2011 BUFFALO RALLY (Mossel Bay)
MOTORBIKE-on-TRAIN TOUR

From Johannesburg (Return)

JB Train Tours invites you to join us on the Motorbike-on-Train Trip to be hosted during 2011 from Jo’burg to the annual Buffalo Rally in Mossel Bay, travelling on the Trans Karoo Tourist Class Train.

This tour is ideal for those who’d like to attend the Buff, but does not want to ride all the way through the Karoo, as well as for those who would like to explore new destinations in a well structured, organised and safe manner.

This tour is a combination of: Travelling by train (with your bike on the train with you) plus enjoying and attending the Buff.

The main purpose of this tour is to give bikers the opportunity to get to the Buff safely, well rested and arrive freshly for all the activities to be hosted.

Why travel by train?

  1. To cut out the longs straight and boring roads of the Karoo
  2. To do something different
  3. ‘Cause the bike can travel along on the train
  4. To start fresh when arriving in the Western Cape
  5. To have fun the moment you depart from Johannesburg
  6. To rest and relax on the way back – in style
  7. To enjoy the scenery from a different angle
  8. ‘Cause it is safe & secure
  9. ‘Cause travelling by train is ‘lekker’
  10. To discover new routes, places and people

Who may come along? Any person who has booked his/her place at the 2011 Buff. (Visit http://www.nomads.org.za/buffalo_rally.html) By the way, you must bring your own bike! It is NOT a pre-requisite that you have to belong to any club. This tour is suitable for riders from Gauteng, North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and even KZN & the Northern Free State.

Note #1:  Do it together. Take your pillion along. (Sorry, no Sheila’s provided!)

Note #2:  Just calculate how much you save on wear and tear if NOT riding all the way to Mossel Bay on your bike.

Name of tour  2011 Buffalo Rally Motorbike-on-Train Tour - from JHB

Tour dates & Number

(4 days) Friday to Monday

18 – 21 March 2011 MB 10

Note

It is unfortunately NOT possible to depart anymore on Monday evening 21st March 2011 from B’West for JHB. Shosholoza Meyl has suspended in Aug 2010 the Monday train permanently. Though, passengers can depart on Wednesday 16th March 2011 from JHB to B’west. Just talk to us first.

Departure times

Johannesburg 10:30 Platform 16 Day 1 Friday
Beaufort West 22:00 Platform 1 Day 3 Sunday

Arrival times

Beaufort West 03:30 Platform 1 Day 2 Saturday
Johannesburg 15:20 Platform 16 Day 4 Monday

Tour price Compartment on Train: 4-Bed        2 Beds/Room in Hotel

Price per Biker Persons per
4-Bed Comp’ment
R3600 4
R3830 3
R4300 2
   
Price per Biker Persons per
2-Bed Coupe
R3800 2
R4500 1

The Pillion pays R2000 per person less than the biker.

Children

Children pay the above prices. Sorry, no discount.

Deposit

A R1000 per person non-refundable deposit will secure your place. The balance must be paid by latest six weeks before departure date. (I.e.: 2nd Feb 2011). Bookings, with full payment, are accepted after this date as well. Book NOW.

Included in price

Return transport by train to Beaufort West, 2 nights’ accommodation and bedding on the train, transportation of motorbike on the train, tour guide on the train, as well as certain meals as per the itinerary.

Excluded from the tour price

Registration fees for the Buff; accommodation in Mossel Bay at the Buff; personal expenses; Comprehensive Travel Insurance and bike break down recovery fees.

Entries for the Buff

Contact the organisers at nomadsmcc@mweb.co.za or Tel: 021 558 8537 or even better – visit the website at www.nomads.org.za

Meals

Dinner is included on the train trip from JHB to B’West, whilst breakfast is included on the return trip. All other (tasty) meals are available at very reasonable prices on the train.

People in dining car on train

Bar facilities

Available on the train.

Train Route

You will travel on the Trans Karoo Tourist Class Train from Johannesburg to Beaufort West via Potchefstroom, Klerksdorp, Kimberley & De Aar. You may join en route. (Sorry, the train does NOT depart from Pretoria anymore).

Accommodation on the train

Passengers will be accommodated in a 4-bed compartment or 2-bed coupe on the train.

Accommodation in Mossel Bay

Passengers must make their own arrangements. Take your tent and camp at the rally. You’ll arrive early on the Saturday morning in Mossel Bay.

Loading of the motorbikes

All the bikes must be brought to Platform 14 at Johannesburg Park station by latest 08:00 on the day of departure. Entry to the Platform is off Harrison Street. (GPS: S 26°11’834”  E 28°02’370”). Owners to do loading and fastening of bikes. Please bring your own tie-downs. Four tie-downs are more than enough. You are welcome to bring your own blankets or cloth for your bike.

