JB Train Tours has launched a VERY special and discounted 4-day tour package in April 2011 on the world renowned luxurious Blue Trainand the response from our readers was HUGE! It seems that a trip on the Blue Train was one of the “must do’s” on the Bucket List of many people. Some companies sent their whole board of directors on the trip and held a meeting on board the train (in the conference car)!

This offer was initially only valid for May and June 2011, but due to the success with our promotion campaign the Blue Train company has decided to extend the special offer to JB Train Tours for another 2 months – until end of August 2011 – just before they go into High Season. The tour price of this 4-day special offer is less than a normal train ticket price on the train. Don’t miss this bargain. More info

It is ideal for anniversaries, celebrations, honeymoons, meetings, birthdays, break-aways or even work sessions.

The package includes the train trip, 2 nights’ accommodation in a 4-star hotel (B&B), transfers from the hotel to the airport, safe car parking and a one-way flight back home. The offer is valid fordeparture from both Pretoria and Cape Town to the opposite city. Some Gauteng passengers took a flight to CPT and came back by train. Contact Jolene at our offices atJolene@jbtours.co.za orupmarket@jbtours.co.za or 011 913 2442 for detailed information.

One of our tour guides, Mauritius Meiring, has been (re)elected as the National President of the Ulysses Motorbike Club of South Africa. After serving for six consecutive years as president, he stood down at the last AGM to make place for ‘new blood’. Unfortunately the ‘new blood’ has vacated office within a few months and at the May 2011 AGM Mauritius was requested (‘Forced’) to take the hot seat again.

Ulysses MC is by far the biggest motorbike club in SA with more than 1500 members country wide.

The slogan of this club: "Growing old disgracefully!"

Mauritius is a well know personality in the biking fraternity in South Africa and he leads our Motorbike-on-Train tours to the Western and Eastern Cape as well.

Mauritius Meiring

Die 2011 Nasionale Boeremusiek-kompetisie vind vanjaar op Saterdag 8 Oktober by die Jan Kriel skool in Kuilsrivier in die Wes Kaap plaas. JB Train Tours neem al die musikante wat gaan deelneem soontoe asook lede van die publiek en ondersteuners wat hierdie geleentheid wil bywoon. Hierdie treintoere is waarskynlik een van die joligste wat ons aanbied, want daar word ‘heelpad’ musiek gemaak en sommer ook op die stasies se perron gedans!

Kontak ons vir die volledige Inligtingsdokument. Meer inligting

Our Jo’burg to Cape Town train tours are growing by leaps and bounds. The popularity of these tours is BIG. It seems that South Africans living in the ‘Northern’ areas of our country have decided that they HAVE TO VISIT the Mother City at least once in their lifetime. Many people from Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West, Gauteng, the Free State and even Botswana and Zimbabwe travel with us – especially during December on our 7-day tours. Places visited in Cape Town include Table Mountain and the cable car, Robben Island, Hout Bay, V&A Waterfront, Cape Point, the historical Castle, ‘Groot Constantia’ wine estate and much more.

Due to high demand from the public we’ve added another ten 7-day tours during the December 2011 school holiday, plus another oneduring the October 2011 school holiday. Both the other two tours during the October 2011 school holiday are already fully booked.More info Bookings for the December tours have opened and are filling up rapidly.

On Monday evening (23rd May 2011) we’ve launched the ‘Special Offer’ on the Premier Classe train from Jo’burg to Durban (return) for the weekend of 27th to 30th May 2011. On Thursday morning 26th May 2011 all the available 31 spaces on the train were sold. Obviously our readers ‘know a bargain’ when they see it. Thanks for traveling along.

In August and September every year, the flowers of Namaqualand are in their splendid beauty. We have been hosting train tours from Jo’burg and Durban to this flower spectacle for more than a decade and every year people say “I should have done this many years ago”. During 2011 we’ll be hosting again Tourist Class train tours from Durban More info and from Johannesburg More info Three upmarketPremier Classe train tours will be running from Jo’burg to Namaqualand in 2011 as well More info

The recent early snow in the Western Cape and lots of rain in Namaqualand will bolster the flowers and it promises to be a GOOD flower season.

