Namibia by Private Train An escorted tour from Pretoria to Walvis Bay aboard the Shongololo Express 14th to 29th May 2019 Elephants Voortrekker Monument, Pretoria Seal colony, Walvis Bay

e are delighted to be working with our The Itinerary rolling stock in perfect order. We associates at Rovos Rail to bring you this embark the Shongololo Express W Day 1 London to Johannesburg, and depart the Gauteng region and spectacular journey aboard the Shongololo Express South Africa. Fly by scheduled flight. pass the Highveld. Enjoy dinner on Private Train exploring the amazing landscapes and board and a relaxing evening in the rugged grandeur of , a country of compelling Day 2 Pretoria. Arrive into bar-wagon. Johannesburg this morning and Accommodation & Dining: beauty, abundant sunshine and seemingly endless transfer to the Sheraton Pretoria Shongololo Express. (B, D) space. Travelling from Pretoria in South Africa, our train Hotel for an overnight stay. Your winds its way through stunning vistas to the desert and room will be available to check Day 4 Kimberley. This morning we in to upon arrival. This afternoon will reach the historical train station mountainous landscapes of Namibia, with stops along we take a tour of Pretoria, the of Kimberley, the city of diamonds. the way to view some remarkable scenery and diverse administrative capital of South At the end of the 19th century, the wildlife. The beauty and the colours of Namibia truly Africa and visit the Union Buildings town experienced a real diamond designed by the famous colonial rush, from which the diamond need to be seen to be believed and are brought right English architect, Sir Herbert empire of De Beers emerged, to the compartment doors of our comfortable rolling Baker. Completed in 1913, it now led today by the Oppenheimers hotel, while enjoying the excellent service for which houses the offices of the President and founded by Cecil Rhodes. and Ministers and the buildings On arrival, view the famous Big Rovos Rail is renowned. Spend nights in the Namib overlook the city towards the Hole, once the largest diamond Desert and at Etosha National Park in stylish lodges once fortified hills to the south. A mine in the world and visit the and enjoy adventurous game drives. grand bronze statue of “Oom Paul lovingly restored original buildings (Kruger)”, the patriarch president of of Kimberley’s Belle Epoque. Highlights of our journey are numerous and include the ZAR or old Transvaal Republic, Accommodation & Dining: Fish River Canyon, Africa’s largest canyon, wildlife rich surrounded by his Boer fighters, Shongololo Express. (B, L, D) dominates Church Square at the Etosha National Park, one of Southern Africa’s finest centre of the city. Before leaving Day 5 Upington. Morning tour of and most important game reserves and the rugged the capital behind we visit the Upington which the railway reaches Atlantic coast, which is located on the Voortrekker Monument which by means of a bridge 1067 metres commemorates the Great Trek of long, the second longest bridge in Skeleton Coast and an excellent example of German the 1830s. We return to the hotel South Africa. Sir Thomas Upington, colonial architecture. However, for many the ultimate and enjoy an evening at leisure. attorney general of the Cape, was highlight will be the sand dunes at Sossusvlei for which Accommodation: Located opposite the man principally responsible for the Union Buildings, the five-star liquidating the business activities Namibia is so renowned. Sossusvlei lies in the heart of Sheraton Pretoria Hotel is elegantly of the Orange River pirates and the Namib Desert and is home to the world’s tallest designed and the facilities include capturing their leader, Klaas Lucas. sand dunes, some of which tower over 300 metres an outdoor swimming pool and When the desperadoes were finally a health club. The 175 lavish chased away in 1884, the town high. Watching the changing mood and colours at guestrooms all feature cable TV was founded on the banks of the sunrise is a once in a lifetime experience. and a marble bathroom with luxury Orange River and named Upington amenities. in honour of Sir Thomas. Thanks to the Orange River, the region was Etosha National Park Day 3 Embark Shongololo predestined for winegrowing and Otjiwarongo Express. Enjoy a morning at leisure. we will enjoy a tasting at Bezalel This afternoon we transfer to the Wine & Brandy Estate. Return to Rovos Rail station at Capital Park the train at lunch time and continue in Pretoria which, once a bustling in the direction of Namibia. Swakopmund Walvis Bay hub of steam locomotion in the old Accommodation & Dining: BOTSWANA Transvaal is now the headquarters Shongololo Express. (B, L, D) NAMIBIA for Rovos Rail. We will have the Sossusvlei opportunity to tour this gracious, Day 6 Fish River Canyon, Namibia. Pretoria colonial-style railway station and the Arrive in Holoog this morning for Luderitz Johannesburg ever-expanding railway museum. our visit to the Fish River Canyon, Kolmanskop SOUTH AFRICA The eyes of rail enthusiasts will second only to the Grand Canyon

