My Blue Train Experience

The journey started as early as 06:30 in the morning at a mutual meeting place for a meet and greet with clients we were going with to the Blue Train experience. Our Blue Train trip was the Cape Town to Pretoria route, which meant we would head to Cape Town early in the morning. All of us spoke about the dress code and chuckled about how we would enjoy not having network for a few days. I had an energy drink that I thought would keep me up throughout the flight, but I woke up in Cape Town and the journey officially began.

The Blue Train VIP Lounge

Upon arrival, we were met but a very chirpy man, Kevin, who welcomed us to Cape Town and drove us to the train station. The journey from the airport was pretty short, thirty minutes later we were at the Blue Train Station. The station is based next to the bus station and there was heavy security. The kind I did not anticipate, we checked in our bags and as soon as we walked into the lounge it felt like a different world compared to the outside. There was soothing music, a calm ambiance, the lights were dimmed, and various drinks were served.

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Immediately after entering the lounge, there was a corner that could not be missed. There’s a mandatory COVID test that is required before boarding on the train, I thought we could do it before the day of travel but they insisted it was done on the day, in the VIP Lounge. The nurses told us that if they came to you 15 minutes after the test it meant that you cannot board the train. If they don’t come to you, you are safe. After the tests were done, suddenly everyone was coughing. Apparently, this is normal.

As the sneezes continued, a saxophonist started playing as we enjoyed our drinks and conversations. The nerves of the test only left when they announced the train had arrived. They allowed for 15 minutes for a photo opportunity before boarding the train.

On the Train

As soon as we got onto the train, it was almost time to go to dinner. The itinerary explicitly says that dinner is an “elegant affair”. Men were required to wear a jacket and women were asked to dress elegantly. The rebel in me wanted to see what would happen if I came dressed casually, but I came to the party and dressed up for dinner. Before going to dinner, we met our butler, Thuli, who showed us around the cabin and how things worked and we walked around the train to familiarise ourselves with a few other facilities, then we freshened up for dinner.

The Dining Car

The Dining Car was nothing short of classy; the deco, the way the tables and chairs were positioned, the views, the cutlery. It was worth dressing up for. I saw my colleagues in suits that I never knew they had (lol) and they saw us in dresses and make-up they hadn’t seen before. We joked about how this should be a norm on Mondays at work as well.

On the first night, we made it just in time for the sunset, we enjoyed our three-course meal to the gorgeous views.

The food was one of the best experiences I’ve had. I’m vegetarian, and seldomly are vegetarian meals prioritized as much as the meat dishes. But this… Soul food. Before this trip, I had gotten used to eating one meal a day, but throughout the trip, I looked forward to the meals because of how delightful the food was on the first night. Fam, I don’t eat soup unless I can see it being made but I enjoyed every bowl of soup that I chose as a starter. The meat-eaters echoed the same sentiments about their dishes, food made with soul and heart. There was a good balance of the starch, proteins, vegetables, and tasty salads.

One meal that shocked everyone on the table was the pasta and veg meal that I ordered. We laughed at the portion because I said I was hungry. They called it “Barbie doll portion”. Honestly, the portions were perfect for me considering that I don’t eat that much.

The Club Car

What comes to mind when I think of the Blue Train is a train going somewhere, with gorgeous views and silence. Lots and lots of silence. Not this crew I was traveling with ( the ones I came with and the guests that we met on the train). After dinner, some took off their elegant wear, some kept it on, and we headed to the Club Car. A place where we tried cigars and partied. This lounge had a very masculine look and feel about it; especially the furnisher. It looked like a gentlemen’s club. It was meant for small groups of people to have conversations or play games, and we turned it into a Club Car, literally.

Someone had a speaker that died after 30 minutes (I was lowkey happy it died), but law and behold another guest had their little JBL speaker and that thing had us dancing to the yano’s on the Blue Train until the bar was closed.

There was a bartender named Collen who kept those drinks coming. He made sure! We got acquainted with other guests who joined the Club Car and it became an even bigger party. They’ll always be that person who shouts “JagerBombs” and counts everyone in on their mission. The second time the bombs were requested I did my usual, “I’m coming back” and retired for the night. The beautiful thing about the Club Car is how secluded it is, as soon as I stepped out of the party I couldn’t hear the music or the conversations I was leaving behind.

The Cabin

When we first got into our cabins, it was a lounging area with two chairs and two tables; one on each side. When I went to sleep I was pleasantly surprised at the transformation of the cabin. The tables and chairs were “replaced” by two luxury single beds. Our luggage was safely tucked away and only our handbags were within our sight.