Flowers

Saldanha Bay

We’ll be hosting again two Namibian train tours during 2011, taking place in August and September of this year, departing from Jo’burg. Both tours are 10 days long and visit popular tourist destinations like: Fish River Canyon, Windhoek, Etosha, Swakopmund, Spitzkoppe, Giant’s Playground, Quiver Tree Forest, a wine estate(!) and the Namib Desert. One sleeps every night on the heritage train and two meals per day are included in the tour package. En suite 2-bed compartments are still available (and VERY popular) on the South Bound tour, whilst daily excursions are undertaken by buses. Experiences tour guides travel along. More info

How to get there...

... And the famous dune 7.

South Africa will be playing only two rugby tests this year on home soil when the Springboks play the Wallabies (13th August – Kings Park, Durban) and the All Blacks (20th August – new Nelson Mandela stadium, Port Elizabeth) in the Tri Nations series. JB Train Tours will be running again the ever popular ‘Bok’ train from Jo’burg to both these tests. The tours depart on the Friday afternoon and arrive back the Monday morning. Two nights accommodation on the train and one night in a hotel, bedding and meals on the train, as well as bus transport at the destinationAND the rugby ticket are included in the tour price.

These rugby supporters’ tours are very popular with families and women alike and are every year fully booked early in advance.Springboks vs Wallabies tour R2300 pp More info. Springboks vs All Blacks tour R2650 pp More info. These two games are the onlyopportunity to see the Boks in action this year in South Africa before the World Cup in September and October 2011 in New Zealand. (Have you ever traveled on a ‘Bok’ train before?) Sorry, the train tour to PE is sold out.

Kingspark, Durban

Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, PE

The annual Amashovashova cycle race in October between Pietermaritzburg and Durban is just more than 100 km long and follows big sections of the Comrades marathon route. This year we’ll be hosting a train tour from Jo’burg to Durban (just like the annual Argus Cycle Race train tour) to take both bicycle and cyclist, as well as supporters, to the race. The train departs on Friday 14th October 2011 in the evening from Jo’burg and arrives back on Monday early morning, 17th Oct 2011, again in JHB. One night’s accommodation in DBN is included in the tour package. More info

Bicycles waiting to be loaded Cyclists at the start in PMB

Father’s Day will be celebrated on Sunday, 19 June 2011. I’m sure your dad will love a train trip as he probably grew up in the days when traveling by train was still the norm of the day. Dad will be much impressed with you if you book him with you (or with your mom or even a good friend) on a 4-day trip that includes: a return train trip on the Premier Classe train, 1 night B&B in a 4-star hotel in Durban, transfers between hotel and station and a special gift for him.

The price is only R3 250 per person sharing. The tour is from Fri afternoon, the17th of June until Monday morning very early on the 20th of June 2011.

Enquire with Jolene today at jolene@jbtours.co.za

Andre Rieu is visiting SA in 2012

Don’t miss out again! Andre Rieu will be visiting South Africa again on Friday, 17 August 2012.

This affordable package is very popular with corporate companies and individuals alike for the reason that we organise everything on your behalf: pick up of your group (min. 40 people) at one point e.g. your offices (in JHB, other areas can also be arranged – please enquire), return transfer by luxury bus to the Coca Cola Dome (you don’t have to worry about parking at the Dome), tour guide, your ticket to the event and light snacks en route.

At a cost of R950 per person this is an event you want to confirm before it is booked out.

Enquire with Jolene today at jolene@jbtours.co.za

We'll be hosting four (4) more rugby train tours to Super 15 matches from April onwards this year. Trains will depart from Jo'burg and Durban. Return train trip, bedding and meals on the train, accommodation at destination, bus transport, rugby ticket and tour guide included in the package.

The relevant dates and tours are: (Home team in bold)

Ever thought of going on honeymoon by upmarket train in South Africa? Travel on one of these very affordable 4-day or 7-day tour packages on the upmarket Premier Classe train. Tours depart from Jo’burg, Durban and Cape Town respectively. Contact our offices for more details at Jolene@jbtours.co.za to suit your wedding date.

