This unique touring concept eliminates interminable hours travelling long distances in a tour bus and alleviates the daily chore of packing and unpacking suitcases. Travelling comfortably and securely during the night, Shongololo Express trains save guests precious holiday time, arriving each dawn at a new and exciting destination.

The fleet of air-conditioned touring vehicles is transported together with the train and the professional multi lingual guides are ready and on hand to drive guests on inclusive, scheduled excursions.

Join the Shongololo Express at Boksburg East station from 08:00 onwards. After being welcomed by your tour guide and the Shongololo Express representative you may enjoy a cup of coffee and a few biscuits. The train will depart at 10:00 and during your settling-in period, familiarise yourself with the detailed programme and the exciting excursions on offer to you during your trip ahead to Namibia! Enjoy a drink at the bar before the train departs for Upington.

Visiting the Augrabies National Park is not only a highlight because of its waterfalls (even though they are the main attraction). The interesting flora as well as the small Klipspringer is also worth mentioning. Three short hiking trails lead from the rest camp at the park entrance to and around the waterfalls. They are not very difficult to walk, but solid hiking shoes are recommended, because of the rocky ground.  The train departs from Upington and crosses into Namibia late in the evening.

Guests depart in the morning for a drive through the desert to visit the desert horses enroute to Luderitz. On arrival guests tour the historical town including the Cross and the ghost city of Kolmanskop. Take a walking tour, and learn about electricity, ice makers and 10 pin bowling back in the 30's.  Guest rejoin the train at Aus Station. The train departs Aus for Windhoek in the evening.

The city tour of Windhoek starts with a visist to the TransNamib Transport Museum. The museum at hte Alte Feste Castle features a range fo displays, including the Social History Gallery and the Independence Display. At the top of Robert Mugabe Avenue is the Christuskirche or Evangelical Lutheran Church. Our last visit is the Namibia Craft Centre in the old Breweries Building. The train departs overnight for Tsumeb Siding.

Guests spend two days one night in the park viewing wildlife from the safety of air-conditioned vehicles (this time around the central region of the pan). Lunch (guests’ own account) can be enjoyed in the park. The night is spent in a tented camp inside or close to the park. The train remains stationary overnight at Oshivelo Station. Guests return to meet the train At Otjiwarongo Station.

This morning is the last opportunity to experience the magic of Etosha’s animal kingdom (this time in the southern region of the park and once again in air-conditioned vehicles). After lunch we depart for Otjiwarongo station, where the train departs for its southwards journey to Omaruru.

The town is known for its annual festival, its winery and for the dinosaur footprints at nearby Otjihaenamparero. We’ll visit the biggest wine cellar in Namibia Kristall Kellerei Winery – one of only three in the country. The white wine produced in this vineyard is unique and ‘the tales behind the story’ are interesting. A unique feature in this town is the Tikoloshe root-carving factory on the outskirts of the town. The ‘braai’ (barbeque) on the station’s platform is another highlight. The train departs early evening from Omaruru via Kranzberg and Usakos to Swakopmund.

Spitzkoppe is known as the 'Matterhorn of Namibia'. It rises to an altitude of about 1 800 m. However, it is by no means Namibia's highest mountain. Due to its striking features and outlines, it is the most famous mountain in the country. Situated in an endless dry landscape, the island of mountains can be seen from quite a distance. The enormous granite rocks were created more than 100 million years ago due to volcanic activities and subsequent erosion. Lunch is enjoyed before visiting the Cape Cross Seal Reserve. Here a prodigious number of Cape Fur Seals flourish in the cold waters of the Benguela Current. Afterwards, we make our way back to the train in Swakopmund in the late afternoon. The train remains stationary in Swakopmund over night.

Our day starts with a drive past Walvis Bay into the Namib Desert and a stop at a lookout point over the valley known as the Moon Landscape. The Welwitschia Nature Drive takes us through vast plains where herds of Oryx, Springbok and Zebra roam the supernatural landscape of these badlands. We then return to Walvis Bay for a lunch break. Dune 7, located on the outskirts of Walvis Bay, is the highest sand dune in the area. It is an unforgettable experience for those who feel inclined to challenge the height of this outstanding landmark to admire the view from the top.

Swakopmund, Namibia’s seaside resort on the West Coast, is a place of singular charm. It resembles a small Bavarian village nestling between the desert and the sea and enjoys a restful and relaxing atmosphere. The source of Swakopmund’s continental vibe are the graceful Art Nouveau buildings dating back to the turn of the previous century. The day is spent at leisure. The train departs Swakopmund midday for Windhoek.

A late breakfast will be served on board the train. If guests are transferring to a hotel, this will be arranged for them in the morning. Transfers to the airport will be done as per the flight schedules.

Start City          End City           Start Date        End Date  

Johannesburg    Windhoek          09-Jun-11          20-Jun-11

Windhoek          Johannesburg    22-Jun-11          03-Jul-11

Carriage Types:

• Arrival transfer: airport - train
• Departure transfer: train - airport
• Accommodation on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis (as per itinerary)
• A free choice of available Inclusive options.

• Airfares (national / international)


• Lunches


• Beverages


• Laundry


• Gratuities


• Purchases of a personal nature


• Light passengers: additional Land Excursions


• Specialised Activities


• Pre-night accommodation


• Visas where applicable


• Travel insurance


• Transfers between the train and hotels.

The Fish River Canyon, eroded over millennia is the second largest natural gorge in Africa. Set in a harsh, stony plain, dotted with drought resistant succulents such as the distinctive Quiver Tree or Kokerboom, the canyon is a spectacular natural phenomenon. Its full length is 160 km, the width up to 27 km and the depth 550 m. In the afternoon we visit Giant’s Playground, an impressive jumble of massive dolerite boulders of 160 - 180 million years old. We end our afternoon with a visit to the Quiver Tree Forest, where around 300 specimens of this prehistoric tree, Aloe dichotoma, can be found. The train journeys from Keetmanshop to Aus over night.