| 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 |
|
1-800 359-4870 USA 1-800 752-1836 CANADA 1-800 266-8751 FAX (530) 836-1944 |
 |  |  |  |  |
 | ||||
|
 |
 |
|
NOTICE ON SAFETY IN ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwe is not a dangerous country regardless of what you may see on the internet. There is a lot of comment and misleading informaton posted on the internet and the press loves to print the worst news they can find. This tour will NOT encounter any of policital problems that has happened in the past. Tourists are not affected. The vast majority of the citizens of Zimbabwe enjoy a peacefull, very low crime existance - if an economically and politically frustrating one. The low crime rate in Zimbabwe is far below many other countries including the USA.
Geoff Cooke has run over 400 tours in Zimbabwe, the last was in 2007. Since then politics and the resultant economic climate made it difficult to offer a tour that had a reasonable chance of success. However, the political environment has improved, and it is now easier for the Railway and other service suppliers to offer a reasonable service. Geoff will be the Tour Manager for this Zimbabwe Steam adventure. He is well known in the railfan circles around the world. The National Railways of Zimbabwe Director for Operations recently wrote the following comment : "Please be advised that the NRZ is more than willing to participate in these tours, as we have done over the years. While we have had challenges with our steam locomotives, this shall be overcome. Once again, we cherish the support railfans have given us over the years. We wish this relationship to continue." From the National Railways of Zimbabwe Business Manager, Passenger services: "I am glad to advise that ..... we are prepared and committed to operating the proposed tour. The tour requirements for each day have been examined in detail and anticipated challenges identified and discussed." Encouraged by the support railfans around the world are giving, this tour will run in July 2010. Not as comprehensive as the tours offered in the past, it has been designed to give the railway a fair chance to perform well given their current constraints. The National Railways of Zimbabwe has emphasized that they have a limited number of Garratt locomotives in service, and that there can be no guarantee that these will all be available next year, or that they will not fail before or during the tour. Such caution is wise, but you should not be discouraged. There is nowhere else in the world that offers the same experience that Bulawayo does; if you would like to see the last commercial (non-tourist railway) Garratts in action, this is the best opportunity to do so before the last great Garratt steam shed knocks out the fires for the last time. You will receive a photographic permit and Indemnity that will give free access to the majority of the Railway's motive power establishments as well as footplate (cab) rides which will be free, but controlled by the tour manager to ensure fair access for everyone.
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY STEAM IN SOUTH AFRICA! BOTSWANA OPTION NOW SOLD OUT With a start time of 12:01pm from Johannesburg Airport on July 22 , most tour participants have decided to arrive the previous day to avoid the risk of delay on overnight flights. To make the day in Johannesburg more interesting we have arranged a visit to Germiston and Capital Park, steam sheds home to of the Friends of the Rail preservation group, The Reefsteamers and the Rovos Rail Shed.
Pre-Tour July 21 Wedesday: Our charter coach will leave the airport at 12:01pm . We will visit Germiston and Capital Park in Pretoria. After lunch, We will also visit the adjacent Rovos Rail depot to see their immaculate fleet of steam and electric locomotives, including the impressive Class 25NC 4-8-4's. We will arrive back at the hotel in Johannesburg around 6:30pm. Price for this option is $98 per person.
The Selebe Phikwe mine in Botswana continues to use Class 19D 4-8-2 steam locomotives on their industrial operations, including a 14 km railway to the Selebe North Shaft. If there is enough interest a tour will be arranged that will drive from Johannesburg, spend two nights at Selebe Phikwe and return to Bulawayo in time for the start of the tour on 24 July. July 22 Thursday - This morning, motor coach from Johannesburg Airport to Selebe Phikwe Botswana. Overnight at the Syringa Lodge. Bed only, all meals on your own. July 23 Friday - A full day at the Selebe Phikwe Mine. 2nd Overnight Syringa Lodge. Bed only.
July 24 Saturday - Motor coach to Francistown, Botswana in time to catch the 9:00am National Railways of Zimbabwe passenger train to Bulawayo, arriving this afternoon. This train is one of the few cross - border passenger services in Africa, and is an experience in itself. Cross the border into Zimbabwe just before Plumtree where we will wait as returning Zimbabweans deal with customs and immigration. There should be a dining car attached with a limited range of refreshments and food. The train is timed to arrive in Bulawayo at 15h00, but expect to arrive some time after that. Transfer to the Bulawayo Holiday Inn.
Day 1 Saturday July 24: Arrive in Bulawayo today on your own. There are flights from Johannesburg, South Africa or Harare, Zimbabwe. You will be met at the Airport and transferred to the Bulawayo Holiday Inn where we will stay for the next three nights. There should be time to relax, meet the rest of the participants and if you arrive early enough, to visit the railway. The Holiday Inn is adjacent to the Ascot Shopping Center a few miles from the city center. The shopping center includes two supermarkets, a restaurant, Post Office, chemist, clothes shops and a craft market. The hotel offers a steakhouse, restaurant and an outdoor swimming pool (the water may be cold in July). Day 2 Sunday July 25: (B-D) Visit the steam depot this morning to see the sunrise at one of the last great steam depots in the world. Our first steam charter will take us from Bulawayo to Cement this morning. A freight train with a Class 14A Garratt will stage a number of run-bys as we make our way out of town on this double track section. We should return to Bulawayo by lunch, after which there will be time to visit the steam depot and railway museum. Dinner this evening will be a barbecue at the steam shed hosted by the National Railways of Zimbabwe Catering department, a fun meal with a Garratt as a backdrop and a great night photographic opportunity.
In the afternoon we visit the Bulawayo Railway Museum. See photos below. 
Tourist option: Enjoy a full day tour to the Matobo National Park. See amazing scenery, bushman cave paintings, Cecil Rhodes Grave and the game reserve before joining the rest of the group at the steam depot for dinner. A picnic lunch will be included. Day 3 Monday July 26: (B-L-D) We will leave Bulawayo early this morning behind a Class 16A Garratt with a mixed freight and passenger coaches for Figtree. After sunrise our train will continue to Plumtree near the Botswana border before returning to Bulawayo this afternoon. Tourist option: Enjoy a tour of the City of Bulawayo this morning. Included will be the City Hall, Natural History Museum and Art Gallery. After lunch (not included in the Tourist Option), visit the Chipanqali Wildlife Orphanage.. This evening you will be entertained by Livana, the internationally renowned KGVI Rehabilitation Center Band. The KGVI Center has for many years done outstanding work supporting physically disabled children in Zimbabwe.
Day 4 Tuesday July 27: (B-L-D) Our third steam charter out of Bulawayo will take us to Nyamandhlovu this morning with a Class 15A Garratt. After photographing the train on the Tenela Bank we will continue to Dete, travelling this afternoon through the Hwange Game Reserve where it is common to see a variety of big game from the train. This evening we will transfer to the Hwange Safari Lodge where we will spend the next three nights. Tourist option: After breakfast, motor to the Hwange Safari Lodge. Arrive by lunch with time for an included afternoon game drive. Lunch is not available for this option.
 Day 5 Wednesday July 28: (B-D) All tour participants will enjoy a morning and afternoon game drive in Hwange, one of the world's great game reserves and the largest in Zimbabwe. There will be no railway activity today, but it may be possible to arrange a visit to the Hwange Colliery to see their 15th Class Garratts. This will be at an additional cost, subject to adequate interest and approval from the Colliery.
Day 6 Thursday July 29: (B-L-D) Early this morning, drive to Thomson Junction. We will take our Class 15A Garratt and train to the horseshoe curves at Zanguja before returning to Thomson Junction. This afternoon, head out in the opposite direction through the tunnel, around Baobab Hill and past 404 curve to Lukosi Siding in the game reserve where our coach will meet us. Return by road to the Hwange Safari Lodge.
Tourist option: Enjoy a game drive this morning, and a visit to the local pottery village this afternoon. This option does not include lunch. Day 7 Friday July 30: (B-L-D) Early this morning, drive to Thomson Junction for a morning train from Thomson Junction to New Hwange, Old Hwange and back to Thomson Junction on the old main line past the well known baobab tree photo locations. This may be followed by a short visit to the Hwange Colliery steam shed before an afternoon charter to Zanguja where we will photograph the train on the Zanguja Bank, one of the best steam photo locations in Zimbabwe. Our coach will meet us at Zanguja Siding for onward travel to Victoria Falls. Our hotel for the next three nights will be the Kingdom Hotel. There will be an upgrade option to the famous Victoria Falls Hotel, located adjacent to the Kingdom in the same attractive and extensive grounds. Both hotels are over the road from the railway station, in easy walking distance to the Falls and town.
