Fantastische trienreis met de Dune Express vanaf Johannesburg naar Windhoek v.v. AANBIEDING: bij vertrek 23 juni of 5 juli betalen 2 samenreizende personen slechts € 1000,- p.p. Deze aanbieding is exclusief vluchten.

LUXE TREINREIZEN

Ontdek Zuid-Afrika en Namibië per luxe trein! Leun achterover en geniet van het Afrikaanse landschap. Wegens groot succes zijn er nieuwe vertrekdata toegevoegd. Uitgebreid programma vindt u onderaan deze pagina.

Dune Express en Fly-backsafari, Namibië (NAM 1) 10 dagen

Wanneer:  23 juni - 2 juli 2010 nu € 1000,- p.p.bij 2 samenreizende personen in Ivory Class! (meerprijs Commodore en Emerald)

Route: Johannesburg, Upington, Fish River Canyon, Quiver Tree Forest, Spitzkoppe, Hentiesbaai, Dune 7, Swakopmund, Etosha Pans, Omaruru, Windhoek, exclusief eventuele terugvlucht van Windhoek naar Johannesburg.

Aanbieding: € 1000,- p.p. op basis van 2 personen en halfpension

Dune Express en Fly-in safari, Namibië (NAM 2) 10 dagen

Wanneer:  5 - 14 juli 2010 nu € 1000,- p.p.bij 2 samenreizende personen  in Ivory Class! (meerprijs Commodore en Emerald)

Route: vucht van Johannesburg naar Windhoek(exclusief) Swakopmund, Etosha Pans, Omaruru, Spitzkoppe, Hentiesbaai, Dune 7, Fishriver Canyon, Quiver Tree Forest, Upington eindigt in Johannesburg.

Aanbieding: € 1000,- p.p. op basis van 2 personen en halfpension

Dune Express safari, Namibië (NAM 3) 12 dagen

Wanneer:  (geannuleerd ///14 - 25 juli 2010)

Route: trein van Johannesburg naar Windhoek(inclusief) Swakopmund, Etosha Pans, Omaruru, Spitzkoppe, Hentiesbaai, Dune 7, Fishriver Canyon, Quiver Tree Forest, Upington eindigt in Johannes...

Fantastische trienreis met de Dune Express vanaf Johannesburg naar Windhoek v.v. AANBIEDING: bij vertrek 23 juni of 5 juli betalen 2 samenreizende personen slechts € 1000,- p.p. Deze aanbieding is exclusief vluchten.

LUXE TREINREIZEN

Ontdek Zuid-Afrika en Namibië per luxe trein! Leun achterover en geniet van het Afrikaanse landschap. Wegens groot succes zijn er nieuwe vertrekdata toegevoegd. Uitgebreid programma vindt u onderaan deze pagina.

Dune Express en Fly-backsafari, Namibië (NAM 1) 10 dagen

Wanneer:  23 juni - 2 juli 2010 nu € 1000,- p.p.bij 2 samenreizende personen in Ivory Class! (meerprijs Commodore en Emerald)

Route: Johannesburg, Upington, Fish River Canyon, Quiver Tree Forest, Spitzkoppe, Hentiesbaai, Dune 7, Swakopmund, Etosha Pans, Omaruru, Windhoek, exclusief eventuele terugvlucht van Windhoek naar Johannesburg.

Aanbieding: € 1000,- p.p. op basis van 2 personen en halfpension

Dune Express en Fly-in safari, Namibië (NAM 2) 10 dagen

Wanneer:  5 - 14 juli 2010 nu € 1000,- p.p.bij 2 samenreizende personen  in Ivory Class! (meerprijs Commodore en Emerald)

Route: vucht van Johannesburg naar Windhoek(exclusief) Swakopmund, Etosha Pans, Omaruru, Spitzkoppe, Hentiesbaai, Dune 7, Fishriver Canyon, Quiver Tree Forest, Upington eindigt in Johannesburg.

Aanbieding: € 1000,- p.p. op basis van 2 personen en halfpension

Dune Express safari, Namibië (NAM 3) 12 dagen

Wanneer:  (geannuleerd ///14 - 25 juli 2010)

Route: trein van Johannesburg naar Windhoek(inclusief) Swakopmund, Etosha Pans, Omaruru, Spitzkoppe, Hentiesbaai, Dune 7, Fishriver Canyon, Quiver Tree Forest, Upington eindigt in Johannesburg.

