It’s been an unforgettable two weeks on board the Shongololo Express; an adventure safari train that showcases real, raw South Africa. The Shongololo Express Great Train Adventure is by no means on par with the luxury train travel offered by Rovos or the Blue Train, but what it lacks in luxury, it more than makes up for in adventure. And we certainly had plenty of that.
The 12 night, 13 day Goodhope Southbound adventure travelled down from Johannesburg to Cape Town, stopping off in Soweto, Durban, Swaziland, the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Zululand, St Lucia, Kimberley, and Hermanus. We visited famous attractions like the Panorama Route, Kruger National Park, the Big Hole, and the Cape of Good Hope. It’s one of those incredible trips that leave you with an experience overload – you simply don’t know where to begin to describe it. My mind is an intricate web full of stories, the smells and colours are imprinted in my memory forever, and I’m armed with a chock-a-block SD card and smart phone full of pictures. For those who haven’t followed our escapades on Facebook, here are the highlights from my rail safari on the Shongololo Express.
Pre Day: Maropeng Visitor Centre at the Cradle of Humankind
We had a great start to our Shongololo Express railway adventure. The pre-trip highlight was a visit to the iconic Maropeng Visitors Centre in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site! With fun and educational exhibitions and a boat ride that travels through the elements of water, air, earth, and fire, it’s fantastic for all ages.
Day 1: Johannesburg and Soweto
The day began with a city tour of downtown Johannesburg, passing the Old Joburg Station, Joburg Theatre, Nelson Mandela Bridge, Museum Africa, old Sophiatown, and a real sangoma (traditional healer) before stopping for a guided tour of Constitution Hill to explore the Old Fort Prison and Constitutional Court. We spent an emotional couple of hours at the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum in Soweto. The highlight was being serenaded by two little smiling boys with the Xhosa song ‘Vela Vela’ which means “Come let us see you. We are harmony”.
Day 2: Panorama Route
The Panorama Route is one of the most scenic routes in Africa. We stood in awe of the natural formations of Bourke’s Luck Potholes, Blyde River Canyon, and the Three Rondavels – and we couldn’t resist a selfie at God’s Window!
Day 3: Kruger National Park
We spotted this happy family of elephants at the Malelane Gate after a phenomenal full day safari in the Kruger National Park.
Day 4: Swaziland
We entered into Swaziland through the Jeppes Reef border post and spent the day visiting arts and craft markets, Ngewnya Glass Factory, a Swazi basket factory, and the Swazi candle market. We had the privilege of meeting the smiling faces who craft incredible figurines out of stone at a Swazi craft market. We met a man by the name of Shakes who was taught to carve by his father at the age of 12.
Day 5: Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve
We enjoyed a full day safari in the green bushveld of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve, with a break for bunny chow at the Hilltop Restaurant. The highlight of the day was having this ellie casually stroll within arm’s reach of our game vehicle!
Day 6: St Lucia and DumaZulu Cultural Village
We enjoyed a leisurely hippo and crocodile cruise on the St Lucia estuary, before stopping for lunch in St Lucia. After lunch, we visited Gooderson Dumazulu Lodge and Traditional Village for a cultural tour, traditional dancing, and a taste of Zulu beer.
Day 7: Durban city tour and uShaka Marine World
The day began with a city tour of Durban. First on the list was Moses Mabhida Stadium with its beautiful basket-like architecture and thrilling adventure activities. We rode the SkyCar to the top for a fantastic view of the city and coastline. Afterwards, we drove along the Golden Mile, stopped at the Diaz Clock, explored and stocked up on souvenirs at the Victoria Street Market before being dropped off to spend the rest of the day at uShaka Marine World. Nothing beats being entertained by 5 talented dolphins at Sea World.
Day 8: Midlands Meander
A day spent exploring the Midlands Meander. We stopped to admire Howick Falls, explored the markets along Morling Street, visited Piggly Wiggly Country Village, and stopped for lunch and beer tasting at Bierfassl with beer from the Nottingham Road Brewery. After lunch, we explored the Nelson Mandela Capture Site near Howick where Madiba was arrested in 1962. The sculpture creates something of an optical illusion. From a distance, the 50 steel poles look like random rods sticking out of the ground, but as you approach, they merge to form an image of Madiba’s face. Pretty cool, huh?
Day 9: Kimberley
Despite the pouring rain and thunderstorms in Kimberley, we still squeezed in a trip to the Big Hole Diamond Museum. We enjoyed a guided underground mining tour, viewed the replicas of famous South African diamonds like the Cullinan Diamond, and took a stroll through the old town as it was when it was home to mining magnates, Barney Barnato and Cecil John Rhodes.
Day 10: Day on board
We spent a relaxing day on board the Shongololo Express, reading, eating, and playing board games. All excursions were cancelled due to power cuts and heavy rainfall.
Day 11: Hermanus and Cape Town
The previous day’s scheduled visit to Hermanus was squeezed in with a city tour of Cape Town. While we didn’t spot any actual whales, we did spot this massive guy hanging about on Market Square. Still counts, right? The little town of Hermanus yielded some fantastic finds in both the craft markets and shops. After lunch, we headed back to Cape Town to visit the Bo-Kaap Museum and Company’s Gardens.
Day 12: Cape Town
We ended our 2 week Shongololo Express railway adventure with a tour of the Castle of Good Hope and Cape Peninsula. We made it just in time to watch the Key Ceremony at the castle, and take a walk along the castle walls for magnificent views of the city centre. We explored Cape Point Nature Reserve, with a stop at Cape Point for a ride on the funicular and the Cape of Good Hope to get a photo at the most south western point of Africa. The African penguins at Boulders Beach sure gave us a good send off.
VIDEO FOOTAGE
A warm welcome to Gooderson DumaZulu Lodge & Traditional Village
A casual elephant munching beside our car in the Kruger National Park
A view from God’s Window
A dolphin show at uShaka Marine World
Thanks Shongololo, it’s been an adventure. Read our full review of our time on board the train!
Would you like to try safari by rail? Let us know which of the above days would be your favourite!
