
| TRAINS & TRAVEL P.O. BOX 10625 RENO, NEVADA 89510-0625 Chris@traintrips.biz Rail Tours Manager. For question regarding tour itineraries and details. Deborah@traintrips.biz Office Manager: Accounting |
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South Africa is a beautiful country filled with amazing sights, dramatic history and - of course - interesting railways. We have put together a tour that transports you from lush coastal magnificence to dramatic arid regions and back as we explore some of the best that the country has to offer.
We will visit Cape Town and Johannesburg, travel to the southern tip of Africa, spend a day trying some good wine, sleep in a preserved gold mining town and, of course, visit a game reserve. New for 2011, we have added an option to explore deeper into southern Africa with a journey through Matabeleland, western Zimbabwe. See the incomparable Victoria Falls before visiting Zimbabwe's biggest game reserve at Hwange. Continue to the historic city of Bulawayo and the Matobo Hills before flying back to Johannesburg and home. Our tours are always a little different, we like to add in a few train rides; we think that this makes a good tour much better. South Africa is a great country in which to do this. An interest in trains is not needed, but if you enjoy riding a few of them through lovely scenery. However, if you do, Geoff will be there to share his considerable knowledge of southern Africa's railways with you. Sit back, relax, enjoy the journey!
Day 1 Tuesday September 20: Arrive today in Cape Town, transfer to the four star Southern Sun Waterfront Hotel.
Day 2 Wednesday September 21: (B, D) This morning we will take an open top bus tour of the city of Cape Town, see the Castle, the Company Gardens, Parliament and Cape Town Cathedral. You can also walk through the vibrant city, visit the Malay Quarter and alight at the lower cable car station from where (weather permitting) you can take the cable-car to the top of Table Mountain. The bus tour is included, but entrance to the Castle and the Table Mountain Cable-car are not. Gather later this afternoon for an included boat trip around Cape Town harbor.
Day 3 Thursday September 22: (B, L) We will tour the Cape Peninsular today. Drive over the dramatic Chapman's Peak Drive to Hout Bay, an attractive working fishing harbor where we will join a boat trip to a small island inhabited by seals (weather dependent). Continue to the Cape Point Nature Reserve to visit both the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Point. Included is a journey on the Funicular Railway at Cape Point. Lunch will be at Bertha's restaurant overlooking the historic naval base at Simons Town, once home to Nelson's fleet and now at main base of the South African Navy. After lunch, ride a commuter train on the Simon's Town to Cape Town railway. This electric railway travels dramatically along the False Bay beach under commanding naval defenses before it passes between the waters of False Bay and quaint seaside towns before turning inland at Muizenburg to head across the Cape Flats to Cape Town. We will leave the train at Lakeside to join our coach for the drive to the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, dramatically located at the base of Table Mountain. After a short tour of the gardens we will return to our hotel.
Day 4 Friday September 23: (B, L) South Africa is well known for its wines that are produced around Cape Town. Today we will visit the Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch regions. The tour will include a cellar tour and three different wine tastings, with an included light cheese lunch served with the second tasting. Visit the attractive towns of Franschoek and Stellenbosch with a short photo stop at the Victor Vester Prison in Paarl, now know as the Groot Drakenstein Correctional Centre, where Nelson Mandela made his walk to freedom.