Prijs: € 1755,- p.p. op basis van 2 personen.

Vluchten met KLM retour Johannesburg (T-class) plus enkele reis South African Airways tussen Johannesburg en Windhoek: vanaf € 1020,- p.p. inclusief belasting en toeslagen. Hotelovernachting Johannesburg i.v.m. late aankomst KLM vanaf € 60,- p.kamer.

NAMIBIAN TRAIN TOUR
Northbound: Gauteng to Namibia

TOUR 1, 23 juni - 2 juli 2010

Namibia offers the visitor bountiful sunshine, abundance of wildlife, scenic beauty and a rich diversity of geological phenomena. The friendliness and cultural diversity of its people, a well-developed infrastructure and an extensive choice of parks and resorts make it a sought-after tourist destination to which visitors return again and again. Namibia derived its name from the Namib Desert, a unique geological feature renowned for the pristine and haunting quality of its landscape. Far from being lifeless and barren, this narrow strip of moist coastal desert features an unusual variety of desert-adapted flora and fauna, including a large number of endemic plant, bird and insect species.

DAY 1               WELCOME and DEPARTURE
Start arriving at Boksburg East station from 08:00 on this day, the day you have been excited about since making your booking. Your tour guide and a JB Train Tours representative will welcome you while you enjoy a cup of coffee and a few biscuits. The train will depart at 10:00 and during your settling-in time browse through your programme and get your first taste of the trip ahead to Namibia!
We travel via Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp, Christiana, Kimberley, De Aar, Prieska, Draghoender and Putsonderwater to arrive early the next morning in Upington.
Enjoy your first sumptuous meal on the train.
Dinner Time

DAY 2               AUGRABIES NATIONAL PARK
Today we travel by bus on the N14 to Keimoes, a quaint little town situated on the northern bank of the Orange River. Look around this town and prepare yourself for the highlight of the day. The magnificent Augrabies Falls, we travel there via Kakamas. The stop at the falls will not be a whistle stop one and there will be time to enjoy a lunch snack.(for own account) The Augrabies Falls National Park is where the Orange River squeezes through a narrow channel and plummets into a dramatic, sheer-sided gorge. On our way back to the train we pass one or two points of interest in Upington.
(Full day: distance traveled: ±260km)
The train departs from Upington and crosses via Nakop and Ariamsvlei border posts into Namibia early evening. Have your passports ready. (Customs and Entry Forms will be provided on the train).
We travel via Karasburg and Grunau to Holoog. (There is still a long standing argument whether it is pronounced Hol-oog or Ho-loog).
Train at Ariamsvlei Weaver nest

DAY 3   FISH RIVER CANYON, GIANT’S PLAYGROUND AND QUIVER TREE FOREST
Eroded over millennia, the Fish River Canyon is the second largest natural gorge in the world. 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 160km, the width up to 27 km and the depth 550 m. After a quick stopover at the famous Canyon Roadhouse, which is interestingly decorated with old car parts found in the region, we push further to Keetmanshoop for lunch (guests’ own account). In the afternoon we visit Giant’s Playground, an impressive jumble of massive dolerite boulders of 160 – 180 million years old.
We end our afternoon with a visit to the Quiver Tree Forest, where around 300 specimens of this prehistoric tree, Aloe dichotoma, can be found. They grow between 3 and 5 meters tall and their forked branches reach skywards, affording beautiful photo opportunities.
(Full day: distance traveled: ±300km)
The train journeys from Keetmanshoop via Mariental, Kalkrand and Rehoboth to Windhoek overnight.
Canon Roadhouse  Historical petrol pump

DAY 4                 WINDHOEK
The city tour of Windhoek starts with a visit to the TransNamib Transport Museum. The museum is situated in the Windhoek Railway Station and was built from 1912 to 1913. In front of the building is the narrow-gauge locomotive (vintage 1900), that used to operate between Swakopmund and Windhoek.
The museum at the Alte Feste Castle offers a range of displays, including the Social History Gallery and the Independence Display. Both give an insight into Namibia’s complex history.
At the top of Robert Mugabe Avenue is 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.
Our last visit is the Namibia Craft Centre in the old Breweries Building.
(Half day: distance traveled: ± 50 km)
The train departs for Otjiwarongo via Okahandja, Karibib & Omaruru in the afternoon.
Herero Woman Windhoek

