Riding the Blue Train of South Africa

I’ve taken The Blue Train across South Africa twice, once in each direction, and each trip felt different. My first journey began in Pretoria. I still remember walking into the city’s historic railway station as the morning light touched its old-world arches. Soon after, the train carried me toward Cape Town and through some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country.

What I loved most were the small luxuries of each day: the beautifully plated brunches, the pleasure of dressing for dinner as the sky turned gold, and the quiet time spent in the viewing carriage at the back of the train. From that calm space, South Africa opened up in wide plains, distant mountains, and a sense of peace that seemed to travel with us all the way to the coast.

TAKING THE BLUE TRAIN FROM PRETORIA TO CAPETOWN

On the morning of our departure, we left our Johannesburg hotel before sunrise and drove toward Pretoria, where The Blue Train would begin its journey to Cape Town. Pretoria Station, with its nostalgic architecture and sense of quiet ceremony, felt like the perfect place to begin an iconic rail adventure.

Though Johannesburg and Cape Town are separated by nearly 1,600 kilometers—a distance easily crossed in under two hours by air—the train offers something entirely different. Instead of rushing between cities, you surrender to a slower rhythm, watching the landscape shift hour by hour. Thus, we let the journey itself become the destination.

ALL ABOUT THE BLUE TRAIN JOURNEY

A woman sits elegantly in the lounge car of The Blue Train, surrounded by warm wooden interiors, vintage armchairs, and soft lighting, with a glass of sparkling wine on the table—capturing the relaxed, luxurious atmosphere of South Africa’s iconic rail journey.

The journey on The Blue Train takes a little over 30 hours. It follows a remarkable route from Pretoria to Cape Town, crossing the wide, untouched landscapes of the Northern Cape. This is slow travel at its best—unhurried, rich in detail, and made to be savored.

In a world where everything moves quickly, the train invites you to slow down. Days unfold gently. You chat with other passengers in the lounge, meet people you wouldn’t have met otherwise, and spend long stretches simply watching South Africa pass by your window. The rhythm feels almost nostalgic, like stepping into an older and more graceful way of traveling.

As the hours go by, the country reveals itself in open plains, small koppies, and scenes you don’t forget. It became one of the most enjoyable ways I’ve seen South Africa, and a journey I still think about often.

A woman standing beside the iconic deep-blue exterior of The Blue Train at the station, next to a gold-trimmed carriage door marked with the number 13. The polished blue and gold detailing highlights the luxury and heritage of South Africa’s famous rail journey.

A breakfast setting inside The Blue Train with a plate of fresh fruit, two forks, a Travelife magazine, and a single red rose in a vase placed by the window. Outside, the South African countryside passes in soft, golden light, highlighting the relaxed luxury of the rail journey from Pretoria to Cape Town.

I’ve taken several luxury trains over the years, so I know the charm—and the limits—of vintage rail travel. These carriages will never feel as large as a hotel suite. But the best ones still create a sense of comfort and ease.

The Blue Train is one of those rare examples. The compartments feel warm and refined, with classic details and gentle modern touches. Soft lighting, polished wood, and well-chosen accents make the space instantly welcoming. And everything is placed with care. It remains one of the most comfortable luxury trains I’ve ever experienced.

RIDING THE BLUE TRAIN

A cozy cabin interior on The Blue Train featuring a sofa with patterned cushions, a sunlit window framing South Africa’s rolling landscape, and a table set with fresh fruit, bottled water, and reading materials. Warm wood paneling and soft lighting highlight the elegant, vintage luxury of the famous rail journey.

The cabins are surprisingly generous in size. The beds feel almost cloudlike after a day spent watching the scenery roll by. The ensuite bathrooms are also large for a train—impressively so—and the layout feels indulgent. For anyone used to the tight quarters of traditional rail travel, the space can seem almost decadent.

Another pleasure of The Blue Train is the company you meet along the way. Many guests are seasoned travelers who have crossed continents and collected stories. They choose this train because they still value the romance of the journey. Conversations flow easily over tea, in the lounge, or while admiring the changing landscape. And the mix of personalities becomes part of the adventure.

A beautifully set dining table aboard The Blue Train, complete with crystal glasses, polished silverware, and a standing menu, all arranged beside a large window overlooking the South African countryside. The warm wood paneling and soft natural light highlight the classic luxury of the train’s fine-dining experience.

We met so many wonderful people on this journey. On our very first evening, we were seated next to a British couple entirely by chance. Within minutes, conversation flowed as if we’d known each other for years. We enjoyed their company so much that, without even discussing it, we began arranging to share every meal together. It became one of those effortless travel friendships that feel like part of the magic of the trip.

WHERE TO GO NEXT: The beautiful Hacienda La Esperanza Granada in Spain

Private hacienda and luxury villa buy-out in Andalusia — La Esperanza Granada

Extend your love of meaningful travel with a stay at our boutique luxury hacienda in Andalusia. With seven suites, panoramic gardens, and authentic Andalusian design, La Esperanza Granada is one of Spain’s most breathtaking private villa experiences.

