Whenever I imagine a train station, I always picture it in faded sepia tones with a timeless yet charming style, and soft music playing in the background. Smartly dressed ladies wearing gloves and pillerbox hats smoke languidly on the side lines chatting quietly, while men in suits drift by, and others intently read their newspapers while sipping coffee. Call me old fashioned, but I feel like I missed out on an experience!
Fast forward a centuary or so, and you’ll find train stations (most notably here in South Africa), are overcrowded, dirty, noisy and have a vaguely unpleasant smell. Hawkers continually trying to sell you things you don’t need or want, you’ll find the obligatory blind adult who will sing and is being lead by a teenager or the man with a guitar who will play while walking through your train carriage and hope you’ll shell out a few bucks. And while dishing out the blame, lets not forget those wonderfully busy business people who end up talking far too loudly into their cellphones, sometimes cussing out the person on the other end while children not so subtly, stare at them with big eyes.
Though I never lived through my imaginary train station era, I feel a nostalgia creep over me. So for those who are wanting a railway adventure in luxury, below are some of the most interesting and unusual railway adventures around our country, (best of all, they’re free from the above mentioned stereotypes!).
The Blue Train
Though it may cost you pretty penny (or for those strapped for cash a kidney), the Blue train traverses amid some of the most beautiful scenery South Africa has to offer. It has been frequented by Kings, Presidents, Diplomats and Aristocracy. The gold-lined bathrooms, marble floors and finest linens are complimented by the mouth-watering meals and only the best of South African wines. From the minute you step foot onboard, you’ll be whisked away into a world of charm, grace and subtle romantic touches.
The Desert Express
Drift through dunes in air-conitioned luxury, while watching the sunset can be achieved by travelling on the Desert Express. Traversing between Swakopmund and Windhoek, you’ll be taken on a journey through two vastly different landscapes – from the savannahs on the Khomas plateau to seeing to semi-deserts inbetween, before ultimately gazing upon the sand dunes of the Namib Desert. With 24 air-conditioned carriages that can accommodate three people at a time, all compartments are equipped with en-suite bathrooms, massive viewing windows and evening seats that fold down into cosy beds.
The Rovos Rail
Whether you’re on the steam, diesel, or electric Rovos Rail locomotive, you are gauranteed to have an extrodinary travel experience. The Rovos rail carriages are indeed a sight to behold, with beautifully lined wooden panellings that were built during the first half of the twentieth century, and scattered touches of period décor throughout add to the feeling of royalty that encompasses those who set foot onboard. Their lounge carriage has plush wingbacked chairs and deep sofa’s, while the suites vary from having ensuite Victorian baths through to standard showers, and double or single beds.
Premier Classe
Able to accommodate only 127 people, the Premier Classe will sweep you into a bygone era with smidgens of old-world charm, and scenery that changes from mountains to waves, veld to forests and the odd snow-capped mountain. Once the cabin crew has your luggage stowed away, you’ll be given a tour, walking through the various carriages. For a luxurious treat, why not indulge in an African Armani Spa treatment, which will pamper your senses and unwind stiff muscles, before you float off to the dining cart and partake in some of the delicacies on offer.
Shongololo Express
The Shongololo Express is a bona fide adventure experience on wheels – which tours through six countries in Southern Africa. Accommodation, recreation, meals and sightseeing are all included on this amazing trip, where you awake to different landscapes each morning. According to their website, they serve all kinds of dishes originating from Morocco through to Madagascar to tempt your palate, and also have a fleet of touring vehicles that travel with the train – which are available for inclusive scheduled trips into the surrounding scenery.
I’m hoping it wont be too long until I’m able to enjoy one of the above mentioned luxury train rides, but until that happens, feel free to share your experiences with rail journeys around South Africa or around the world below in the comments. If you’ve ever been on one of the luxury rails above or on one that hasn’t been mentioned yet, we’d love to hear what you thought of it. And if ultimately, it was worth the price.
Main image credited to Vivek Narayanadas (Flickr)
