The Independent Traveller, Devonshire House, Devonshire Lane, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3DF t: +44 (0) 1509 618800 f: +44 (0) 1509 610585 e: holidays@uni travel.co.uk w: www.itiscanada.co.uk / www.itissouthafrica.co.uk The Independent Traveller would like to introduce you to the updated Shongololo Express now part of the Rovos Family Discover a new way of exploring Southern Africa There are a number of itineraries available on this new service, normally between 10 and 12 days in length that allow you to travel by train to see some of the iconic features of the region. Once you arrive at a destination, the trains own deluxe air conditioned mini buses are unloaded from the train and the on board Shongololo Express guides will then help you discover the local area before returning you to the train to continue with your journey. In other words your hotel moves with you to the next location. Please check the following pages for the itineraries that are offered, all of which are also available in reverse should you wish to change the route direction Please contact us by phone Mon Fri 9 5.30 or Sat 9 4 on: 01509 618800 or email us at holidays@uni travel.co.uk
SOUTHERN CROSS NORTHBOUND PRETORIA TO VICTORIA FALLS 12 DAYS 2450KM This impressive panoramic 12 day journey between Pretoria and Victoria Falls stops at carefully selected locations in South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Starting in Pretoria, this magnificent sojourn will spend the first few days taking guests east through the Drakensberg Mountains to the Kruger Park for game viewing and the historical areas of Pilgrim s Rest, Bourke s Luck Potholes and God s Window. On day four guests tour Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, before moving on to explore the Kingdom of Swaziland. Enjoy a game drive in the famous wildlife reserve of Kapama followed by a relaxing day on the train as it heads for the Great Zimbabwe Ruins for a visit. On days nine and 10, guests tour Antelope Park and Matobas National Park, site of Cecil John Rhodes grave, before continuing on to Hwange for game viewing activities. The final day has the train arriving in Victoria Falls where guests enjoy a walking tour of the village and the falls with an afternoon sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. Available in reverse. Day 1 08:30 16:00 Day 2 09:00 Day 3 08:00 Day 4 09:00 15:30 Day 5 08:30 18:45 Day 6 07:00 13:00 Check out of hotel. Luggage collected by Shongololo staff. Full day tour of Pretoria or Johannesburg and Soweto. Transfer to Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria. Train departs for Nelspruit. Full day panorama tour of Pilgrim s Rest, Bourke s Luck Potholes, God s Window. Return to the train in Nelspruit and depart for Malelane. Full day game drive in the Kruger Park (open air vehicles optional). Return to the train in Malelane and depart for Mozambique. City tour of Maputo, Mozambique. Return to the train for afternoon tea. After border formalities the train heads for Mpaka in Swaziland. Depart in vehicles from Mpaka, Swaziland. Visit Ngwenya Glass, Mbabane and Manzini. After border formalities at Mpaka, depart for Klaserie near Hoedspruit in Limpopo, South Africa. Morning game drive in Kapama Game Reserve followed by visit to the Wild Dog and Cheetah Project. Return to the train for lunch. The train departs for Tzaneen with an overnight stop at Louis Trichardt. Day 7 07:00 Day on board the train travelling to Rutenga in Zimbabwe. Clear customs and immigration at Beitbridge. Day 8 09:00 Transfer to the Great Zimbabwe Ruins for a tour. Return to the train in Bannockburn. Day 9 09:00 17:30 Full day at Antelope Park. Optional extras include canoeing, game drive, horseback game viewing, elephant back riding, bird watching cruise, walk with lions. Return to the train and depart for Bulawayo. Day 10 09:00 Full day tour of Matobas National