![]() Day 5 Saturday September 24: (B, L, D) This morning, join the Premier Classe train for an overnight journey to Johannesburg. Travel through the wine region before passing through the Hex River Tunnels and entering the dry Karoo region. Lunch and dinner will be on the train. ![]()
![]() Day 6 Sunday September 25: (B, D) The train arrives in Johannesburg before lunch. We will travel by coach to Gold Reef City on the edge of the city. Gold Reef City used to be a working gold mine, nowadays it is a heritage centre and theme park. Our hotel is located in the heritage park surrounded by restored buildings representative of Johannesburg at the end of the 19th Century. Spend the afternoon exploring the park where there are a number of railway artifacts to be seen, including five steam locomotives and a coach used to carry gold bullion. You can also see a gold pour and descend into a gold mine. Adjacent to Gold Reef City are the Apartheid Museum and a large entertainment centre with a casino and two theatres. Dinner will be at our hotel. ![]() Day 7 Monday September 26: (B, D) After breakfast we will take a coach tour to Soweto, visiting the Pietersen Memorial, Nelson Mandela's house and other sites associated with the fight against Apartheid. Next, drive to the city of Pretoria to see the Voortrekker Monument, Paul Kruger's house, Melrose House and the Union Buildings. This afternoon, visit the Lesedi Cultural Village to find out about the diverse cultures of some of South Africa's indigenous tribes. Enjoy a show and themed dinner before returning to our hotel. ![]() Day 8 Tuesday September 27: (B, D) Drive to Nelspruit, a town associated with the Arrikaans migration and the Boer War. Visit the museum and make a photo stop at the Voortrekker school and Dutch Reformed Voortrekker Church. Drive down Robber's Pass to Pilgrim's Rest, where we will spend tonight at the Royal Hotel. The entire village, once a gold mining town, has been preserved as a national monument. The bar at our hotel used to be the church, and the rooms are delightfully decorated the way they may have been in the late 1800's.
Day 9 Wednesday September 28: (B, D) Spend today exploring the scenic Panorama route. See the Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels, God's Window and The Pinnacle, Bourke's Luck Potholes, and the Lisbon Falls. There will be a lunch stop at a delightful venue en-route (for own account). This afternoon, drive to the Nkambeni Tented Lodge in the Kruger National Park.
Day 10 Thursday September 29: (B, L, D) Early to rise, we enjoy a full day Safari in open vehicles in the Kruger National Park. This is South Africa's largest and best known game reserve, where the big five can all be found. Lunch will at the preserved Selati Railway Station, now a themed restaurant where we will enjoy our meal on the platform, beside the last steam locomotive to work on the line. Return to the hotel early this evening to freshen up before an included dinner.
Day 11 Friday September 30: (B) This morning we will enjoy a scenic coach drive back to Johannesburg. Our first stop will be the O R Tambo (Johannesburg) airport before continuing to our hotel. If you are not continuing to Zimbabwe, your tour ends at Johannesburg Airport. If you would like to spend more time in Johannesburg, we will be happy to arrange hotel accommodation for you.
If you are continuing to Zimbabwe, your Johannesburg airport hotel tonight is included with dinner It is common to add a short visit to Victoria Falls to a South African holiday, a wonderful experience but we offer a little more. Zimbabwe is in many ways different from South Africa, and our journey down the western side of the country includes the great Hwange Game Reserve, Zimbabwe's second city and the Matobo Hills, an area of outstanding beauty, steeped in history and a world heritage site.
Day 12 Saturday October 1: (B, D) Fly to Victoria Falls and check into the four star Kingdom hotel close to the Victoria Falls and adjacent to the railway station. This afternoon, join a boat cruise on the Zambezi River above the Victoria Falls. See the sun set as we look for hippopotamus, elephant, crocodiles, other animals and some beautiful birds, drinks and snacks included.
