2019 DRAKENSBERG & EASTERN FREE STATE TRAIN, BUS & FLIGHT TOUR From Cape Town & Western Cape 2 x 6-Day tours

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1 Dear Sir/Madam Compiled: 11 th Sept 2018 Updated: 2019 DRAKENSBERG & EASTERN FREE STATE TRAIN, BUS & FLIGHT TOUR From Cape Town & Western Cape 2 x 6-Day tours JB Train Tours invite you to join us on one of our popular train, bus & flight tours departing from Cape Town to the beautiful Northern Drakensberg and the scenic Eastern Free State visiting the town of Clarens, Golden Gate, the Amphitheatre, the Drakensberg Boys Choir School and much more. This beautiful region of our country has got lots to offer and we would like to share it with you. It could be the snow on the mountains; rolling wheat lands; the natural beauty of the Maluti and Drakensberg Mountains; the horses and beautiful grazing lands; the arty town of Clarens or perhaps the singing boys of the world famous Drakensberg Boys Choir. On this tour we ll introduce you to the region, share the beauty, enjoy the culture and feed your eyes with a feast of natural wonders. If you ve never been to this region - GO! We are going to take you to places where tour groups normally don t go. You ll travel on the Trans Karoo Tourist Class train from the Western Cape, sleep in a top notch hotel and resort whilst traveling by bus to excursions and in the region before flying back to Cape Town. When was the last time you ve slept on an overnight train? Are you tired of driving, looking for accommodation and worrying about the logistics? We ll take you there. When travelling by train, you don t have to worry about increasing petrol prices, tollgate fees, heavy traffic, driving back or sitting with stiff legs in your car. It is so much easier, very safe and VERY price competitive. You ll overnight in one of the most picturesque towns in South Africa, Clarens or Fouriesburg, for one night, plus another three nights at the ATKV Drakensville Resort with all its wonderful facilities near Bergville, including an indoor heated pool. The view of the mountains from this resort is spectacular pg. 1

2 NAME OF TOUR Drakensberg & Eastern Free State Train, Bus & Flight Tour - From Cape Town in 2019 TOUR DATES & NUMBERS Sunday to Friday May 2019 Dra #1 Sunday to Friday Oct 2019 Dra #2 Both tours are six (6) days long. DEPARTURE TIMES Cape Town 10:00 Platform 24 Day 1 Bellville 10:30 Platform 1 Day 1 Wellington 11:36 Platform 1 Day 1 Worcester 13:30 Platform 1 Day 1 Johannesburg 15:25 JHB Airport Day 6 ARRIVAL TIMES Klerksdorp 08:15 Platform 1 Day 2 Cape Town 17:25 CPT Airport Day 6 Other stations en route departure times: See below. Passengers may join en route. Please report to the station 45 minutes before departure. NOTE The running times of the trains are not guaranteed. Trains often run VERY late. pg. 2

3 TOUR PRICE Compartment (4-Bed) Price per Person 4 Persons per Compartment R Persons per chalet & 2 per hotel room 3 Persons per Compartment R Persons per chalet & 2/1 per hotel room 2 Persons per Compartment R Persons per chalet & 2 per hotel room Coupe (2-Bed) Price per Person 2 Persons per Coupe R Persons per chalet & 2 per hotel room 1 Person per Coupe R Person per chalet & 1 per hotel room NOTE DEPOSIT Paid up ATKV members (including their close family) qualify for a 5% discount on the tour price. Please write your membership number on the Booking Form. A R1500 per person non-refundable deposit will secure your place. The balance must be paid by latest six weeks before departure date. If NOT paid, your place will be cancelled automatically. You can pay by Snapscan: Click here to read more about Snapscan or pg. 3

4 INCLUDED IN TOUR PRICE excursions. EXCLUDED FROM TOUR PRICE Train trip, flight, bedding on the train, accommodation in a reputable hotels and resort, certain meals, bus transport, tour guide and excursions as mentioned in the itinerary and certain entry fees during Personal expenses, meals not mentioned, gratuities and Comprehensive Travel Insurance. MEALS Daily breakfasts and all dinners on the train, the hotel and resort are served and are included in the price. Chapel at Drakensville Comfortable accommodation ROUTE The train route goes from Cape Town via Bellville, Wellington, Worcester, Laingsburg, Beaufort West, De Aar and Kimberley to Klerksdorp in the Northwest Province. Passengers may join en route. The bus route goes from Klerksdorp to Bethlehem, Clarens, Golden Gate, Bergville and onwards to JHB Airport. (The route may change without prior notice). The flight is from JHB to CPT. BUSSES We only make use of reputable bus companies with good safety records and back-up services in place when needed. Comfortable luxury buses are used. The following entry fees during excursions are included in the tour price: Basotho EXCURSIONS Cultural Village. The others are either free of charge or for your own pocket. I.e.: Drakensberg Boys Choir show is R150 pp. Places have been booked and the entry fees will be collected by the tour guide. pg. 4