Park. Visit the grave of Cecil John Rhodes as well as bushmen caves. Return to the train and depart for Dete. Day 11 06:30 Game drive in Hwange Game Reserve, Zimbabwe. Return to the train and depart for Thompson s Junction. Day 12 10:00 11:00 16:00 18:30 Arrive in the Victoria Falls. Check out of the train and transfer to hotel. Meet for a walking tour of the village and the falls. Meet for a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. Transfer back to hotel. Tour ends. MEALS ON THE TRAIN (unless adjusted) Breakfast 07:00 09:00 Lunch 13:00 Dinner 19:30. INCLUDES: Arrival transfer: airport hotel Departure transfer: hotel airport Accommodation on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis (as per itinerary) A choice of available land excursions Gov tax. EXCLUDES: Airfares (national and international) Lunches (unless otherwise stated) All beverages Laundry Gratuities Purchases of a personal nature Optional extras Pre and post packages Visas where applicable Travel insurance
SOUTHERN CROSS NORTHBOUND TOUR MAP
GOOD HOPE GOLF NORTHBOUND CAPE TOWN TO PRETORIA 15 DAYS 3620KM This grand 15 day journey offers a golfing and non golfing itinerary with an amazing insight into virtually every well known destination in South Africa. Starting in Cape Town with a city tour, guests then board the train and traverse the winelands to Worcester. Travel by road over scenic mountain passes to Hermanus followed by a spectacular meander along the Garden Route to Knysna. Then crossing the Outeniqua Mountains, guests arrive in Oudtshoorn to visit an ostrich farm and the Cango Caves. After tours around the historic town of Graaff Reinet, Kimberley s Diamond Mine Museum and Bloemfontein the train arrives at Spionkop for a battlefields tour. Day nine sees the train arriving in Durban where guests can enjoy the markets or spiritual sites before visiting the world heritage site, St Lucia Wetland Park. Then it s on to explore Hluhluwe wildlife reserve and the Kingdom of Swaziland after which this magnificent sojourn takes guests through the Drakensberg Mountains to the Kruger Park. The final day sees the train pulling into Rovos Rail Station where guests continue on a tour of Pretoria or Johannesburg and Soweto. Available in reverse. Day 1 08:30 16:00 Check out of hotel. Luggage collected by Shongololo staff. Full day tour of Cape Town. Train departs Cape Town for Worcester. Day 2 09:00 15:00 Drive the scenic route to Hermanus (120km). (GOLF OPTION AVAILABLE TODAY) Return to train at Worcester and depart for Voorbaai for the overnight stop. Day 3 09:00 18:30 Transfer to Knysna with a lagoon ferry ride to Featherbed Nature Reserve OR enjoy shopping. Dinner at Fancourt Golf Estate. Overnight George. (GOLF OPTION AVAILABLE TODAY) Day 4 09:00 15:30 Drive the Outeniqua Pass to visit the Cango Caves. Afternoon visit to an ostrich farm. Board train in Oudtshoorn. Depart for Graaff Reinet. (GOLF OPTION AVAILABLE TODAY) Day 5 09:00 11:00 Enjoy a guided walking tour of Graaff Reinet. Return to train and depart for Kimberley. Day 6 09:00 Visit to the Big Hole and Diamond Museum. Afternoon visit to the William Humphreys Art Gallery and McGregor Museum. (GOLF OPTION AVAILABLE TODAY) Return to train and depart for Bloemfontein. Day 7 09:00 Full day tour of Bloemfontein including the Women s Memorial and Anglo Boer Museum with afternoon visit to Oliewenhuis Art Museum. Return to train and depart for Ladysmith. Day 8 09:00 Full day battlefields tour taking in the Siege Museum, Wagon Hill and Spionkop. Return to train and depart for Durban. (GOLF OPTION AVAILABLE TODAY) Day 9 09:00 Full day city tour of Durban including Victoria Market and ushaka Marine World OR spiritual tour to Mariannhill Monastery, Hare Krishna Temple and the Mahatma Gandhi Settlement. Return to train and depart for Empangeni. (GOLF OPTION AVAILABLE TODAY) Day 10 09:00 Tour of the world heritage site, St Lucia (isimangaliso) Wetland Park. Afternoon visit to Dumazulu Cultural Village. (GOLF OPTION AVAILABLE TODAY) Board train and depart for Hluhluwe. Day 11 06:30 15:00 Game drives in Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park. Board train and depart for Mpaka, Swaziland, where border formalities take place. Day 12 09:00 16:00 Depart in vehicles from Mpaka, Swaziland. Visit Ngwenya Glass, Mbabane and Manzini. Rejoin the train at Mpaka and depart for Malelane. (GOLF OPTION AVAILABLE TODAY) Day 13 06:30 19:00 Full day game drive in the Kruger Park. Rejoin train in Malelane. Depart for Nelspruit. (GOLF OPTION AVAILABLE TODAY) Day 14 09:00 Full day tour of historical areas Pilgrim s Rest, Bourke s Luck Potholes and God s Window. Rejoin train in Nelspruit and depart for Witbank. Day 15 10:00 Arrive at Rovos Rail Station. Check out of train. Luggage delivered to hotel by Shongololo staff. Full day tour of Pretoria/Johannesburg and Soweto. MEALS ON THE TRAIN (unless adjusted) Breakfast 07:00 09:00 Lunch 13:00 Dinner 19:30. INCLUDES: Arrival transfer: airport hotel Departure transfer: hotel airport Accommodation on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis (as per itinerary) A choice of available land excursions Golf course transfers Gov tax. EXCLUDES: Airfares (national and international) Lunches (unless otherwise stated) All beverages Laundry Gratuities Purchases of a personal nature Optional extras Pre and post packages Course fees Visas where applicable Travel insurance
GOOD HOPE GOLF NORTHBOUND TOUR MAP
DUNE EXPRESS WESTBOUND PRETORIA TO SWAKOPMUND 12 DAYS 3330KM This spectacular 12 day journey starts in Pretoria and winds its way to the coast of Namibia, a country of compelling beauty, abundant sunshine and seemingly endless space. First stop is Kimberley for a visit to the Big Hole and diamond mine museum village before continuing on to Upington for a walking tour and wine tasting. After crossing the border, guests visit the Fish River Canyon, second in size to the Grand Canyon, followed by tours of historical towns Lüderitz, Kolmanskop and Keetmanshoop. Day seven sees guests overnighting at Sossusvlei Lodge, surrounded by the dramatic dunes of the Namib Naukluft Park, with visits to the natural Sesriem Canyon and the 170mhigh star dune 45. The train then leaves the vast stillness of the Kalahari Desert for a city tour of Windhoek. On day ten guests travel to the Etosha National Park for an overnight stay with game viewing activities before ending the journey in the quaint seaside town of Swakopmund. Available in reverse. Day 1 08:30 14:30 Day 2 10:00 12:30 Day 3 09:00 12:00 Day 4 09:00 12:30 Day 5 09:00 Day 6 09:00 Day 9 09:00 Check out of hotel. Luggage collected by Shongololo staff. Transfer to Rovos Rail Station in Pretoria. Train departs for Kingswood for our overnight stop. Visit the Big Hole and Diamond Mine Museum in Kimberley. Return to the train in Kimberley and depart for Upington. Morning tour of Upington and wine tasting at Belazel Brandy & Wine Cellar. The train departs Upington for Nakop for border formalities with Namibia. Overnight Holoog. Morning visit to the Fish River Canyon, the largest in the southern hemisphere. Return to the train and depart for Aus for overnight. Full day tour of the ghost town Kolmanskop and Lüderitz, well known for its colonial architecture and wildlife. The train departs for Keetmanshoop for overnight. Morning tour of Keetmanshoop. See the Giant s Playground with its 20km long dolerite dykes as well as Quiver Tree Forest, home to 300 species of the Aloe dichotomy. Return to the train and depart for Mariental. 13:00 Day 7 08:00 Transfer to Sossusvlei Lodge in the Namib Naukluft Park. Visit the Sesriem Canyon, shaped over millions of years by the Tsauchab River. Overnight at lodge. Day 8 Enjoy sunrise from Dune 45 followed by brunch at the lodge. Take a scenic drive through the Namib Naukluft Park. The train departs for Rehoboth for overnight. City tour of Windhoek. See the Trans Namib Transport Museum, the Alte Feste (Old Fortress), the Evangelical Lutheran Church a striking landmark and the Namibia Craft Centre in the old Breweries Building. 