LIMITED EDITION
Explore magnificent and larger than life landscape of Namibia. The train departs from Cape Town, South Africa and travels
northward over the border where beautiful sights and experiences await one in this amazing country of deserts and wild coastlines.
There are geologic wonders, widely contrasting cultures living in harmony and the famous Etosha game park on our route. After
a visit to the fabled diamond town of Kimberly, our trip ends in Johannesburg.

NAMIBIA

13 NIGHTS / 14 DAYS

Johannesburg
PRETORIA
Port Elizabeth
HARARE
Victoria Falls
Chobe
National
Park ZIMBABWE
ZAMBIAANGOLA
BOTSWANA
Mossel Bay
MAPUTO
Soweto
LESOTHO
MOZAMBIQUE
Kruger
National
Park
Durban
Etosha
National
Park
Swakopmund
WINDHOEK
NAMIBIA
SOUTH AFRICA
Bloemfontein
CAPE TOWN
Tour Dates

08 SEP 2006 – 21 SEP 2006

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Nature & Wildlife

Highlights & Leisure

Culture & People

Specialised Activities

DAY 01 - CAPE TOWN (Friday 8 September 2006)

Pick up from Cape Town airport and transfer to Songololo Express at Muizenberg Station. Afternoon at leisure.
Dinner on board.

Evening shuttle service to the V&A Waterfront

DAY 02 - Historic Hinterland and Vineyard Visits (Saturday 9 September 2006)

Breakfast on board.
Guests depart for the day's activities while the train moves from Muizenberg to Worcester.

TODAY'S OFF-RAIL ACTIVITIES

1. Karoo Botanical Garden, Kleinplasie Museum, KWV Bandy Cellar:
The first stop is at the Karoo Desert National Botanical Garden. This is the only garden devoted to succulents in
the southern hemisphere and boasts some 400 naturally occurring species. This is followed by a visit to the
Kleinplasie Living Museum, depicting the lifestyle of the early pioneer farmers. Here one gain an insight into their
living conditions and experience how they manufactured soap, rolled tobacco, forged horseshoes, milled wheat,
spun wool and much more. Lunch can be enjoyed here (at your own cost). In the afternoon we'll visit the KWV
Brandy Cellar in Worcester for a cellar tour. This modern facility is the largest brandy distillery in the world and
will introduce you to the art of brandy making.

2. The Winelands
We drive to Stellenbosch for wine tasting at a well-known estate. Stellenbosch is the second oldest town in South
Africa and was established in 1679. A short drive takes visitors along Dorp Street with all its historical houses
(beautiful examples of Cape-Dutch architecture). Between Stellenbosch and the Drakenstein Valley is the Helshoogte
Pass where the road winds through a landscape adorned with fruit farms, Cape Dutch houses and vineyards before
reaching Franschhoek. Here we visit the Huguenot Monument and Huguenot Museum, commemorating the
French Huguenots who settled here in the 17th century. From here we continue to Worcester.
Guests rejoin the train in the late afternoon in Worcester
Dinner on board
Departure for Upington at approximately midnight

DAY 03 - Through the Great Karoo (Sunday 10 September 2006)

Brunch and Snacks on board
Today will be a full day on the rails giving one time to relax and unwind. We travel through the Karoo, a vast arid
area which is known for its large sheep farms and magnificent sunsets.

Dinner on board
We arrive in Upington in the evening and then continue overnight - making the border crossing into Namibia during
this stage continuing to our destination in Holoog.

Total travel time is 36 hours from Worcester to Holoog, Namibia.

DAY 04 -The Fish River Canyon (Monday 11 September 2006)

Early morning arrival in Holoog. Breakfast on board.

TODAY'S OFF-RAIL ACTIVITIES
Fish River Canyon:

Eroded over millennia, the Fish River Canyon is the second largest natural gorge in Africa. Set in a harsh, stony
plain, dotted with drought resistant succulents such as the distinctive quiver tree or kokerboom, the canyon is a
spectacular natural phenomenon. It took hundreds of millions of years to evolve into its current shape. Its full
length is 160 km, the width up to 27 km and the depth 550 m.