Loading of motorbike on to train Motorbikes in KP

The motorbikes are transported in a “KP” carriage and will be hauled with the passenger train. This carriage is totally enclosed and the bikes won’t be exposed to wind and weather.

Riding from Beaufort West to Mossel Bay

After the off-loading of the bikes in Beaufort West, we suggest you go for a cup of coffee at the Wimpy whilst waiting for sunrise and then to Mossel Bay via Oudtshoorn. A journey of 253 km through the spectacular Meiringspoort & then via the Robinson mountain pass. However, if a biker would like to follow his/her own route to Mossel Bay, he/she is most welcome to do so. The same applies on the return trip to Beaufort West station on the Monday evening.

Insurance

Each bike owner is responsible for his/her own insurance on the bike.

Medical

Bring your medical fund card and medicines along.

Clothing

Casual clothing plus your normal personal biking gear.

Luggage

Just take what you need. Don’t take the whole wardrobe. You have to travel with it on your bike after all. Please mark each piece of luggage or bag clearly with your name on it.

Safety

We do NOT compromise on safety during the tour. We have a sound record on ALL our tours and intend to keep it that way.

BOOK NOW! Please complete the attached Reservation Form (one per biker) and fax it to us, along with your Bank Deposit slip. Closing date is when the limited number of places is sold out.

Groups, clubs, associations and mates are welcome.

Visit our Photo Gallery for pictures of recent Motorbike-on-Train tours.

Travel & Biker greetings

Johan Badenhorst &
The JB Train Tours Team

Note #1:          We are hosting the following other Motorbike-on-Train tours as well:

JHB to Western Cape & Boland
JHB to Garden Route (Eastern & Southern Cape)
JHB to Namaqualand Flowers in September (dual purpose bikes only)
JHB to BMW Bike Fest in Oudtshoorn
DBN to Western Cape & Boland

Johannesburg - Cape Town - Johannesburg

Town Arrival Departure Town Arrival Departure
Johannesburg   10:30 Cape Town   12:30
Krugersdorp 11:14 11:19 Bellville 12:55 13:00
Potchefstroom 13:16 13:20 Huguenot 13:41 13:45
Klerksdorp 14:01 14:15 Wellington 13:55 13:59
Christiana 16:50 16:55 Worcester 15:35 15:50
Warrenton 17:29 17:34 Matjiesfontein 17:50 17:55
Kimberley 18:35 19:07 Laingsburg 18:20 18:30
De Aar 22:50 23:05 Beaufort West 21:30 22:00
Hutchinson 01:15 01:25 Hutchinson 23:55 00:10
Beaufort West 03:20 03:40 De Aar 02:10 02:40
Laingsburg 06:37 06:47 Kimberley 06:25 06:45
Matjiesfontein 07:10 07:15 Warrenton 07:45 07:50
Worcester 09:20 09:40 Christiana 08:20 08:30
Wellington 11:10 11:14 Klerksdorp 11:15 11:30
Huguenot 11:25 11:30 Potchefstroom 12:13 12:18
Bellville 12:10 12:15 Krugersdorp 14:22 14:27
Cape Town 12:40   Johannesburg 15:20  

Please note that running times are not guaranteed.

 

Provisional PROGRAMME

2011 JHB to BMW BikeFest MOTORBIKE-on-TRAIN TOUR
Oudtshoorn

Day 1 Friday 18th March
   
From 08:00 Passengers with bikes meet at Johannesburg station – Platform 14
Bikes loaded
10:30 Train departs Johannesburg – Platform 16
Dinner served on the train (included in the tour price)
First briefing session
Travel overnight
   
Day 2 Saturday 19th March
   
03:30 Disembarking & off loading at Beaufort West
Coffee at Wimpy
Sunrise Bikes depart for Mossel Bay (253 km)
Motorbikes arrive in Mossel Bay
Buff activities
Rest of day at leisure – own program
Overnight
   
Day 3 Sunday 20th March
   
  Follow Buff’s Programme
Own time Depart for Beaufort West – do some other sight seeing en route
21:30 Loading of bikes on train – Beaufort West station, Platform 1
22:00 Train departs for Jo’burg
Travel overnight
   
Day 4 Monday 21st March
   
  Breakfast served on the train (included in the tour price)
15:20 Arrival at Johannesburg station – Platform 16
Off loading of bikes
Go home & rest!
   

Offload motorbike from train

RESERVATION FORM

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRAIN