Mon, Tue, Wed 10, 11, 12 June

Our driver arrived after breakfast to take us to the Blue Train at Pretoria Station. A group of baboons on the road delayed our exit from the National Park.

It was a long journey and should have taken less than 6 hours. Things started looking tight when we were in central Pretoria with heavy traffic and driver did not seem to know where to go. We finally arrived at reception area just as the greeting lady was packing up, just 10 mins before 4:00 pm departure. We were too late for our pre-departure briefing and champagne. No problem checking in as they knew who we were, everyone else was on the train. We were introduced to our butler and found our way to the bar to calm our nerves. We wallowed in luxury for the next two nights, even sampling the post dinner cognac in the Club Lounge, but declining the cigars. We had a brief stopover at Kimberley and learnt a bit of the history of the diamond industry and the price-fixing near monopoly.

It is a long way from our cabin near the back of the train to the dining car (17 carriages + 2 engines). This is a good thing as it is the only exercise we are getting.

After 2 days of luxury we arrived after breakfast in Cape Town and were taken to ou self-catering apartment at the V&A waterside.