DAY 5              ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK
The tour departs early morning to the Etosha National Park. The Park is one of the major sanctuaries for wildlife in Africa and was proclaimed a game reserve by German Governor Von Lindequist in 1907.
The heart of the park is the Etosha Pans (Etosha means ‘place of dry water’). It is an extensive, flat depression of about 5 000 km². Game viewing takes place from our air-conditioned vehicles. 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 Namibia coat of arms.
Bird life is prolific and some 340 species have been identified, including Namibia’s national bird, the Crimson-Breast Shirke. Lunch (guests’ own account) is enjoyed at one of the camps. We meet the train back at Tsumeb.
(Full day: distance traveled: ± 350 km)
The train remains stationary in Otjiwarongo.
Etosha pans   Okaukuejo

DAY 6               OMARURU
Called the ‘Garden Town’ of Namibia. Omaruru is a town and constituency in the Erongo Region of Namibia. Its official population is 6,792. The town is situated by the Erongo Mountains, on the usually dry Omaruru River.
The town grew around a mission built in 1872 by Gottlieb Viehe, now a museum, and was attacked in 1904 during the Herero and Namaqua Genocide. Captain Franke's Tower was built in this period to defend the settlement.
The town is known for its annual festival, its winery and for the dinosaur footprints at nearby Otjihaenamparero. We’ll visit the biggest wine cellar in Namibia Kristalkellerei Winery – one of only three in the country! The white wine produced in this vineyard is unique and ‘the tales behind the story’ are interesting.
An unique feature in this town is the Tikoloshe root-carving factory on the outskirts of the town. Hardly any visitor leaves this place without a souvenir bought at this interesting venue.
Enjoy a ride on a traditional donkey cart – available at the station.
The ‘braai’ on the station’s platform is another highlight.
The train departs early evening from Omaruru via Kranzberg and Usakos to Swakopmund.
(Full day: distance traveled: ± 10km + 500m on a donkey cart!)
Station board Root carving

DAY 7               SPITZKOPPE AND NORTH COAST to SWAKOPMUND
HENTIES BAY AND THE CAPE CROSS SEAL RESERVE           
Spitzkoppe is known as the ‘Matterhorn of Namibia’. It rises to an altitude of about 1 800 m. However, it is by no means Namibia’s highest mountain. Due to its striking features and outlines, it is the most famous mountain in the country. Situated in an endless dry landscape, the island of mountains can be seen from quite a distance. The enormous granite rocks were created more than 100 million years ago due to volcanic activities and subsequent erosion.
We continue to the small, thriving town of Henties Bay (the town was named after Major Hentie van der Merwe) before visiting the Cape Cross Seal Reserve north of Henties Bay. Here a prodigious number of Cape Fur seals flourish in the cold waters of the Benguela Current. Numerous inlets and isolated parts of the shore serve as nurseries for the young. This area is also of historical significance, as the Portuguese navigator, Diego Cao, planted a cross at this point in the year 1486.
We make our way back to the train in Swakopmund in the late afternoon.
(Full day: distance traveled: ± 350 km)
The train remains stationary in Swakopmund overnight.
Rocks at Spitzkoppe Sossusvlei

DAY 8   SWAKOPMUND / WALVIS BAY:
MOON LANDSCAPE, WELWITSCHIA DRIVE, WALVIS BAY AND DUNE 7
Our day starts with a drive into the Namib Desert and a stop at a lookout point over the valley known as the Moon Landscape. Soft overlaying levels of earth, deposited some 450 million years ago and eroded over millennia, created the eerie landscape.
The Welwitschia Nature Drive takes us from vast plains where herds of Oryx, Springbok and Zebra roam the supernatural landscape of these badlands. 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 then turn around to Walvis Bay for a lunch break (guests’ own account). It is a pretty South African style town with 25 000 inhabitants. Strategically located halfway down the coast of Namibia and with direct access to principal shipping routes it is a natural gateway for international trade.
We visit the Walvis Bay Lagoon, a great attraction in the Walvis Bay area. The tranquil stretch of water, its natural beauty accentuated by thousands of flamingos gathering at the rich feeding grounds, is over 3 000 years old. Because of its value as a wetlands area, it was declared a RAMSAR site (a conservation pertaining to wetlands was held in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971).
Dune 7, located on the outskirts of Walvis Bay, is the highest sand dune in the area. It is an unforgettable experience for those who feel inclined to challenge the height of this outstanding landmark to admire the view from the top.
(Full day: distance traveled: ± 200 km)
The train remains stationary in Swakopmund overnight.
Walvis Bay flamingo’s   Dune 7