5 ACCOMMODATION We ll be staying for one night on the train, one night in a hotel in Clarens or Fouriesburg and three nights in chalets at the ATKV Drakensville Resort. Due to bus capacity constraints, each tour is limited to a maximum of 40 people. Passengers will be accommodated in a 4-bed compartment or 2- ACCOMMODATION ON THE TRAIN bed coupe on the train (Trans Karoo Tourist Class train). The number of coupes on the train is limited. ACCOMMODATION IN CLARENS OR FOURIESBURG You ll be staying in a good hotel. The view from the front veranda is magnificent and the rooms are a delight! ACCOMMODATION AT DRAKENSVILLE RESORT You ll be accommodated in a 2-bedroom chalet. Each chalet has got one double bed and 2 x single beds, lounge and kitchen area, TV, one bath room with toilet and outside BBQ. Please take a beach towel along for pool and use on the train. Chalet kitchen area Main bed room FACILITIES AT DRAKENSVILLE RESORT Apart from an indoor heated pool, as well as outside pools, you can enjoy hiking trails, mini golf, Super tube, and trampolines, Jacuzzi, bird-watching, animal farm, horseback riding, volleyball, snooker and pool as well as a games arcade. Limited WiFi available. pg. 5

6 A licensed restaurant, convenience store, as well as a laundry and ATM, fast food restaurant and off-sales ensure that you don t to go shopping elsewhere during the period at the resort. Indoor heated pool Fresh water angling PARKING We suggest that you park your vehicle at the Cape Town Airport (long term parking) before departure of the tour, take the MyCity bus from the airport to Cape Town station and join the train tour. After the tour your car will be conveniently waiting for you at the airport. TOUR GUIDE A qualified tour guide will travel with you. We are looking forward in hosting you on tour. BOOK NOW! Travel greetings Lean Badenhorst & The JB Train Tours Team Running times of the train NB Please note that the sequence of the days and route can change due to any reasons beyond our control. pg. 6

7 Provisional PROGRAMME Drakensberg & Eastern Free State Train, Bus & Flight Tour from Cape Town Day 1 Sun On arrival at the station you ll be welcomed by the tour guide. Board the train, unpack, make yourself comfortable and start enjoying the trip. The tour guide will visit you in your compartment and you can start preparing for your welcome dinner (included in tour price). Other passengers will join us en route. The train travels overnight. Day 2 - Mon After a fairly early breakfast on the train we ll disembark at Klerksdorp, board the bus and travel via a number of small Free State towns towards Bethlehem and Clarens. En route some interesting places will be visited. The evening is at leisure and dinner is served (included in the tour price). Overnight in Clarens or Fouriesburg. Distance by bus today: 330 km Day 3 - Tues This morning we depart for one of the natural beauties of South Africa: Golden Gate. Then onwards to the Basotho Cultural Village, over a very scenic mountain pass before driving through Phuthaditjhaba (once the capital if the Qua-Qua homeland) for a quick stop at the Sterkfontein Dam. Just before leaving the Free State, the view from the Oliviershoek Pass over KZN will be enjoyed. The view down the pass towards Drakensville Resort are magnificent. After arrival at the resort and packing out, dinner will be served (included in the tour price). Overnight at Drakensville. Distance by bus today: 170 km Day 4 Wed The visit to the Eskom hydro-electric water scheme in the belly of the mountain is an unforgettable experience. The drive from there to Bergville and Winterton is scenic with changing views on the Amphitheatre. A stop at an interesting shop will ensure that money is well spent! Then onwards to the Drakensberg Boys Choir s school to a concert in their auditorium at 15:30. Late afternoon we ll be back at the resort to enjoy dinner (included in tour price). Overnight at Drakensville. Distance by bus today: 180 km Day 5 - Thurs Today is a day at leisure at the resort. No bus excursion is undertaken and passengers can enjoy the resort s facilities, including hiking, horse riding, an indoor heated pool, fresh air, bird watching and more. Dinner is served (included in tour price). Overnight at Drakensville. Distance by bus today: 0 km pg. 7

8 Day 6 - Fri We head back to Johannesburg to board the flight for Cape Town. The flight departs for Cape Town at 15:25 to arrive at the Mother City two hours later. However, en route we ll traverse a scenic mountain pass, view the Eastern Free State s own Table Mountain, before driving through another region of the Northern Free State passing other small towns. Time permitting we ll stop in Heidelberg at an interesting store. Distance by bus today: 335 km End of tour after arriving in CPT Drakensville swimming pool pg. 8