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South Africa's Blue Train

Late morning on Cape Town station and the daily hustle and bustle is gathering pace. People carrying suitcases, canvas bags and bundles rush across the crowded concourse in search of their trains. Kiosks offering everything from coffee and cakes to biltong, that typically South African dried beef delicacy are doing a roaring trade. But at another platform round the side of the terminus there is a much calmer, more elegant scene.

There is a frisson of excitement in the private lounge as well-heeled passengers sit sipping champagne and eyeing up their fellows, as a fleet of porters load expensive baggage onto smart trolleys. A few of the passengers study route maps. South Africa’s famous Blue Train is preparing to depart for the overnight journey to Pretoria.

The 18 carriages, sporting splendid dark blue paintwork, certainly look impressive as our butlers escort us to our carriages. On board it is even better, all polished wood and brass, deep-pile carpets and old-world style. But all the mod cons are here, too. Each suite has its own small but fully-fitted en-suite bath or shower room, there’s a TV for watching videos or the view from the driver’s cab and full air conditioning.

By day the suites are comfortable sitting rooms with a picture window and comfortable chairs, perfect for studying the passing scenery. During the evening, while you enjoy pre-dinner drinks in the lounge car or the club car, then later the excellent food and wines on offer in the restaurant car (all part of the deal), they are converted by your butler into twin or double bedrooms.

A quick stop at Matjiesfontein for a visit to The Lord Milner hotel for a glass of sherry and a ride in a London bus is fun. There’s just time for a quick look at the Victoriana museum and the vintage car collection of this quirky little town, originally developed as a hospital for those injured during the Boer War.

Then it’s back on board to continue the luxurious journey north, through Laingsburg, Beaufort West, De Aar and Kimberley, best known for its diamond mines, before all too soon it is time to disembark in Pretoria, where of course, there’s another private lounge to greet you.