health
Care and Housing. In Langa we visit the Chris Hani Community School
as well as the Tsoga Environmental Centre where local community
guides take us on a walking tour. We go via Bonteheuwel to Guguletu
where we stop off at the Uncedo Pottery Project, and then to the
Weltevreden Park Government Housing Development Site. We then
return to the city for lunch at the Waterfront before departing
on the ferry to Robben Island where ex-prisoners become our tour
guides. We are taken on a walking and driving tour of this political
prison where Nelson Mandela was jailed for 19 years.
Overnight Cape Town Hotel - 5* Table Bay Hotel.
Day 8 - Wednesday Cape Wine Route
After collection from your hotel, we leave the city and head along
the N1 motorway to visit the Afrikaans Taal Monument on the outskirts
of Paarl. Next, we stop at the entrance of the Victor Verster
Prison from which Nelson Mandela was released from detention.
A scenic drive is taken to the Franschhoek Valley to visit the
memorial to the French Huguenots, and then we call on one of the
many fine wine estates in the region. A cellar tour and a tasting
of “the nectar of the gods” are included. Cross the
Helshoogte Pass (Hells Heights) and descend into historic Stellenbosch,
centre of learning, rugby and the wine industry. We stop for lunch
(own account) washed down with local wine. After a short-guided
tour of the second oldest South African town, a unique shopping
experience awaits you at Oom Samie se Winkel (Uncle Sam’s
Shop). The tour terminates at your hotel again in the late afternoon.
Overnight Cape Town Hotel - 5* Table Bay Hotel.
Day
9 - Thursday Table Mountain and Victoria and Alfred Waterfront
Tour
You are collected from your hotel and taken to the lower cable
way station on the slopes of Table Mountain. Weather permitting,
ascend the mountain by aerial cable car (entrance fee excluded),
and from a height of 1067 meters, view the city and Table bay
below, Robben Island, the Atlantic Seaboard as well as most of
the spectacular Cape Peninsula. Afterwards, head down in the Malay
Quarter with its narrow cobbled streets and colorful Mosques.
Next, we continue to Government Avenue where we park at the top
and stroll to the National Gallery and SA Museum, as well as view
the Houses of Parliament. We then travel to the City Hall on the
Grand Parade and afterwards, visit the Castle. Enter the Victoria
& Alfred Waterfront – a region that abounds with shops,
pubs, restaurants and entertainment. You may leave the tour here
either to explore on your own, or return to your hotel in the
early afternoon.
Transfer to Cape Town airport for flight to East London
Arrive East London and transfer to hotel
Overnight East London hotel – 4 star Kilkerran Guest House.
Day
10 - Friday East London
Morning at leisure.
East London City Tour: East London is the only river Port in South
Africa and an ideal holiday destination in South Africa. Join
us in exploring the City. Visit historical sites and view its
Victorian Style Buildings and architecture. Walk in one of South
Africa’s best beaches and enjoy shopping in the City.
Overnight East London hotel – 4* Kilkerran Guest House.
Day
11 - Saturday Footsteps of Steve Biko
This tour pays a tribute to the late leader of Black Consciousness
Movement, Steve Biko.
Highlights of the tour:
• Statue of Steve Biko
• Steve Biko Garden of Remembrance
• Biko House in Ginsburg Township
Afternoon at leisure.
Overnight East London hotel – 4* Kilkerran Guest House.
Day
12 - Sunday Nelson Mandela Freedom Trial Tour
This tour takes you to the birthplace of Dr. Nelson Mandela, where
you will visit the three historical sites of Nelson Mandela Museum,
Mvezo, birthplace, Qunu where he grew up and the main museum at
Bunga building in Umthatha. Lunch included.
Overnight East London hotel – 4* Kilkerran Guest House.
Day
13 - Monday Transfer to East London airport for flight to Cape
Town
Arrive Cape Town and transfer to hotel.
Overnight Cape Town hotel - 5* Table Bay Hotel.
Day
14 - Tuesday The Blue Train
Transfer to train station to depart Cape Town on Blue Train to
Pretoria
On the northbound journey, the train leaves Cape Town just before
noon and arrives in Pretoria in time for high tea the following
day. It stops at the historic town Matjiesfontein, where guests
can visit the famous Lord Milner Hotel and the old car museum.
Overnight Blue Train in De Luxe Suite
with all meals included.
Day
15 - Wednesday Pretoria
Arrive Pretoria and transfer to Johannesburg hotel.
Overnight Jnb hotel – 5 star Hilton Hotel.
Day 16 - Thursday - Gold Reef City
Morning at leisure.
Gold Reef City Tour
Gold Reef City is rich in history and Johannesburg is really the
City of Gold. Be rewarded with gold pouring demonstrations and
the traditional miners dancing (known as the gumboot dance). Gold
reef city is a replica of old-time Johannesburg and it allows
you to take a step back into time as you ride on the penny-farthing.
Take a trip underground into the mines and enjoy yourself as if
you were part of history. Return to your hotel late afternoon.
Overnight Jnb hotel – 5* Hilton Hotel.
Day 17 - Friday Johannesburg
Morning at leisure.
Lesedi African Experience
Enjoy an African experience and engage yourself in the many delights
that this tour has to offer. Involve yourself in the multilingual
and audio-visual orientation depicting the history of South Africa.
Join a guided tour through traditional homesteads of Zulu, Xhosa,
Pedi and Sotho villages. Enjoy a song and dance performance before
finishing with a traditional feast.
Overnight Jnb hotel – 5* Hilton Hotel.
Day
18 - Saturday Pilanesburg and Sun City Tour
From the Hotel, guests will be transferred to the Pilansberg National
Park, where they will have the opportunity to spot some, maybe
all, of the Big 5: Lion, Leopard, Rhino, Elephant and Buffalo.
Upon arrival at the Park, guest will be transferred to an open
vehicle, which will take them around the Park, guided by a qualified
ranger. The Safari takes about 3-4 hours. Lunch will be served
at the Manyane Restaurant. A 15-minute drive away, the magic of
Sun City awaits. After being transferred onto a Sun City bus,
guest will be taken on a tour of the complex. Some places visited
will be the Palace of the Lost City, and a number of other hotels
and the Valley of the Waves. Upon return to the “Welcome
Centre”, the numerous shops can be explored. Guest will
also have the opportunity to try their luck at some gambling before
returning to their hotel.
Overnight Jnb hotel - hotel – 5* Hilton Hotel.
Day
19 - Sunday Departure
Transfer to Jnb airport for flight home.
Rate
per person sharing in double : $ 8500.00 USD
Includes:
• Deluxe hotel accommodation as listed, tax included and
breakfast daily
• Deluxe suite accommodation on board the Blue Train, with
all meals while on board the train.
• Guided tours , as listed
• Entrance Fees for all the listed sites as per itinerary
•
All airport transfer, and air fare in V class in South Africa,
based on the listed itinerary