![]() Day 13 Sunday October 2: (B, D) This morning, visit the Victoria Falls rain forest. See the Falls, the big tree and Livingstone's statue. An optional helicopter flight over the 'Falls can be booked following the rain forest tour This afternoon, join a sunset steam train trip to the famous Bridge that spans the Zambezi River just below the Victoria Falls. Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine as you watch the sun set. Day 14 Monday October 3: (B, D) This morning, drive to the Hwange Game Reserve. Arrive at the Hwange Safari Lodge in time for lunch and a game drive. Tonight, enjoy a bush dinner under the stars in the game reserve. Day 15 Tuesday October 4: (B, L, D) Join a full day game drive through the Hwange Game Reserve. Home to some of the largest elephant herds in Africa, Hwange is a vast reserve comparable to Kruger for game diversity, but more wild and remote. Our tour will be in open top safari vehicles. Day 16 Wednesday October 5: (B, D) This morning, drive to Bulawayo. Lunch will be followed by a city tour that will include a visit to the Railway and Natural History Museums. Geoff Cooke, your host, grew up in Bulawayo and he will show you some of its more unusual sights. We will stay at the Bulawayo Holiday Inn for the next two nights. Day 17 Thursday October 6: (B, L, D) Visit the Matobo Hills today. This scenic area has held a special spiritual significance to the San Bushmen, the migrating black tribes and more recently European settlers. See painted caves and Cecil John Rhodes grave set amongst dramatic scenery. Visit the game reserve to see the elusive black and white rhino. A picnic lunch will complement an exciting day of discovery. Day 18 Friday October 7: (B) Fly to Johannesburg today, in time for this evening's connections home. |
PRICES PRICES ARE PER PERSON South Africa main tour Double room occupancy....................$3998 Single room supplement...................$ 638 Zimbabwe Add-on Excluding the flight from Johannesburg to Victoria Falls and return Double room occupancy....................$2198 Single room supplement...................$ 498 Deposit to hold space....................$ 200 Final payment due by June 20, 2011 TOUR INCLUDES ALL LODGING ALL TRANSFERS FULLY ESCORTED ALL TRAIN TICKETS LUGGAGE HANDLING MEALS PER THE ITINERARY |

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TOUR PRICE: All tour prices are corrected to November 1, 2010 and are subject to change without notice, at any time. All prices based on double room
occupancy. We reserve the right to change tour prices if necessary.
PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE: Personal items, meals not listed in the itinerary, laundry, phone calls, excess baggage charges, rental cars, side tours, insurance, passport fees including visas, vaccinations, gratuities, medical costs, tips to train or motor coach staff, extra tour costs due to unanticipated changes in the itinerary for reasons beyond our control, including weather, travel conditions, or cancellations, government intervention, sickness, political disputes, and failure of transportation or other causes beyond our control.
TRAVEL AND HEALTH DOCUMENTS: A valid passport is required for our international tours. In some cases a visa is also needed. Consult your
health professional for the recommended immunizations and documents. Trains and Travel International , here on referred to as TTI, assumes no other responsibility if a client is refused entry into a country. Cost and cancellation fees will be paid by the client in the event they do not have valid documents.
CHANGE OF ITINERARY: We reserve the right to substitute, alter or modify the tour if any unexpected and unforeseen conditions beyond our control
preventing the completion of such. Conditions can include weather, train schedules, equipment, motive power, revision of train consist, train delays, labor strikes, political disputes, derailments, closure of a rail line, break down of railroad or motive power equipment, railroads not honoring contracts and bus equipment problems. We will always endeavor, in each case, to provide substitutes, if any changes take place. TTI is not responsible for canceled trains,
delays, hotel rooms, route changes or missed connections, for any reason whatsoever. We will not give refunds if such conditions or cancellations take place.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel insurance is mandatory and is required, but you can opt out. The Decision to Opt-Out or Decline is Mandatory. Insurance will cover and give tour members many benefits and protection. Benefits include baggage loss, accident, life, trip cancellation, sickness, bankruptcy, strike, weather conditions, employer termination or layoff effecting you or a person sharing the room with you, terrorist incident in your departure city or city of destination, jury duty, you are subpoenaed, hijacked, or quarantined, your residence or traveling companion residence is rendered uninhabitable, emergency military duty, traffic accident, single supplement upgrade when your traveling companion cancels their trip, trip interruption, trip delay, missed connections, itinerary change,emergency medical benefits, medical evacuation, pre-existing medical conditions if enrollment is within 21days of your invoice date, assault of you or your traveling companion before departure, burglary of you or your companion before departure 24 hour hotline emergency assistance, emergency cash transfer and more. We will supply you with a travel insurance brochure with rates and application when we mail you the invoice after your bookings. Travel insurance protects your vacation investments. US law allows us to offer this insurance to all persons worldwide. We will accept a "refusal of travel insurance wavier" if you do not wish to purchase any travel insurance.