Return to the train in Holoog for departure to Mariental at 14h00 (+/-8 hours)
Dinner on board

DAY 05 - A Castle and a Camp (Tuesday 12 September 2006)

Breakfast on board
While guests take to the air conditioned Sprinters for the drive via Maltahöhe to Sesriem
the train will continue via Windhoek to Swakopmund

2

Nature & Wildlife

Highlights & Leisure

Culture & People

Specialised Activities

TODAY'S OFF-RAIL ACTIVITIES
Duwisib Castle and Sesriem:

After a short coffee break (own cost) at Maltahöhe, we continue via the Tsaris Mountains to Duwisib Castle, a solid
rectangular structure of red sandstone with battlements and turrets on its corners, completed in 1909. Most of
the construction materials, including the furniture and fittings, were shipped all the way from Germany, off-loaded
at Lüderitz and transported to Duwisib by ox-wagon.

We travel further to the tented camp at Sesriem and check in for the night. Guests then visit the nearby Sesriem
Canyon. Erosion of many centuries has incised a narrow gorge about 1 km in length. At the foot of the gorge,
which plunges down 30 to 40 m, there are pools of water that are replenished intermittently by good rains. Sesriem
derives its name from the time of early pioneers who found that they needed to tie six ( ‘ses’ ) lengths of rawhide
thong ( ‘riem’ ) together to draw up water from the deep pools.

Dinner and overnight in a tented camp at Sesriem (shared ablution facilities)

DAY 06 - Gigantic Dunes and so much more (Friday 13 September 2006)

Breakfast in Camp

TODAY'S OFF-RAIL ACTIVITIES
Sossusvlei, Namib Naukluft Park, Welwitschia Mirabilis and the Valley of the Moon:

Departure by road through some of Namibia's most magnificent, strange and awe inspiring landscapes. The
highlight of Namibia's southern region is Sossusvlei with its monumental dunes. A visit to the dunes is followed
by a scenic drive through the Namib Naukluft Park. Not only is the park the largest nature conservation area in
Namibia, but it is also rated as the fourth largest in the world. Landscapes range from impressive mountains to
desert plains and high dunes, from deep gorges to an estuarine lagoon.

The Welwitschia Nature Drive takes us from vast plains where herds of Oryx, Springbok and Zebra roam the eerie
landscape of the badlands (also known as the Valley of the Moon). The hardy survivor of the desert, the Welwitschia
Mirabilis, can be seen along this route. One very large specimen, which is specially protected, is estimated to
be 1 500 years old.

We rejoin the train in Swakopmund
Dinner on board

DAY 07 - Swakopmund and Walvis Bay (Saturday 14 September 2006)

Breakfast on board

TODAY'S OFF-RAIL ACTIVITIES
Swakopmund and Walvis Bay:

Swakopmund, Namibia's seaside resort on the West Coast, is a place of singular charm. It resembles a small
Bavarian village nestling between the desert and the sea and has a restful and relaxing atmosphere. The source
of Swakopmund's continental atmosphere is the graceful Art Nouveau buildings dating back to the turn of the
century.
The morning is free to explore the town. After an early lunch (guest's own account) we depart for Walvis Bay.
Highlights will include a visit to the flamingo colony, the salk works and Dune 7.

Afternoon back at the train in Swakopmund

SPECIALISED ACTIVITIES
Quadbikes
Skeleton Coast Flight
Sossusvlei “Classic Flight”:

You'll see the following from above, to name but just a few: Swakopmund, the Kuiseb Canyon, the Tsondabvlei,
Sossusvlei, Conception Bay, ship wrecks, Sandwich Harber, salt pans, flamingos. Etc.

Mola Mola Seal & Dolphin Cruise:

Experience the thrill of dolphins leaping from the water alongside the boat, seals fed by hand, fresh oysters and
cold champagne on the calm water of the Walvis Bay Lagoon. This morning-only activity is an experience not to
be missed.