BRUNCH ONBOARD THE BLUE TRAIN

Two hands holding the brunch menu onboard The Blue Train, with elegant table settings and soft sunlight streaming through the carriage window. The printed menu highlights the fine dining experience and luxury service offered on South Africa’s iconic rail journey.

Brunch on that first day set the tone for the journey. As the train glided out of Pretoria and curved past Johannesburg, the landscape slowly opening into the spacious light of the Northern Cape, we settled into our seats for a leisurely meal.

The staff began by pouring a chilled glass of pink champagne, a small but sparkling reminder that life aboard The Blue Train moves to its own luxurious rhythm. It felt like the perfect way to ease into the day—and into another chapter of living a #Travelife.

A waiter on The Blue Train pouring a glass of chilled pink champagne for a guest inside the wood-paneled dining car, with bottles displayed in the background and soft light highlighting the luxury rail experience across South Africa.

Because it was brunch, guests were invited to enjoy pastries and fresh fruit before the main courses began. Within the compact space of the dining carriage, the staff had created a beautifully arranged buffet along one side of the train—a thoughtful spread of flaky croissants, seasonal fruit, and small indulgences that felt wonderfully civilized.

BRUNCH BEGINS WITH CHAMPAGNE

After a glass of pink champagne, passengers drifted over to help themselves, taking what they liked as the scenery slipped quietly past the windows.

A beautifully arranged pastry and fruit buffet onboard The Blue Train, with trays of flaky croissants, danishes, and fresh seasonal fruit displayed beside a sunlit window overlooking the South African countryside.

For the appetizer, several dishes were on offer, but almost everyone at our table gravitated toward the smoked salmon. It was light, beautifully prepared, and the perfect beginning to a long, leisurely brunch—almost a promise that the rest of the meal would be just as good.

A beautifully plated smoked salmon appetizer served in the elegant dining car of The Blue Train, set on a white tablecloth with polished silverware and crystal glasses, capturing the refined fine-dining experience aboard South Africa’s iconic luxury train.

A waiter pouring white wine into a cut-crystal glass beside a plated smoked salmon and salad appetizer in The Blue Train’s elegant dining car, set with polished silverware on a crisp white tablecloth.

When the main course arrived, most passengers chose the heartier options: a tender rack of lamb or even grilled springbok, which added a touch of South African flair to the menu. I went in a different direction.

After days of wonderfully heavy meals in Johannesburg, I asked the chef for a generous salad with extra smoked salmon on the side. It was exactly what I needed—fresh, simple, and satisfying without being overwhelming.

A plated main course aboard The Blue Train of South Africa featuring a golden crusted seafood roulade topped with caviar, served with fresh vegetables and a halved lemon, presented on a white plate in the train’s fine-dining carriage.

Dessert was just as lovely. It always amazes me how a full multi-course meal, plated so beautifully, can come out of a kitchen no larger than a restaurant’s storage cabinet—especially while the train is in motion. Yet everything arrived on fine porcelain, with polished silverware laid out as if we were dining in a grand hotel rather than rolling through the Northern Cape.

It spoke volumes about the chef’s skill and precision. Watching the plates appear, one by one, it was easy to forget how limited the space was behind the scenes.

A beautifully plated raspberry mousse dessert served on The Blue Train of South Africa, topped with fresh strawberries and surrounded by a vibrant raspberry coulis, presented on fine porcelain in the elegant dining car.

MEALS ONBOARD A LUXURY TRAIN

We enjoyed our conversations with the British couple so much that meals naturally stretched into long, unhurried affairs. While other tables finished and drifted back to their cabins, we stayed on, savoring each course and the easy rhythm of good company. Every meal lasted for hours, and none of us minded in the least. It felt like part of the pleasure of being on The Blue Train—nowhere to rush to, nothing to interrupt the moment.

A white table set for lunch onboard The Blue Train, with crystal glasses, silverware, and a menu arranged beside a large window overlooking the wide, sunlit plains of the Northern Cape in South Africa.

We often spent almost three hours in the restaurant car, three times a day. There was simply a lot to enjoy—good food, thoughtful service, and excellent South African wines. All of it made even better by the scenery slowly changing outside the windows as we crossed the country.

By the time we reached Cape Town, I understood why The Blue Train is so loved. It moves slowly, but that pace is part of its charm. You’re not just getting from one city to another—you’re watching South Africa unfold in real time.

A lunch table set with crystal glasses, polished silverware, and a standing menu inside The Blue Train, framed by gold curtains and a large window overlooking South Africa’s rugged mountains and open countryside.

The cabins are comfortable, the service is warm, and the meals turn into long conversations with people you’ve only just met. And somewhere along the way, the train becomes more than a journey. It becomes a memory you know you’ll keep.

If you want to see South Africa without rushing, The Blue Train is one of the most enjoyable ways to do it. You simply sit back, look out the window, and let the country reveal itself.