Fish River Upington be drawn to the vast carriage and in Arizona in geological importance. Canyon locomotive sheds where teams Eroded over many millennia, the Kimberley of dedicated personnel keep the canyon is the second largest natural

www.noble-caledonia.co.uk Etosha National Park Sossusvlei Quiver Tree Forest

The ‘Big Hole’, Kimberley

gorge in Africa, 161 kilometres that holds water all year round. The front of the building is the narrow- Day 13 Etosha National Park. This long, 549 metres deep and, in early Afrikaans explorers named gauge locomotive (vintage 1900), morning we take an early morning some places, 27 kilometres wide. the canyon after the fact that they which used to operate between game drive followed by breakfast. Baboon, rock dassie, ground squirrel had to use six (ses) leather straps Swakopmund and Windhoek. At Afternoon departure for Kranzberg. and klipspringer are often seen (riem) tied together to create a the top of Robert Mugabe Avenue Accommodation & Dining: in the canyon, while the presence rope long enough to lower water is the Christuskirche or Evangelical Shongololo Express. (B, L, D) of leopard and mountain zebra is buckets into the canyon below. Lutheran Church which we will indicated by tracks left at waterholes. Overnight at our lodge. drive past, this is one of the city’s Day 14 Walvis Bay for Enjoy the stunning views and the Accommodation & Dining: most striking landmarks and was Swakompund. We arrive at Walvis opportunity to take a short walk Overlooking the red sand dunes built from local sandstone and Bay and, after breakfast, we bid our along the canyon’s edge. We return of the Namib Desert, Sossusvlei completed in 1910. Romanesque, train farewell and transfer to the to the train and depart for Aus. Lodge offers an outdoor pool and neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau styles Strand Hotel Swakopmund for an Accommodation & Dining: a dining terrace overlooking a influenced its design and Kaiser overnight stay. Shongololo Express. (B, L, D) floodlit waterhole frequently visited Wilhelm II donated its stained- Accommodation & Dining: by springbok and hyena. The 45 glass windows. Return to our Nestled on the beach, Strand Day 7 Kolmanskop and Luderitz. air-conditioned, tented rooms have train and depart for Otjiwarongo. Hotel Swakopmund features a spa, Today’s tour begins with a bus ride their own bathroom and feature a Accommodation & Dining: rooftop garden, restaurants and to the ghost town of Kolmanskop, private patio area. (B, L, D) Shongololo Express. (B, L, D) bars. All 125 rooms offer free Wi-Fi, where the first diamonds were minibar, electronic safe and plasma found in Namibia in 1908. From Day 10 Sossusvlei and Namib- Day 12 Etosha National Park. After television. (B) here, the harbour town of Luderitz Naukluft Park. The dunes of the breakfast we transfer to Mokuti is a short journey through the Namib Desert were created by Etosha Lodge in Etosha National Day 15 Windhoek to London. Sperrgebiet (the “Restricted sand carried by the wind from the Park for an overnight stay. The A morning at leisure before we Diamond Area”). After crossing the coast of Namibia. The sand here park offers excellent game viewing transfer to the airport for our return historical Luderitz peninsula, we is five million years old and is red in one of Africa’s most accessible scheduled flight to London. will reach Diaz Point, set against in colour due to its iron-oxide venues. Zebra and springbok Dining: (B) the backdrop of the dramatic content. As the lighting changes are scattered across the endless Atlantic waves. Back on board with the time of day, so does horizon while the many waterholes Day 16 London. Arrive today. at Aus station, our private train the appearance of the dunes’ attract endangered black rhino, continues on its journey south. characteristic colour, allowing for lion, elephant and large numbers Accommodation & Dining: interesting photographs at any of antelope.The Etosha Pan, an Shongololo Express. (B, D) time. The wind in the Sossusvlei extremely flat salt pan, lies at the Prices per person area blows from all directions which heart of the National Park. This Based on double occupancy Day 8 Keetmanshoop & Quiver means that the type of the dunes shimmering “great white place”, Tree Forest. This morning we here are known as “star dunes”. as its name says, is the largest salt Category Price visit Garas Park where we will see This is because the winds cause pan in Africa and with herds of Gold Cabin £5995 the unique quiver trees and the the sand to form a star shape with wild animals passing through is Emerald Suite £7595 Gold Cabin for sole use interesting rock formations. The multiple arms. Early morning is the an unforgettable experience. We £8695 Emerald Suite for sole use £10895 quiver tree is not really a tree, rather best time to see these giant dunes take an afternoon game drive and a plant of the genus aloe, as evident and we take a scenic drive through return to our lodge for dinner and Price Includes: Economy from its scientific name, and one of the Namib-Naukluft Park before we an overnight stay. class scheduled air travel • Overnight accommodation in the few species of aloe that reaches return to our train. Accommodation & Dining: Mokuti Pretoria • Nine nights aboard tree proportions, it can grow seven Accommodation & Dining: Etosha Lodge offers two outdoor the Shongololo Express • to nine metres high. Return to the Shongololo Express. pools, a spa and gym. Tambuti (B, L, D) Overnight accommodation in train and depart for Mariental. Dining Room and Marula Bar Sossusvlei, Etosha National Park Accommodation & Dining: Day 11 Windhoek. Morning tour serve a variety of dishes and the & Swakopmund • Meals as listed Shongololo Express. (B, L, D) of Windhoek. Situated in Namibia’s open-air Boma Restaurant serves (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) central highlands, Windhoek is African grill specialities in a magical • Excursions • Entrance fees • Day 9 Sossusvlei & Sesriem an attractive city surrounded by setting with its thatched roof and Local guides • Onboard Train Canyon. This morning we transfer clusters of hills and the impressive chandeliers. There is also a pool Manager • Transfers • Airport to Sossusvlei Lodge, situated at Auas and Eros Mountains. The bar and an evening bar for drinks taxes. Travel insurance, the entrance gate to the Namib- city tour of Windhoek starts with a and snacks. All 106 spacious rooms Not Included: visas, meals as indicated, drinks, Naukluft Park. We visit the Sesriem visit to the TransNamib Transport have a private bathroom and gratuities. Canyon, shaped over millions of Museum. The museum is situated mosquito door and are decorated NB. Itinerary and lodges subject years by the Tsauchab River; it is in the Windhoek Railway Station with Namibian crafts and rich to change. one of the few places in that area and was built from 1912 to 1913. In fabrics. (B, L, D)