Dinner on board
The train will depart for Otavi / Tsumeb over night (+/- 13 - 14 hours)

3

Nature & Wildlife

Highlights & Leisure

Culture & People

Specialised Activities

DAY 08 - Hoba and Grootfontein (Sunday 15 September 2006)

Arrival Otavi at +/- 08.00
Breakfast on board

TODAY'S OFF-RAIL ACTIVITIES
Hoba Meteorite and Grootfontein:

We visit the largest known meteorite in the world, the Hoba Meteorite. This 50 ton mass of nickel and iron, between
100 and 300 million years old, crashed to earth some 30 000 to 80 000 years ago. We continue to Grootfontein
for a visit to the Grootfontein Museum, before heading to Tsumeb for a lunch break (guest’s own account). In the
afternoon, we visit the Tsumeb Mining Museum. Here, a comprehensive collection of rare minerals can be viewed.
In the Khorab Room one can see cannons and other armaments that were dumped into Lake Otjikoto by retreating
German forces. This was done shortly before the signing of the Khorab Peace Treaty. In the late afternoon we
cross into Etosha National Park for a game-drive towards our campsite.

Dinner and overnight in an tented camp set up exclusively for Shongololo guests. (shared ablution facilities)
The train meanwhile travels on to Otjiwarongo where we will rejoin it tomorrow

DAY 09 - Etosha National Park (Monday 16 September 2006)

Wake-up before sunrise and set out with breakfast packs to eat on our game drive.

TODAY'S OFF-RAIL ACTIVITIES
Etosha National Park:

Early morning wake-up for a daybreak safari in our air conditioned vehicles (with breakfast packs). The Etosha
National Park is one of the major sanctuaries for wildlife in Africa and was proclaimed a game reserve in 1907.
The heart of the park is the Etosha Pan (Etosha means “place of dry water”). It is an extensive, flat depression
of about 5 000 km2. There are 144 mammal species in the park, which covers an area of 22 270 km2. This
includes Elephant, Giraffe, Blue Wildebeest and Black Rhino. Among the predators are Lion, Cheetah, Leopard
and several species of wild cat. Hyena and Jackal are the scavengers. Antelope species range from the majestic
Eland to the shy little Damara Dik-Dik. The most striking of the antelope species is the Gemsbok, with its dramatic
black and white markings. It also appears on the Namibian coat of arms. Bird life is prolific and some 340 species
have been identified, including Namibia's national bird, the Crimson-Breasted Shrike. Lunch (guest’s own account)
can be enjoyed in the park. We exit the park via the Okaukuejo Gate and return to the train in Otjiwarongo in the
late afternoon

We rejoin the train in the late afternoon in Otjiwarongo
Dinner on board
Departure to Windhoek at +/- 17.00 (+/- 10 hours)

DAY 10 - Windhoek “The Windy Corner” (Tuesday 17 September 2006)

Early morning arrival in Windhoek
Breakfast on board
Please not that actrivities start at 08.00

TODAY'S OFF-RAIL ACTIVITIES

1. Daan Viljoen Game Park:
This relatively small park (3 953 ha) is the habitat of a great variety of typical Namibian Highlands Fauna. During
our game drive through the soft hills of the Khomas Hochland (using Shongololo's air-conditioned vehicles), you
will be able to spot a variety of antelope, zebra, wildebeest and many bird species.

2.Windhoek City Tour:
The city tour of Windhoek includes historical sites such as the Alte Feste and the “Christuskirche” or Evangelical
Lutheran Church. This is one of the city's most striking landmarks and was built from local sandstone and completed
in 1910. Romanesque, neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau styles influenced its design and Kaiser Wilhelm II donated
its stained-glass windows. We also visit the Namibia Craft Centre in the old Breweries Building as well as the
Heroes Acre Monument and Railway Museum.

