Lovers of the old 'Blue Train' claimed it could never be bettered. Yet the newly restored South Africa version of the Orient Express surpasses the expectations of all who step aboard.
When it glided out of Cape Town recently on its traditional route through vineyards and across the Karoo Desert to Pretoria, the Mpumalanga game park and the Victoria Falls, 'The New Blue Train' took its place as one of the world's most luxurious trains.
South African Consul-General Delina de Villiers-Steenkamp described the country's newest attraction as a 'six-star hotel on wheels'.
It is also a legend in its own right, dating back to 1928 when the first luxury train travelled between Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Though officially known as the Union Limited, the distinctive sapphire-blue carriages were commonly referred to as 'those blue trains'.
Cocktail hour on the train is accompanied by dramatic red sunsets over the stark Karoo Desert and dining is a veritable gourmet experience of South African specialties and premium wine.
