Shongololo - The Southern Cross Adventure

This 16-day journey enables participants to visit six countries. The route is carefully crafted to deliver stunning experiences every day. The train travels leisurely between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls, allowing numerous calls at destinations in South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana. As the tracks unfurl you will gain rare insight into the cultural and geographical cocktail that makes Southern Africa so vibrant and exciting.

Day	Region	Accommodation
1	Johannesburg	Shongololo
2	Swaziland	Shongololo
3	Maputo (Mozambique)	Shongololo
4	Maputo (Mozambique)	Shongololo
5	Kruger National Park	Shongololo
6	Mpumalanga	Shongololo
7	Panorama Route	Shongololo
8	Day travelling to Zimbabwe	Shongololo
9	Great Zimbabwe	Shongololo
10	Antelope Park, Gweru	Shongololo
11	Bulawayo & Matobo National Park	Shongololo
12	Hwange National Park	Shongololo
13	Livingstone (Zambia)	Shongololo
14	Chobe National Park (Botswana)	Shongololo
15	Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)	Shongololo
16	Victoria Falls	Departure

Please note: Tour can be done in reverse. For full day tour descriptions please call us!

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This 16-day journey enables participants to visit six countries. The route is carefully crafted to deliver stunning experiences every day. The train travels leisurely between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls, allowing numerous calls at destinations in South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana. As the tracks unfurl you will gain rare insight into the cultural and geographical cocktail that makes Southern Africa so vibrant and exciting.

Shongololo Express provides a very special touring experience for visitors to Southern Africa. The trains travel comfortably and securely during the night and you awake each dawn to a different vista. No more packing and unpacking for the whole duration of the trip! The train carries a fleet of air-conditioned touring vehicles with professional guides on board ready to take guests on the daily inclusive scheduled tours.

Day 1: Pretoria / Johannesburg / Soweto

On arrival at Johannesburg International Airport, you will be met and transferred to the train. Please note that you should arrive no later than 08h00am at the airport in order to participate in the day’s excursions. Enjoy either a Pretoria and Soweto Tour or a Johannesburg and Soweto Tour. The train departs in the evening from Johannesburg to Nelspruit.

Day 2: Johannesburg - Swaziland

The tiny Kingdom of Swaziland covers only 17,000 square kilometers, making it the second smallest country in Africa. Tour through Swaziland. (PLEASE NOTE THAT GUESTS WILL NEED THEIR PASSPORT FOR THIS EXCURSION). Guests will enter Swaziland by road from Nelspruit, South Africa. The drive will present amazing views of the Ezulwini Valley and the Komati River. This day in Swaziland will introduce you to everyday life in Africa’s smallest kingdom. The Swazi Market is a hive of activity and displays a wide variety of skillfully crafted woodcarvings, colourful textiles and superb basketwork for which Swazi's are renowned. Guests leave the train in Nelspruit and they will meet the train at Mpaka Station in Swaziland. The train departs in the evening to Maputo.

Day 3: Swaziland – Maputo (Mozambique)

Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, offers an exciting mix of culture and buildings reminiscent of trends set by African, Portuguese and early Colonial traditions. Either enjoy a day at the Beach or a day at the Beach on the Marignal. Dinner will be enjoyed at a local seafood restaurant. The train remains stationary at Maputo Station over night.

Day 4: Maputo (Mozambique)

Tour of Maputo. Guests will get a good impression of the character of the city. A visit to the municipal market is followed by a stop at the old Fortaleza, which dates back to 1769. Other interesting city sites include the Catholic Cathedral, the Civic Centre, Louis Trichardt Trek Memorial, Samora Machel Statue, the Jardim Tunduru (Botanical Gardens) and the Iron House (Casa do Ferro). The train departs from Maputo at around 15:00 and travels to Komatipoort where we will over night.

Day 5: Maputo (Mozambique) – Kruger National Park

The world-renowned Kruger National Park offers a wildlife experience that equals the best anywhere. Its 2 million hectares are unrivalled in diversity of life forms and the park is a world leader in advanced environmental management techniques. OPTIONAL EXTRAS: Open Vehicle Safari, Protea Kruger Gate Lodge, Private Game Reserve or a Local Pub in Town. Guests rejoin the train in Komatipoort where it will remain over night.

Day 6: Kruger National Park - Mpumalanga

Mpumalanga means “Land of the Rising Sun”. It is a province of extraordinary natural beauty. Enjoy a day in Kruger National Park or a Nelspruit Tour. Guests rejoin the train in Nelspruit and stable for the night.

Day 7: Mpumalanga – Panorama Route

Guests depart the train this morning from Nelspruit. Panorama Route: We visit the village of Pilgrim’s Rest, a living museum and declared National Monument. OPTIONAL EXTRAS: Sunrise Balloon Experience: Early morning pick-up and transfer to the balloon launch site. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served on arrival, followed by a scenic balloon flight lasting about an hour. Cape sparkling wine will be served upon landing, followed by a breakfast at a country lodge. After we will rejoin the rest of the group in Sabie town and continue on the Panorama tour. (This activity is weather dependent). The train departs this evening for the Zimbabwe Border.

Day 8: Day on the rails to Zimbabwe

On the rails. Guests spend the day relaxing on the train through the countryside of the different provinces - Mpumalanga, Gauteng and Limpopo Province. We cross the border into Zimbabwe at Beit Bridge and head onto Rutenga Station where guests spend the night and depart for Great Zimbabwe the next morning. Lunch will be served on the train this day. There will be informative talks held by the guides on the train.