DAY 9               SWAKOPMUND
The day is spent at leisure and late afternoon the train departs for Windhoek.
SPECIALISED ACTIVITIES - OPTIONAL
SEAL AND DOLPHIN CRUISE (Highly recommended)
The cold Atlantic waters off the Namibia coast are home to a wealth of marine life, including two dolphin species and a large colony of Cape Fur seal resident at Pelican Point. The 1.3 m-long Heavisides’ dolphins are seen less often. The Walvis Bay-based skippers are highly successful in tracking down the dolphins and giving their guests close-up views of the Cape Fur seals.
On this trip see how wild birds are fed by hand - even some very large Pelicans. Experience the thrill of dolphins leaping from the water alongside the boat, seals fed by hand, fresh oysters and cold sparkling wine on the calm water of the Walvis Bay Lagoon. This morning-only activity is an experience not to be missed. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Bookings are done on the train.
(Morning: weather dependent)                                        
Welcome on board 

QUAD BIKES
Quad-biking is undeniably a fun and exhilarating activity. The combination of flying sand, fresh coastal air and freedom of the Namib Desert provides a top desert experience. To explore the dunes, guests are equipped with fully automatic quad bikes and no prior experience is needed as this is a fully guided tour.
(Early afternoon: duration: ± 1½ hours)
At Swakopmund

ENJOY SWAKOPMUND
For those passengers who would like to enjoy the holiday town of Swakopmund, this is the day to do it. Visit some of the any coffee shops with delicious apple tarts and other savories or go the marble exhibition. Spend some time at the Light house, historical jetty or Tuck Boat Restaurant. A worthwhile place to visit is the brewery in town.
Hotel at Swakopmund Jetty at Swakopmund
The train departs for Windhoek.

DAY 10             TRANSFER DAY
A late breakfast will be served on board the train. If guests are transferring to a hotel, this will be arranged for them in the morning. If guests are flying from Windhoek International Airport, their flights may only be from 12:00 onwards.
TransNamib Train

NAMIBIAN TRAIN TOUR Southbound: Namibia to Gauteng

TOUR # 2:         5 - 14 juli 2010

ITINERARY
Namibia offers the visitor bountiful sunshine, abundance of wildlife, scenic beauty and a rich diversity of geological phenomena. The friendliness and cultural diversity of its people, a well-developed infrastructure and an extensive choice of parks and resorts make it a sought-after tourist destination to which visitors return again and again. Namibia derived its name from the Namib Desert, a unique geological feature renowned for the pristine and haunting quality of its landscape. Far from being lifeless and barren, this narrow strip of moist coastal desert features an unusual variety of desert-adapted flora and fauna, including a large number of endemic plant, bird and insect species.

DAY 1               WELCOME and DEPARTURE
Start arriving at Windhoek airport for transfer to Windhoek station, the day you have been excited about since making your booking. Your tour guide and JB Train Tours representative will welcome you while you enjoy a cup of coffee and a few biscuits.
Enjoy your first sumptuous meal and overnight on the train when travelling northwards to Otjiwarongo.
Dinner Time

DAY 2               ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK
The tour departs early morning to the Etosha National Park. The Park is one of the major sanctuaries for wildlife in Africa and was proclaimed a game reserve by German Governor Von Lindequist in 1907.
The heart of the park is the Etosha Pans (Etosha means ‘place of dry water’). It is an extensive, flat depression of about 5 000 km². Game viewing takes place from our air-conditioned vehicles. 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 Namibia coat of arms.
Bird life is prolific and some 340 species have been identified, including Namibia’s national bird, the Crimson-Breast Shirke. Lunch (guests’ own account) is enjoyed at one of the camps. We meet the train back at Otjiwarongo.
(Full day: distance traveled: ± 350 km)
The train departs for Omaruru.
Etosha pans   Okaukuejo