Tourist option: Early this morning you will drive to Thomson Junction with the train group and then continue to Victoria Falls, arriving before lunch. Check into your hotel and relax for the rest of the day. This option does not include lunch. Day 8 Saturday July 31: (B-L-D) This morning we will ride with the Victoria Falls Safari Express and their Class 14A Garratt from Victoria Falls Station to the Victoria Falls Bridge. Photograph the train on the bridge from the Zambian side before we continue to Livingstone station in Zambia. Visit the railway museum (entry not included) and spend time with the Bushtracks train and their 12th Class locomotive.
And Zambia including the operation of their 12th class locomotive Tourist option: After breakfast, join a conducted tour to Victoria Falls . See Livingstone's Statue, the Rain Forest and the Big Tree. This afternoon, visit the Crocodile Ranch. This option does not include lunch. Day 9 Sunday August 1: (B-D) This morning, ride the Victoria Falls Safari Express Garratt to Masuie Siding on the line to Bulawayo. Run-bys will be arranged as we pass the gorges near the station, and along the Masuie River. Arrive back late morning, after which there will be free time to explore the Falls.
Tourist option: Enjoy some free time in Victoria Falls this morning. A number of activities can be booked (at extra cost) that include game drives, boat cruises and rafting, helicopter rides and bunji jumping, walking with elephants and lions. Later this afternoon, gather for a sunset cruise up the Zambezi River. Enjoy an enchanting sunset as you look for elephant, hippo and crocodiles as well as fascinating bird life on the Zambezi above the Falls. Drinks and snacks are included. Diner tonight will be at the Bome Restaurant. A traditional meal in pleasant ethnic surroundings with entertainment and an Ndebele story teller. Day 10 Monday August 2: Your visit to Zimbabwe ends this morning after hotel check-out. Transfer to the Victoria Falls Airport included. |
Please note that the organisers will try to maintain this program, all of the services are subject to change. This applies particularly to locomotive availability and timekeeping. PRICES ALL PRICES ARE PERSON DOUBLE ROOM OCCUPANCY..................................$3398 SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT.................................$ 498 TOURIST OPTION.........................................$ 458 PRE-TOUR SOUTH AFRICAN STEAM...........................$ 98 BOTSWANA OPTION JULY 22-24.............................$ 428 BOTSWANA OPTION SINGLE SUPPLEMENT......................$ 138 VICTORIA FALLS HOTEL UPGRADE...........................$ 138 VICTORIA FALLS HOTEL UPGRADE SINGLE SUPPLEMENT.........$ 248 DEPOSIT DUE ONCE THIS TOUR IS CALLED A SURE-GO.........$1000 FINAL PAYMENT DUE BY APRIL 22, 2010 TOUR INCLUDES *21 MEALS *FULLY ESCORTED *PLENTY OF PHOTO RUN-BYS *ENTRY FEES PER THE ITINERARY *9 NIGHTS LODGING IN 3 STAR HOTELS *ALL STEAM CHARTERS PER THE ITINERARY *TRANSFERS AND BUS JOURNEYS PER THE ITINERARY |
|
Immigration rules:
All participants need a passport which is still valid at least 6 months after the travel date and needs to have at least 2 free pages, preferably facing each other. The Zimbabwean visa is granted at the border. Please check the immigration rules for your nationality to avoid surprises. A Visa will be required for entry into Zambia to photograph the train on the bridge, and to visit Livingstone. This can be issued at the border, charges vary according to your nationality. Climate and Clothes: Winter is starting during June in the southern hemisphere: at night it can cool down to 32 degrees F and during the day temperatures rise to over 68 degrees. It rarely rains and you should enjoy a blue sky with scattered white clouds. A warm pullover, long trousers and long sleeve shirt will protect you against cold nights and mosquitoes. A hat and sun-block will protect you against the African sun. Please do not forget to consult your doctor on how to prepare against Malaria, Victoria Falls is in a malarial area. |
|
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 is mandatory for all tours. This insurance will cover and give the tour members many benefits and protection. Benefits include baggage, 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, baggage delay and loss, pre-existing medical conditions if enrollment is within 21 days of your invoice date, burglary of you or your companion before departure, felonious assault of you or your traveling 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 trip deposit is received. Travel insurance protects your vacation investments and is a very good investment for your travel and vacation money. 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. FOR CUBA: Because of the nature of these tours travel insurance is MANDATORY for everyone. We have a special American travel insurance company that will insure all folks going to Cuba on legal US approved tours. This insurance information will be sent to you upon receiving your booking.
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.
|
 |  |  |  |
 |  | |||||
 | ||||||||||
| |  |  | |