RESPONSIBILITY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: Accepting your payment represents an agreement that you understand all the conditions, to
be a member of our tours. TTI gives notice that they are acting agents for the owners, contractors and suppliers, providing the transportation and all related travel services and assume no responsibility for injury, sickness, damage, loss, additional expenses accidental delay or irregularities which may be caused through willful or negligent acts or omissions on the part of the companies providing or engage in transportation, accommodations or services related to the accomplishment of the tour. Nor do we assume responsibility for natural disasters, social or political upheaval, acts of terrorism or acts of nature. TTI reserves
the right to substitute hotels, tour leaders, equipment, motive power, trains, onboard accommodations, routes and to alter the itinerary when deemed necessary without notice. The right is also reserved to cancel any trip or train prior to departure for any reason . TTI is not responsible for expenses incurred by tour members in preparing for the tour, including non-refundable airline tickets, visa fees, planning, phone calls, or any other expenses. TTI reserves the right to decline to accept, or ask to leave a tour, any person whose actions impede the daily operations of a tour, welfare or enjoyment of other tour members. TTI cannot give any refunds for any unused services. The terms contained herein shall serve as a waiver of liability to TTI. Assumption of risk on behalf of the client, their heirs, executor, administrators, successors, and assigns for any and all known persons injuries
RESERVATIONS: A deposit is due in our office within 14 days after you make your bookings. Full payment is due 90 days before departure. You will
receive an invoice, reservation form and current tour bulletins with your confirmation and travel insurance forms. No notice for final payment will be sent
to you. It is your responsible to make the final payment on-time.
CANCELLATIONS: TTI does not accept cancellations on the phone. Cancellations must be received by postal mail, email or fax before any refunds will be considered. Allow enough time if sending your written notice by US mail postal system. When a written cancellation is received in the Trains and Travel
office this will be the effective date of the cancellation. Please take note that it can take up to 60 days to to process some refunds. Cancellation refund rules:
100 days prior to the start of any tour you will receive a full refund less a $100 per person administration fee. 99 to 61 days before the departure of any tour
there will be a 80% cancellation penalty based on the full cost of the tour. Cancellations received 60 or less days before the start of any tour will not receive
any refund. GW Travel Ltd has their own cancellation rules and these will apply. If booking on GW Travel Ltd ask for cancellation rules.
PRE-DEPARTURE TOUR BULLETINS: Tour bulletins will be sent to clients that have booked on tours operated by TTI. Bulletins include travel info related to the tour. Final documents will be sent out about two to three weeks before a tour begins. We offer tours operated by other companies and they may
or may not send out tour bulletins and updates and most send out final documents only one to two weeks prior to the start of their tours.
PAYMENTS: Payments can be made with personal check drawn on a U.S. Dollar account, money order for U.S. Dollars, bank wire transfer, or credit card.
We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover or American Express. Final payment for all tours is due 90 days prior to departure. If final payment has not been received 7 days after the due date, a late fee of $50 per week will apply.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: All prices are based on double room occupancy. We will try and match you with a roommate if one is available. If not, you may
be charged the single room supplement listed for the tour you are booked on. Single rooms may not be available in some remote locations and on some trains.
TOUR REFUNDS: If for any reason tour members amend or delete any arrangements during travel, and leave the tour on their own, we cannot give any refunds on unused portions of the tour. If buses and trains are cancelled by the carrier or there is a labor strike or they go out of business, we cannot be held
responsible and we cannot give refunds. Travel insurance will protect you for any of these reasons. If TTI needs to cancel any tour everyone will receive a
full refund. Please take note that in some cases refunds can take up to 60 days to process.
PARTIAL TOURS: We will allow passengers to join or leave a tour at certain points. It will all depend on the tour and the conditions. Give us a call and
we will try and work up a custom option for you.
MILEAGE COLLECTORS: Mileage collectors please take note that TTI does not cater just to mileage collectors. We cater to all folks that enjoy trains and
Rail journeys. We give strong warning that itinerary and route changes do happen and this is totally beyond our control when it does. If the only reason that
you would want to book a tour is to collect the rare mileage, you need to understand that possible route changes do happen.
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