DAY 3               OMARURU
Called the ‘Garden Town’ of Namibia. Omaruru is a town and constituency in the Erongo Region of Namibia. Its official population is 6,792. The town is situated by the Erongo Mountains, on the usually dry Omaruru River.
The town grew around a mission built in 1872 by Gottlieb Viehe, now a museum, and was attacked in 1904 during the Herero and Namaqua Genocide. Captain Franke's Tower was built in this period to defend the settlement.
The town is known for its annual festival, its winery and for the dinosaur footprints at nearby Otjihaenamparero. We’ll visit the biggest wine cellar in Namibia Kristalkellerei Winery – one of only three in the country! The white wine produced in this vineyard is unique and ‘the tales behind the story’ are interesting.
A unique feature in this town is the Tikoloshe root-carving factory on the outskirts of the town. Hardly any visitor leaves this place without a souvenir bought at this interesting venue.
Enjoy a ride on a traditional donkey cart – available at the station.
The ‘braai’ on the station’s platform is another highlight.
(Full day: distance traveled: ± 10km)
Station board Root carving

DAY 4               SPITZKOPPE AND NORTH COAST to SWAKOPMUND
HENTIES BAY AND THE CAPE CROSS SEAL RESERVE           
Spitzkoppe is known as the ‘Matterhorn of Namibia’. It rises to an altitude of about 1 800 m. However, it is by no means Namibia’s highest mountain. Due to its striking features and outlines, it is the most famous mountain in the country. Situated in an endless dry landscape, the island of mountains can be seen from quite a distance. The enormous granite rocks were created more than 100 million years ago due to volcanic activities and subsequent erosion.
We continue to the small, thriving town of Henties Bay (the town was named after Major Hentie van der Merwe) before visiting the Cape Cross Seal Reserve north of Henties Bay. Here a prodigious number of Cape Fur seals flourish in the cold waters of the Benuegela Current. Numerous inlets and isolated parts of the shore serve as nurseries for the young. This area is also of historical significance, as the Portuguese navigator, Diego Cao, planted a cross at this point in the year 1486.
We make our way back to the train in Swakopmund in the late afternoon.
(Full day: distance traveled: ± 350 km)
The train remains stationary in Swakopmund overnight.
Rocks at Spitzkoppe Sossusvlei

DAY 5               SWAKOPMUND / WALVIS BAY:
MOON LANDSCAPE, WELWITSCHIA DRIVE, WALVIS BAY AND DUNE 7
Our day starts with a drive into the Namib Desert and a stop at a lookout point over the valley known as the Moon Landscape. Soft overlaying levels of earth, deposited some 450 million years ago and eroded over millennia, created the eerie landscape.
The Welwitschia Nature Drive takes us from vast plains where herds of Oryx, Springbok and Zebra roam the supernatural landscape of these badlands. 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 then turn around to Walvis Bay for a lunch break (guests’ own account). It is a pretty South African style town with 25 000 inhabitants. Strategically located halfway down the coast of Namibia and with direct access to principal shipping routes it is a natural gateway for international trade.
We visit the Walvis Bay Lagoon, a great attraction in the Walvis Bay area. The tranquil stretch of water, its natural beauty accentuated by thousands of flamingos gathering at the rich feeding grounds, is over 3 000 years old. Because of its value as a wetlands area, it was declared a RAMSAR site (a conservation pertaining to wetlands was held in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971).
Dune 7, located on the outskirts of Walvis Bay, is the highest sand dune in the area. It is an unforgettable experience for those who feel inclined to challenge the height of this outstanding landmark to admire the view from the top.
(Full day: distance traveled: ± 200 km)
The train remains stationary in Swakopmund overnight.
Walvis Bay flamingo’s   Dune 7