JB Train Tours hosts a Jo’burg to Cape Town Stylish train tour every weekend of the year. This tour is very popular among honeymooners, people who want to get away for a weekend, couples who celebrate their anniversaries, corporate clients, team building companies and families. Included in this four day package that departs on a Thursday and Sunday afternoon is a one way trip from Jo’burg to Cape Town on the upmarket Premier Classe train (5-course meals & high teas and the use of bedding & towels on the train), 2 nights B&B in either the 4-star Fountains Hotel or Strand Towers Hotel in Cape Town, transfer to Cape Town airport and the flight back to Jo’burg.

Various popular tourist destinations are within close range of the hotel. I.e.: "Capart Theatre" & Long Street Restaurants are within walking distance, whilst the V & A Waterfront is a brisk shuttle by bus or taxi away. These value-for-money-packages start from R4 350pp sharing (children get discount).

Note: It seems that South African newly weds have discovered a new way of enjoying their honeymoons: On a luxurious train in South Africa at an affordable price in an upmarket hotel inbeautiful region of our country.

JB Train Tours invite you to join us on our upmarket Premier Classe train tour to the beautiful Namaqualand on the South African west coast. It is at the end of the rainy season and the flowers will be in its splendid beauty. There is nothing else like this natural phenomenon.

You’ll travel from Johannesburg on the luxurious Premier Classe train, sleep in reputable hotels and travel by a charter bus before joining the train again for the return trip

Included in the 8-day tour package:

• Return overnight train trip from JHB to CPT on the upmarket Premier Classe train
• Accommodation in reputable hotels
• Two good meals per day (breakfast and dinner) on tour. All meals & high teas are included on the train
• Bus transport in the Cape
• JB Train Tours tour guide
• Excursions as mentioned in the itinerary

3 Dates to choose from:

• Sunday 7 – Sunday 14 August 2011
• Sunday 14 – Sunday 21 August 2011
• Sunday 21 – Sunday 28 August 2011

At a cost of R9 920 pp sharing you will experience Namaqualand and its people in a total different way!

Contact Jolene at jolene@jbtours.co.za

"When you breath, you inspire. When you do not breath, you expire."

"H2O is hot water, and CO2 is cold water"

"When you smell an odourless gas, it is probably carbon monoxide"

"Water is composed of two gins, Oxygin and Hydrogin. Oxygin is pure gin. Hydrogin is gin and water."

"Blood flows down one leg and up the other."

"The moon is a planet just like the earth, only it is even deader."
"Mushrooms always grow in damp places and so they look like umbrellas."

Note: Link to 360 degree pictures of the interior of Premier Classe train

Note: Link to 360 degree pictures of the interior of Premier Classe train

ALL the tours below are hosted every weekend of every month - subject to availability.

There are only two companies in Gauteng & one in KZN hosting day trips by train. This is ideal for families, companies, churches, clubs, etc. and especially for children who have never been on a train trip. Both these companies haul the train with a steam locomotiveengine!

Pretoria area:             Friends of the Rail    Contact Mr. Arno Victor at Tel: 082 293 4616 or sales@friendsoftherail.com or visit their website at http://www.friendsoftherail.com                     They travel mostly from Pretoria to Cullinan & Bela Bela..

Johannesburg area:   Reef Steamers           Contact Mr. Les Smith at Tel: 011 478 7787 or bookings@reefsteamers.co.za or visit their website at http://www.reefsteamers.co.za     They travel mostly from Maraisburg to Magaliesburg.

KZN (Durban & PMB) area:            Umgeni Steam Rail                Contact Mr. Rob McGregor at Tel: 031-303 3003; 082-353 6003 or 087-808 7715 or robbie@umgenisteamrailway.co.za or visit their website at http://www.umgenisteamrailway.co.za/. They travel mostly from Inchanga, Kloof & PMB.

Cape Town area:            Atlantic Rail                Contact them at Tel: (021) 556-1012 or info@atlanticrail.co.za or visit their website at http://www.atlanticrail.co.za         They travel mostly from Cape Town station to close by destinations in the Peninsula and Boland.

Note:        Don’t change/cancel your holiday – change your way of going on holiday! Travel with JB Train Tours. It is Comfortable, Affordable, Safe & Secure

Regards/Groete