Day 9: Great Zimbabwe

Largest Monument in Africa South of the Pyramids. We travel from Rutenga through attractive granite hill country to Great Zimbabwe. Situated on the south-eastern edge of the central plateau, Great Zimbabwe is an impressive monument. It is the largest pre-colonial monument south of the Egyptian pyramids - a most celebrated achievement of the African people indeed. One can stroll amongst the ruins of an ancient city built by the Rozwi people and discover how they lived and how they mined gold and silver, which were ultimately taken out of Africa by Arabic and Portuguese traders. Magical fables such as the story of King Solomon’s Mines find their origins here. This tour is followed by lunch at the Great Zimbabwe Hotel (guests’ own account), before rejoining the train. Guests rejoin the train at Rutenga and travel to Somabhula over night.

Day 10: Antelope Park, Gweru

Antelope Park - Walk with lions and Lion cub viewing. Today there is one highlight:- Walk with Lions in Antelope Park. This activity takes approximately one and a half hours and offers an amazing photo opportunity. After lunch in Antelope Park, guests who are interested in military and aviation hardware will board a Shongololo bus and drive to the town of Gweru to visit the Military Museum. OPTIONAL EXTRAS: Overnight at Antelope Park & Night Encounter with Lions; Canoe Hire; Game Drives; Horseback Game Viewing; Elephant Riding; 6. Lion Breeding Project; or Bird watching Boat Cruise. Guests rejoin the train at Somabhula and depart early evening to Bulawayo.

Day 11: Bulawayo and Matobo National Park

Enjoy Matobo Hills and an Art Gallery; or a Matobo Hills and the Railway Museum Tour. OPTIONAL EXTRAS: Chipangali: A visit to this famous wildlife orphanage gives insight into the plight of some of the wild animals, or Rhino Tracking in Matobo National Park: After the morning tour of the recreational part of the National Park, join a ranger for lunch and set off on a walking safari through the bushveld searching for the trail of one of the Big 5, the Rhino!! With some luck you could see or even… get very very close!! to this fascinating and endangered animal. The train travels to Dete Station over night.

Day 12: Hwange National Park

Hwange National Park: Zimbabwe’s premier National Park is known for its Lion population. Situated in the north-west corner of Zimbabwe, Hwange National Park is the nation’s largest wildlife area and contains a variety of animals and bird species. After a morning of game viewing, lunch (guests’ own account) will be at the Sikumi Tree Lodge. There will be an opportunity to relax at the pool for a while before we resume our game viewing later in the afternoon. OPTIONAL EXTRAS: Overnight at Sikumi Tree Lodge. The train departs for Victoria Falls in the evening.

Day 13: Livingstone, Zambia

Across the Falls and into Livingstone: Guests will walk across the Zambezi River over the famous Rail/road Bridge. Our first stop is on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls before continuing to the town of Livingstone, named after David Livingstone, the Scottish visionary, who had an insatiable appetite for exploration and a desire to open Africa to the world. OPTIONAL EXTRAS: Lunchtime Boat Cruise: This spectacular lunchtime cruise on the Zambezi includes a buffet lunch and drinks. Evening Activity: An off-rail dinner is planned for this evening. The train remains stationary at Victoria Falls Station over night.

Day 14: Chobe National Park, Botswana

Chobe National Park: A 70-kilometre ride brings us to the Botswana border, where we cross into the famous Chobe National Park. There is a great array of wildlife and the Chobe Elephants are well respected, as are the Hippos in the river. Highlights include a game drive in 4x4 vehicles and a river cruise on the Chobe River. Lunch (guests’ own account) will be taken at a waterfront lodge where there is a swimming pool. (Full day; distance traveled: ± 200 km). The train remains stationary at Victoria Falls Station over night.

Day 15: Victoria Falls

The Victoria Falls: The Falls form the largest single “curtain” of falling water on earth measuring 1708 m wide. On average the curtain is 92 m deep. The spray plume can rise to 500 m and can be seen from as far as 70 km away. In full flood, over 550 million litres of water per minute cascade over the brink. The afternoon is spent at leisure. OPTIONAL EXTRAS: Flight of Angels; White Water River Rafting; Elephant Riding; Bungee Jumping from Livingstone Bridge. The train remains stationary at Victoria Falls Station over night.

Day 16: Transfer Day

If guests are transferring to a hotel, this will be arranged for them in the morning. If guests are flying out of Victoria Falls, their flight may only be in the afternoon. In this case optional tours may be undertaken. OPTIONAL EXTRAS: Flight of Angels; White Water River Rafting; Elephant Riding; Bungee Jumping from Livingstone Bridge.

Departures	Twin	Single
Ivory Class	$6,160	$6,595	Enquire Now
Gold Class	$7,495	$POA	Enquire Now
Commodore	$7,780	$POA	Enquire Now
Emerald	$8,360	$POA	Enquire Now

Inclusions:

• Fifteen nights accommodation
• Breakfast and dinner daily
• Choice of daily scheduled off-rail excursions
• Return airport transfers

• 14 – 29 Mar 12 ex Johannesburg
• 02 – 17 Apr 12 ex Vic Falls
• 16 – 31 Aug 12 ex Johannesburg
• 01 – 16 Oct 12 ex Vic Falls

You can choose to extend your trip by adding the following options.
Or talk to one of our experts now.