DAY 6               SWAKOPMUND   
The day is spent at leisure. If you don’t visit Mola Mola (please don’t miss out on this) you may enjoy the fine cuisine of the German people in the various coffee shops in town.
SPECIALISED ACTIVITIES - OPTIONAL
SEAL AND DOLPHIN CRUISE (Highly recommended)
The cold Atlantic waters off the Namibia coast are home to a wealth of marine life, including two dolphin species and a large colony of Cape Fur seal resident at Pelican Point. The 1.3 m-long Heavisides’ dolphins are seen less often. The Walvis Bay-based skippers are highly successful in tracking down the dolphins and giving their guests close-up views of the Cape Fur seals.
On this trip see how wild birds are fed by hand - even some very large Pelicans. Experience the thrill of dolphins leaping from the water alongside the boat, seals fed by hand, fresh oysters and cold sparkling wine on the calm water of the Walvis Bay Lagoon. This morning-only activity is an experience not to be missed. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Bookings are done on the train.
(Morning: weather dependent)
Welcome on board 

QUAD BIKES
Quad-biking is undeniably a fun and exhilarating activity. The combination of flying sand, fresh coastal air and freedom of the Namib Desert provides a top desert experience. To explore the dunes, guests are equipped with fully automatic quad bikes and no prior experience is needed as this is a fully guided tour.
(Early afternoon: duration: ± 1½ hours)
At Swakopmund ENJOY SWAKOPMUND For those passengers who would like to enjoy the holiday town of Swakopmund, this is the day to do it. Visit some of the any coffee shops with delicious apple tarts and other savories or go the marble exhibition. Spend some time at the Light house, historical jetty or Tuck Boat Restaurant. A worthwhile place to visit is the brewery in town.
Hotel at Swakopmund Jetty at Swakopmund
The train departs for Windhoek

DAY 7                 WINDHOEK
The city tour of Windhoek starts with a visit to the TransNamib Transport Museum. The museum is situated in the Windhoek Railway Station and was built from 1912 to 1913. In front of the building is the narrow-gauge locomotive (vintage 1900), that used to operate between Swakopmund and Windhoek.
The museum at the Alte Feste Castle offers a range of displays, including the Social History Gallery and the Independence Display. Both give an insight into Namibia’s complex history.
At the top of Robert Mugabe Avenue is 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.
Our last visit is the Namibia Craft Centre in the old Breweries Building.
(Half day: distance traveled: ± 50 km)
The train departs for Keetmanshoop and Holoog in the afternoon.                                   
Herero Woman Windhoek

DAY 8   FISH RIVER CANYON, GIANT’S PLAYGROUND AND QUIVER TREE FOREST
We start our day with a visit to the Quiver Tree Forest, where around 300 specimens of this prehistoric tree, Aloe dichotoma, can be found. They grow between 3 and 5 meters tall and their forked branches reach skywards, affording beautiful photo opportunities.
Eroded over millennia, the Fish River Canyon is the second largest natural gorge in the world. 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 160km, the width up to 27 km and the depth 550 m. After a quick stopover at the famous Canyon Roadhouse, which is interestingly decorated with old car parts found in the region, we push further to Keetmanshoop for lunch (guests’ own account). In the afternoon we visit Giant’s Playground, an impressive jumble of massive dolerite boulders of 160 – 180 million years old.
(Full day: distance traveled: ±300km)
Canon Roadhouse  Historical petrol pump
The train departs for Upington and crosses via Ariamsvlei and Nakop border posts into South Africa early evening. Have your passports ready. (Customs and Entry Forms will be provided on the train).

DAY 9               AUGRABIES NATIONAL PARK
Today we travel by bus on the N14 to Keimoes, a quaint little town situated on the northern bank of the Orange River. Look around this town and prepare yourself for the highlight of the day. The magnificent Augrabies Falls, we travel there via Kakamas. The stop at the falls will not be a whistle stop one and there will be time to enjoy a lunch snack.(for own account) The Augrabies Falls National Park is where the Orange River squeezes through a narrow channel and plummets into a dramatic, sheer-sided gorge. On our way back to the train we pass one or two points of interest in Upington.
(Full day: distance traveled: ±260km)
The train departs late afternoon for Gauteng via De Aar and Kimberley
Train at Ariamsvlei Weaver nest

DAY 10             TRANSFER DAY
A late breakfast will be served on board the train before arriving at Boksburg East station. If guests are transferring to a hotel, this will be arranged for them in the morning. If guests are flying from OR Tambo International Airport, their flights may only be from 18:00 onwards. Bus transport will be made available free of charge.
TransNamib train