The bathroom was tiny, but it stuck to the luxurious theme. The shower and toilet were fit into a small space, with a big mirror as you entered the toilet. I heard the Luxury Cabins (with double beds) had a bath. I would’ve stayed in the bath for hours, with a book and champagne.

The only thing that threw me off was that there were no windows, in the bathroom or the room. I know it’s a big ask but I have a habit of opening the windows when I wake up and it took me a while to get used to not having windows. Also, my roommate and I have fast metabolisms. We had three meals a day, we really needed the fresh air. If you get what I mean…

Before I boarded the train I had made peace with the fact that I might not get the best sleep because of the train moving but I slept like a baby. The moving motion was soothing, so much so, that I didn’t enjoy sleeping when the train was not moving.

There’s a small television in the cabin, only noticed it when Thuli showed it to us. One of the guests we were with opted to stay in bed on day 2 and watch movies because she was feeling a little bit under the weather. Her food and drinks were brought to her by her butler on request.

The Open Mine Museum

On day 2, almost as though the Universe knew I was desperate for fresh air, and space to stretch my legs we finally stopped in Kimberly for a tour at the Open Mine Museum after lunch. Our tour was done by a gent, Carl, who loved the town. The way he spoke about the town was beautiful. Yes, it is his job but he commanded our attention throughout the tour and even shared stories that were surely not on the program. Some stories were upsetting, while others were funny and relatable.

Our first stop at the museum was the theatre for a short 20-minute movie. The movie was about the mine, mine workers, and diamonds. Let’s just say we were better off not watching that movie. It was triggering to many, myself included. But our tour guide turned the mood around quickly with his sense of humor and the rest of the tour was lighter and more fun. The highlight of the tour for me was the Big Hole, the story behind it, and the view of the hole.

After that, we headed to the tour of the actual mine and an exhibition of diamonds and other stones from the mine. The last bit of the tour was a “do what you want to do for the next 15 minutes”; others went to purchase souvenirs, while others went to the bar and the content creators took more pictures and videos.

When we arrived at the train station around 18:00, we were welcomed by heavy rain and welcome drinks… The train was stagnant for what seemed like forever.

We freshened up for the elegant affair (dinner) and chilled at the Club Car afterward. This time it wasn’t as loud as the previous night, there were more conversations and laughter than there was loud music.

The Observation Car

Day 3 came by so quickly. After breakfast, I headed to the Observation Car, a space where we sat, in silence and enjoyed full views through a big window. As with the Cigar Car, drinks were served but there was no speaker or smoking permitted on this side. I appreciated this car because I needed the silence. I had brought my journal and a book along to reflect and catch up on reading.

In between chapters, I observed the views; one minute it was the view of the mountain, and the next it was greenery, and then it was us going through shacks and abandoned trains and train stations. It was actually shocking to see the number of abandoned trains. I lost count of how many trains I saw, from the time the train moved in Cape Town until we arrived in Johannesburg.

When the majority of the guests that were in the Observation Car went to have lunch, I stayed behind and a filming crew that was on the train asked me to help them film a few cameo shots. Imagine how lovely it would be to win an Oscar on top of the beautiful experience I had on the train… I kid. The crew was there to film the chefs and the dining experience, I happened to be around when they needs shots in this car.

The Last Gear

After lunch, we were told we would arrive in Pretoria at 16:00 so we packed our clothes and headed to the Cigar Car one last time. Before I knew it, it was 18:00 and then 20:00. We were initially meant to arrive in Pretoria at 12 noon.

The delays were due to cable and rail theft and electricity outages. I didn’t mind the delays because it meant more time on the train having fun and I had made peace with the delays, but for some, it meant canceling their flights. We finally arrived in Rosebank at 21:00.

There was also a high tea area on the train with lots of cakes and tea but for a fare of R15 000 +, I expected a bit more in terms of the activities. I would’ve loved to experience activities like wine tasting or massages. But overall, my Blue Train experience was lovely. It was a beautiful way to start the year. I prayed for a year of travel this year, at least one province a month, and I got three provinces in January. My travel year is off to a good start.

Top tips if you are considering the Blue Train;

1. Book your flights for the day after the arrival date of the train if you’re flying out.
2. If You’re used to filling up Your day with being busy, as their slogan says, “Surrender to the slow”.
3. Also, You’ll love the food and the views. Take photos but make sure You are present, take it all in.