Dinner on board or in a good restaurant in Windhoek
Evening departure to Upington in South Africa (+/- 26 hours, including border crossing)

4

Nature & Wildlife

Highlights & Leisure

Culture & People

Specialised Activities

DAY 11 - Return to South Africa (Wednesday 18 Setpember 2006)

Brunch and Snacks on board
Full day train journey to Upington in South Africa through southern Namibia
Dinner on board

DAY 12 - Augrabies Falls (Thursday 19 September 2006)

Early morning arrival in Upington
Breakfast on board

TODAY'S OFF-RAIL ACTIVITIES
Augrabies Falls:

Visiting the Augrabies National Park is not only a highlight thanks to its waterfalls (even though they are the main
attraction). The interesting flora as well as the small Klipspringer are also worth mentioning. Three short hiking
trails lead from the rest camp at the park entrance to and around the waterfalls. They are not very difficult to walk,
but solid hiking shoes are recommended, because of the rocky floor. In April / May, when the Gariep (Orange)
River water level is at its peak, an amplitude of 200 metres of water falls almost 60 meter down the granite ravine.

We return to the train in Upington and depart at 17:00 for Kimberly (+/- 13 hours)
Dinner on board

DAY 13 - Diamonds galore: The Big Hole and the Mine Museum (Friday 20 September 2006)

Early morning arrival in Kimberley
Breakfast on board

TODAY'S OFF-RAIL ACTIVITIES
Kimberley and the Big Hole:

Kimberley, sight of SA's gold rush, is still world renowned for its quality diamonds and The Big Hole, the largest
man-made excavation in the world. Much of the city's past is preserved in the Kimberley Mine Museum. The Big
Hole is an astonishing sight having been mined to a depth of 215 m and with a surface area of about 17ha. The
museum provides a look at the affluent lifestyles of those who made their fortunes in early Kimberley. We will
also visit the Humphreys Art Galerie and the MacGregor Museum.

Late afternoon train departure from Kimberley to Johannesburg (+/- 9 hours)
Dinner on board

DAY 14 - Johannesburg, Soweto and Tshwane (Saturday 21 September 2006)

Early morning arrival in Johannesburg
Breakfast on board

TODAY'S OFF-RAIL ACTIVITIES

1. Apartheid Museum and Soweto:
Our tour starts at the Apartheid Museum, before we continue to Soweto (an acronym for “South Western Townships”).
We visit SOMOHO (“Soweto Mountain of Hope”), community project, which undertakes waste recycling, energy
efficiency and poverty alleviation. Lunch (at your own cost) can be enjoyed here). The next stop is the Hector
Petersen Square, named after one the first students to be killed in the 1976 uprising where there is a monument
in honour of Petersen and his friends. We pass the Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital (the largest hospital in the
southern hemisphere) on our way to the historic home of Nelson Mandela. This is the only street in Africa that
once housed two Nobel Peace Laureates, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela.

2. Johannesburg & Tshwane (Pretoria):
We start with a short orientation tour through downtown Johannesburg, before crossing the ultra-modern Nelson
Mandela Bridge to head towards Sandton, Johannesburg's new financial hub, which houses, amongst other things,
the stock exchange. Continuing to Tshwane, previously known as Pretoria, the administrative capital of South
Africa, we visit the Union Buildings housing the offices of the President and Ministers, designed by the famous
colonial English architect, Sir Herbert Baker, and completed in 1913. The buildings overlook the city towards
the once fortified hills to the east. Before leaving the capital behind, we visit the Voortrekker Monument that
commemorates the “Great Trek” of the 1830s.

Late afternoon transfer to Johannesburg International Airport

5

Services included:

14 Days itinerary conducted from the Shongololo Express Heritage Train, travelling from Cape Town, via Namibia
to Johannesburg
11 Overnights on board the Shongololo Express Heritage Train - Accommodation in different compartment types
(Ivory, Gold or Emerald)
2 Overnights in tented camps
13 x South African Breakfast / Brunch or packed breakfast where applicable
11 x Dinner on board
2 x Dinner in tented camps
Transfers in modern air-conditioned Mercedes Sprinter vehicles driven by qualified local English-speaking guides
All “Off-Rail” Activities (a choice between “Nature & Wildlife”, “Culture & People” or “Highlights & Leisure”),
including entrance fees where applicable
Tourism Levy

Services not included:

All flights (international, regional or domestic)
Airport taxes
Porterage
Lunches
Tips to on-board staff (Recommendation: +/- USD 10 per person per day spent on board)
Travel and medical insurance
Visa fees (where applicable)
Personal expenses such as drinks, curios, laundry
Specialised activities (last column)
Pre-night on board the train

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