12:00 Return to the train and depart for Otjiwarongo. Day 10 09:30 Transfer to a lodge in Etosha National Park. Enjoy game viewing activities. Overnight at lodge. Day 11 Enjoy a morning game drive before checking out and returning to the train. 15:00 Rejoin the train in Otjiwarongo and depart for Kranzberg for overnight. Day 12 11:30 Arrive at Swakopmund Station where your tour ends. Check out of the train and transfer to hotel. MEALS ON THE TRAIN (unless adjusted) Breakfast 07:00 09:00 Lunch 13:00 Dinner 19:30. INCLUDES: Arrival transfer: airport hotel Departure transfer: hotel airport Accommodation on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis (as per itinerary) A choice of available land excursions Gov tax EXCLUDES: Airfares (national and international) Lunches (unless otherwise stated) All beverages Laundry Gratuities Purchases of a personal nature Optional extras Pre and post packages Visas where applicable Travel insurance
DUNE EXPRESS WESTBOUND TOUR MAP
TOUR DATES 2016 & 2017 & 2018 GOOD HOPE/GOLF 15 days DEPARTURE ARRIVAL START END Pretoria Cape Town 18 Aug 2016 1 Sep 2016 Pretoria Cape Town 9 Feb 2017 23 Feb 2017 Cape Town Pretoria 28 Mar 2017 11 Apr 2017 Pretoria Cape Town 18 Sep 2017 2 Oct 2017 Pretoria Cape Town 1 Feb 2018 15 Feb 2018 Cape Town Pretoria 20 Mar 2018 3 Apr 2018 Pretoria Cape Town 4 Oct 2018 18 Oct 2018 Cape Town Pretoria 20 Nov 2018 4 Dec 2018 SOUTHERN CROSS 12 days DEPARTURE ARRIVAL START END Pretoria Victoria Falls 13 Apr 2016 28 Apr 2016 Victoria Falls Pretoria 19 Oct 2016 30 Oct 2016 Pretoria Victoria Falls 5 Jan 2017 16 Jan 2017 Victoria Falls Pretoria 19 Jan 2017 30 Jan 2017 Pretoria Victoria Falls 13 Apr 2017 24 Apr 2017 Victoria Falls Pretoria 27 Apr 2017 8 May 2017 Pretoria Victoria Falls 20 Jul 2017 31 Jul 2017 Victoria Falls Pretoria 3 Aug 2017 14 Aug 2017 Pretoria Victoria Falls 4 Jan 2018 15 Jan 2018 Victoria Falls Pretoria 18 Jan 2018 29 Jan 2018 Pretoria Victoria Falls 5 Apr 2018 16 Apr 2018 Victoria Falls Pretoria 19 Apr 2018 30 Apr 2018 Pretoria Victoria Falls 3 May 2018 14 May 2018 Victoria Falls Pretoria 17 May 2018 28 May 2018 Pretoria Victoria Falls 6 Sep 2018 17 Sep 2018 Victoria Falls Pretoria 20 Sep 2018 1 Oct 2018 DUNE EXPRESS 12 days DEPARTURE ARRIVAL START END Pretoria Swakopmund 11 May 2017 22 May 2017 Swakopmund Pretoria 25 May 2017 5 Jun 2017 Pretoria Swakopmund 12 Jul 2018 23 Jul 2018 Swakopmund Pretoria 26 Jul 2018 6 Aug 2018 ALL DEPARTURES INCLUDE: Accommodation on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis Excursions accompanied by a qualified tour guide Entrance fees to places of interest Gov tax EXCLUDES: Lunches off the train All beverages Laundry Gratuities Golf course fees (Good Hope/Golf only) Visas Travel insurance. Included in off train accommodation: Accommodation Meals at lodges/hotels/ clubs/resorts. Excluded in off train accommodation: Beverages Laundry Personal expenses. Single supplement: +50%. CHILDREN: We regret we cannot accommodate children under the age of 10. Children over 10 pay the full rate.
Exclusive Special offer Book your Shongololo Express experience by 31st March 2016 for travel on available dates in 2016 or any available departure in 2017 and, subject to space being available, we will upgrade you to Emerald cabins for free! Act quickly while space is available. There are some T&C s please ask for details. How to book Please email holidays@uni travel.co.uk or ring 01509 618810 We look forward to booking you onto this exciting new adventure contact us today to ask how this can be fitted into your itinerary Please call us Mon-Fri 9-5.30 or Sat 9-4 on: 01509 618800 or email us at holidays@uni-travel.co.uk