+44 (0)20 7752 0000 Observation Car

Gold Cabin

Emerald Suite Lounge Car The 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 freshly tapped beer 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.

All of the sleeping compartments are Gold Cabins: The Gold sleeping compartments offer Restaurant equipped with 220/230 V sockets, a small a private shower and toilet, individually adjustable safe, towels and clothes hangers. The beds air-conditioning and a small bedside cabinet. The are made up daily by your train attendants. compartments (approximately 7 m² / 75 ft²) are In all sleeping compartments the windows equipped with two individual berths next to each (equipped with blinds and sunshades) other, or a double berth. A hairdryer and small can be opened as needed. A relaxed toiletries are also provided. Still water is provided atmosphere prevails on board and casual, daily in your compartment. There are a total of comfortable clothing is recommended twenty four Gold cabins. during the day and smart casual attire in the evenings. A laundry service is available Emerald Suites: The Emerald sleeping compartments during the entire trip (at cost). Large (approximately 10 m² / 107 ft²) are equipped with two pieces of luggage can be stowed beneath single berths or a double berth. Each compartment the berths or on the upper luggage racks. in this category also has a compact wardrobe and a However, since space on board is limited, small seating area. A hairdryer and small toiletries we do recommend taking soft-sided are also provided. Still water is provided daily in your luggage rather than hard-side cases. compartment. There are a total of 14 Emerald Suites.

2 Chester Close, Belgravia, London, SW1X 7BE +44 (0)20 7752 0000 | [email protected] | www.noble-caledonia.co.uk 070218_S

Our current booking conditions apply to all reservations and are available on request. Cover image: Sossusvlei, Namibia.