2011 KRUGER NATIONAL PARK
& PANORAMA ROUTE TRAIN & BUS TOUR

From Port Elizabeth

JB Train Tours invite you to join us on our inaugural train tours from PE to the world famous Kruger National Park in the Mpumalanga Lowveld. The KNP is a living monument for those who envisaged the challenges the globe would experience in future. There is nothing else like this “natural phenomenon in abundance”.

When visiting the KNP it is not only about the Big 5, but about various other animals, birds, the fauna and flora, as well as the tranquillity of the Bushveld. Sleep 3 nights in the KNP and experience it to the full.

On this tour we’ll share with you the beauty of the Panorama Route, including places like God’s Window, Bourke’s potholes, Pilgrim’s Rest, the Mac Mac falls, Graskop and Sabie, Blydepoort Canyon, the Long Tom Pass, as well as the Sudwala Caves.

We are going to take you to places where tour groups normally don’t go.

Enjoy the Carnival City Casino and other entertainment offered on site.

We’ll travel on the Algoa Tourist Class train*, sleep in top notch hotels, resorts and the KNP and travel by charter bus before joining the train again.

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.

All 3 our 2009 & all 4 our 2010 train tours to the KNP from Cape Town were fully booked. In 2011 we’ll be hosting 5 tours from CPT to the KNP!

Die ‘Kruger Wildtuin’ is vir baie mense dié plek om wild te kyk in Suid Afrika. Van kindsbeen af leer en hoor ons van die grootse werk wat daar gedoen word. Ten spyte van veranderinge, het die atmosfeer behoue gebly. Om in die aand op een van die rivierwalle te sit en die wild te sien wei en suip, terwyl die son sak, bly enigmaties.

Ons wys ook graag vir u die skoonheid van die Laeveld wanneer ons baie van die bekende toerisme-bakens besoek.

*Spoornet has ceased ALL charter holiday trains as from 1 January 2007.

Name of tour Kruger National Park Train & Bus Tour from Port Elizabeth

Tour dates & Number

Wednesday to Thursday 1 - 9 June 2011 KNP 6
Wednesday to Thursday 14 - 22 September 2011 KNP 7

Both tours are nine (9) days long.

Departure times

Port Elizabeth 15:00 Platform 4 Day 1
Johannesburg 13:15 Platform 14 Day 8

Arrival times

Vereeniging 10:07 Platform 1 Day 2
Port Elizabeth 09:15 Platform 4 Day 9

Other stations’ departure times: See below. Passengers may join en route.

Tour price

Compartment (4-Bed) Price per Person
   
4 Persons per Compartment
But only 2 Persons per Hotel Room		 R6400
   
3 Persons per Compartment
& 2/1 Persons per Hotel Room 		R7290
   
2 Persons per Compartment
& same 2 Persons per Hotel Room		 R7100
   
Coupe (2-Bed) Price per Person
   
2 Persons per Coupe
& same 2 Persons per Hotel Room		 R6600
   
1 Person per Coupe
& 1 Person per Hotel Room		 R8380

Children 3 - 9 years will pay R700 per child less than the above tour price. Children 0 - 2 years will travel free of charge if sharing a bed and seat on bus with parent.

Deposit

A R500 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.

Included in the price

Return train trip, bedding on the train, accommodation in reputable hotels, resorts or lodges, entry to the KNP, certain meals, bus transport, tour guide and excursions as mentioned in the itinerary.

Meals

Two good meals per day (breakfast and dinner) are served and are included in the price, unless otherwise indicated. I.e.: Overnight in Jo’burg.

Excluded from the tour price

Personal expenses, gratuities, meals not mentioned and Comprehensive Travel Insurance.

Route

The train route goes from Port Elizabeth via Cookhouse, Cradock, Middelburg, Noupoort, Colesberg, Bloemfontein & Kroonstad to Vereeniging. (Passengers may join en route).

The bus route goes from Vereeniging via Middelburg & Waterval Boven to Graskop. From Graskop to Blydepoort, KNP, Pilgrims Rest, Lydenburg, Middelburg back to Johannesburg.

Buses

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.

Accommodation

We’ll be staying for two nights on the train, three nights in chalets in the KNP (Skukuza or ‘Berg en Dal’ or Lower Sabie or Letaba), one night in Graskop and the last night in Jo’burg.

We host two persons (or one) per room.

Due to accommodation constraints in the KNP, each tour is limited to a maximum of 50 people.

Tour guide

A qualified tour guide will travel with you.

We are looking forward in hosting you on tour.

Note

The KNP falls within a malaria area. Please visit your doctor or pharmacist for the correct vaccines. Remember to bring a torch along.

BOOK NOW!

Travel greetings

Johan Badenhorst &
The JB Train Tours Team

 

Running times of the train

Port Elizabeth - Johannesburg
Town Arrival Departure
Port Elizabeth   15:00
Cradock 19:25 19:32
Noupoort 22:07 22:29
Bloemfontein 04:26 04:46
Kroonstad 07:36 07:52
Vereeniging 10:07 10:10
Johannesburg 11:35  

 

Johannesburg - Port Elizabeth
Town Arrival Departure
Johannesburg   13:15
Vereeniging 14:48 14:55
Kroonstad 17:12 17:22
Bloemfontein 20:10 20:30
Noupoort 02:15 02:35
Cradock 04:39 04:44
Port Elizabeth 09:15  
Running times are NOT guaranteed.

 

Provisional PROGRAMME

2011 Kruger National Park Train & Bus Tour - from PE

Day 1 On arrival at PE 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 We travel across the countryside (never underestimate or ignore the beauty of this vast space) and after breakfast we reach Vereeniging. We disembark, board the bus and depart for Graskop. En route we’ll travel via Middelburg, Waterval Boven, the Sudwala Caves (time permitting) & Sabie. Dinner is served (included in tour price). We overnight in Graskop.
   
Day 3 We depart by bus after breakfast. En route we’ll travel via the Blydepoort Canyon, visiting God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Three Rondavels. Dinner is served (included in tour price) at our camp in the KNP where we’ll overnight.
   
Day 4 & 5 For the following two days we depart before breakfast to view game, return to the camp, be at leisure until late afternoon before we go on another game viewing trip by bus. Dinner is served (included in tour price). We overnight both nights in the KNP in the same camp as Day 3.
   
Day 6 After breakfast we’ll depart for the historical miners’ town, Pilgrim’s Rest. Eat a pancake, walk the streets, buy a souvenir or take a ‘photo in old Victorian clothes’. We continue the journey via the Mac Mac Falls to Sabie and then over the Long Tom Pass to Lydenburg. Late afternoon we’ll arrive again back on the highveld in Jo’burg. The evening is at leisure and dinner is served (included in tour price). Overnight in the hotel.
   
Day 7 Today is a day at leisure in Jo’burg. Visit the Carnival City casino, enjoy a movie or just relax.
Overnight in the same hotel.
   
Day 8 We are transferred by bus to the Jo’burg station after breakfast. The train departs for Port Elizabeth at 13:15. Dinner is served (included in tour price) on the train and we sleep again on the train.
   
Day 9

Breakast is served before you arrive in PE and passengers disembark to leave for home.
   
Note 1 The sequence of the days could change at short notice
   
Note 2 This tour was originally an 8-day tour and priced accordingly. Shosholoza Meyl has cancelled their Tuesday train running from JHB to PE. Hence, we had to lengthen the tour by one day at our costs. Enjoy the day at Carnival City.

RESERVATION FORM

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRAIN