We no longer will offer the Bushmen excursion and herewith a little more regarding the matter: The Fiume Bush camp will be situated on a sand dune, which is surrounded by Kalahari Desert vegetation and savannah grass lands. In these typical Kalahari surroundings one will be able to celebrate the freedom of the African Bush and at the same time rejuvenate, relax and enjoy the riches of nature and the San Culture. Bush Camp is an ideal in between two night stop over when heading towards the Caprivi, Waterberg and Etosha. Fiume Bush camp is just 75km north east from the town Grootfontein on the D2844. Fiume Bush Camp will be the ideal stop for travellers who have a special place in their hearts for ancient cultures. Comfortable accommodation will be offered in 8 comfortable Safari tents. All equipped with necessities one needs for a comfortable two night stay; en-suite bathroom, cupboard, twin beds and mosquito nets.
The main attention of Fiume Bush Camp will be the Bushmen excursions and ensuring that clients will experience the Bushmen culture in the best way possible and this will be done by an all inclusive 2 night package. The two night package will consist of: · A full buffet breakfast. · A fresh and light lunch. · 2 course dinner meal, served with the wine of the day. · A Bushman Experience as stipulated The Bushmen excursion will include the following: · Fire making · A Bushwalk · Explanation of weapons and quiver · How to make jewellery, string, bow and a demonstration of how to hunt. · Games of the Ju/ Hansi · Medicine dance The main reason why Bush Camp will be joining the Fiume Family is because of the Bushmen. After three years of offering the Bushmen Excursion we have realised that so much valuable time has been lost due to travelling from Fiume Lodge to the Bushmen Village and that clients are enjoying it very much. The bushmen excursion will however ONLY be offered if clients spend the two nights in Fiume Bush Camp. Fiume Lodge will be there for the stops over’s.
Oyster Tour and Tasting in Luderitzbucht Eagle Tented Camp Seasonal Closure Guest House Terra Africa Seasonal Closure
Take note of the following update: Oyster Tour and Tasting in Luderitzbucht As the Oyster Bar is closed with immediate effect, your guests on our scheduled Tours: Exploring Namibia and Canyons & Deserts, will enjoy the oyster Tasting at the Cray Fish Bar & Lounge.
Eagle Tented Camp seasonal closure The Eagle Tented Camp is closed for renovations until end of July 2015. All existing bookings are upgraded free of charge to Epacha Game Lodge.
Guest House Terra Africa seasonal closure The Guesthouse will be closed from 15 November 2015 to 30 March 2016 for complete renovations, construction and expansion.
As the world takes stock, in the aftermath of the Nepalese earthquake, &Beyond has been gathering information on both the situation on the ground and the circumstances surrounding our guests and employees in the country. Currently, relief and rescue operations are still underway in the Kathmandu Valley and other remote regions of the country. Flights have now been cleared to land at Kathmandu Airport as well as airstrips in India and neighbouring countries. While international flights have been allowed to operate, many flights have either been cancelled or delayed due to the current extreme weather conditions, which have ultimately caused further congestion at Kathmandu Airport. Priority has also been given to flights carrying aid supplies. The scene at Mt Everest is still bustling with Indian Army search and rescue teams, who are working in conjunction with aid rescue workers to bring people out of affected areas. Thankfully, all &Beyond employees, their family members and our guests have been accounted for. The &Beyond teams in South Asia, and from our base in Africa, are actively working towards assisting those whose travel arrangements have been affected. We are proud to say that one of our guides was able to see his guests off at the airport despite suffering a broken hand and losing his house in the earthquake, and we have been incredibly humbled by many similar acts of service and selflessness, which those who have visited the region will know are a trademark of Nepalese hospitality.
&Beyond would like to thank everyone who has reached out to our teams in Nepal and South Asia. We have had an overwhelming response of concern and support, with many past guests and trade partners wishing to donate towards current relief efforts. So far, an incredible USD11 600 has been pledged to aid citizens in the country who have been directly impacted by the earthquake. From our initial research, we are planning to direct these funds to areas around Pokhara and Kathmandu, where many citizens have been left without food, clothing and shelter. &Beyond has set up a relief fund for the Nepalese earthquake victims.
BUSHTRACKS BOTSWANA GETS NEW BOAT FOR CHOBE: Bushtracks is pleased to announce a new addition to its fleet in the form of a brand new 80 seater boat. Seated buffet lunch on board is also available for group bookings of 40 pax or less.
3 hour trips on board this boat can be booked either in the morning or afternoon. Normal schedule time of departure is: 09:30 - 12:30 and 15:00hrs - 18:00hrs.
We can also offer wedding cruises that lasts for a maximum of 2hrs in to the park or 1hour 30 minutes outside the park.
Although the earliest travellers to this region were bound for the Linyanti and the Zambezi rivers, it was that the imagination of the world at large was stirred. Overnight, the Falls became the place that every hunter, trader, artist, photographer, missionary and adventurer worth his salt had to see. Although the Victoria Falls lie outside Botswana, all the early characters travelled through this country to get there, most of them using the Hunters’ Road.
The Hunters’ Road – a romantic name for what is still a romantic place. The country on either side of that track is still as wild as when Selous hunted here. If anything, there is more game now than there was in his day. Although it was eventually abandoned in favour of a better route to the east, it was, in its heyday, the most direct route to the Victoria Falls via Tati, a town that existed before Francistown ever did. Early travellers came up the Tati River to Maitengwe then turned north onto Nata following the border of present day Zimbabwe and Botswana. Names such as Nunga, Jauri, Tamafupa, Tamasanka, Jolley’s, Stoffel’s, Gurrea and Cram of Tartar were well known to all who used this track, as they were the names of the pans found alongside the road from Nata to the Zambezi. In order to survive the journey, it was essential some of the pans contained water.
Today the Hunters’ Road has long since fallen into obscurity and the names of the pans are known only to the avid reader of the narratives of those days and Botswana hunters of the last decade or two. As a track it survives only because it became the international boundary between Bechuanaland and Rhodesia.
In 1871 a trader by the name of Westbeach, accompanied by his partner Phillips, arrived at the Victoria Falls. Westbeach was a real character. He obtained permission from the local chiefs to hunt north of the Zambezi – in areas only Livingstone had seen at that time. He set up his headquarters about eighty kilometers south of the confluence of the Chobe and Zambezi rivers, safely outside the tsetse-fly belt that straddled the southern banks of those rivers. Westbeach established the Hunters’ Road and maintained it until his death in 1888. He was one of the few men of that era to enjoy the confidence of Lobengula, of the Matabele tribe and Lewankia, chief of Barotseland. He used large numbers of African or Boer hunters to shoot elephant on a big scale and, for many years, transported up to 11 000kg of ivory south of the Panda-ma-Tenga. Westbeach’s settlement at Panda-ma-Tenga became a regular stopping-point for many travellers bound for the Zambezi and the Victoria Falls.
One of the earliest guides to hunting in Southern Africa was penned by Alfred Bethell, a member of the Bechuanaland Border Police after his journey to the Falls in 1886. He and a companion set out poorly equipped, inadequately provisioned and with useless guides. Subsequently, they nearly died from a lack of water on the Hunters’ Road between the Nata River and Panda-ma-Tenga. His account of his journey in his book, Notes on Sough African Hunting, aptly illustrates what it was like to travel that route in that colourful era.
Although we can’t travel the road in it’s entirety in this day and age we can still gain access in certain places. It is still possible to visit the original site of old Tati Town which is situated approximately 60 km South East of Francistown. Or visit our memorial wall and wagon wheel on another site of the Hunters’ Road at the entrance to Woodlands Stop Over. Another option is to catch the track north of the Nata at Ngwasha and travel up to Panamatenga and even onto Kasane. Take plenty of water in case of any mishaps.
Celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday 10th May 2015 with a heavily discounted trip on the world renown and luxury The Blue Train from Durban to Pretoria. The train is returning from the International Indaba Tourism Expo in Durban and the spaces on the train have been made available to us at a heavily reduced price.
Celebrate an anniversary; tick off the Bucket List; experience one of your dreams; get engaged; send your parents on the train trip; or just be part of it.
The train departs on Sunday 10th May 2015 at 13:00 from Durban’s railway station to arrive on Monday 11th May 2015 at 10:00 in Pretoria. Passengers (from up country) can fly in from Jo’burg to Durban on the morning of departure and return by The Blue Train OR KZN people can take the train from Durban and fly back from Jo’burg on Monday afternoon.
Included in the package: One way trip on The Blue Train, all meals and drinks on the train, a butler taking care of you, land transfer in DBN and Pretoria, flight back to home.
The tour price starts at R7900 per person in a DeLuxe suite. Contact us today at info@namibweb.com
RUGBY TOUR PACKAGES – Springboks vs All Blacks The Springboks and the All Blacks will this year only play once against each other in the 2015 Rugby Championships. This match will take place on Saturday 25th July 2015 at the Emirates Airline Stadium (old Ellispark) in Johannesburg.
JB Train Tours will be hosting a variety of tours to this event, including a self-drive for people not living on a train or flight route. The rugby ticket, two nights’ accommodation, bus transfers in Jo’burg, certain meals and return train trips are included in the package.
The following 3 - & 4 - day tours will be hosted:
Train tour from Cape Town to Jo’burg R3850 pp Train tour from PE to Jo’burg R3400 pp Train/flight tour from Durban to Jo’burg R3890 pp Self drive or self fly to Jo’burg R2950 pp One-day package
Book NOW. Bookings have opened. This is a test NOT to be missed.
AMASHOVA CYCLE RACE – Train Tour The annual Tsogo Sun Amashova Durban Classic Cycle race between Pietermaritzburg and Durban (partially on the Comrades marathon route) will again be hosted on Sunday 18th October 2015 over a distance of 106 km.
Two shorter races, 65 km & 35 km, are hosted on the same day for those cyclists we do not want to do the full distance.
Further good news is that JB Train Tours will be hosting a train tour package from Jo’burg to Durban for cyclists to participate in the races, as well as for family, friends and supporters who’s like to travel along. The transportation of the bicycle on the train is included in the package.
Tour dates are Friday evening 16th to Monday morning 19th Oct 2015. Tour price starts at R2400 pp and it includes: The return train trip, bicycle on the train, bedding on the train, one night’s accommodation in a Tsogo Sun Hotel in DBN and certain meals. Click here for the full details of the tour on contact JB Train Tours.
Space is limited to 50 passengers on tour and bookings have opened.
DID YOU KNOW? ° The Fountains Hotel in Cape Town will undergo a revamp during the winter of 2015. All the rooms will be upgraded, whilst the ground floor, including Reception and the Dining Area, will receive new décor. Many of the JB Train Tours’ tours stay in this hotel when visiting Cape Town. ° Kom luister op Saterdag 18 Apr 2015 om 10:00 na Radio Sonder Grense se ‘Reise Sonder Grense’ wanneer ons oor ‘n verskeidenheid van ons toere gaan gesels.
EXPO at CLEARWATER MALL
During the last week of March 2015 we’ve hosted a stall at the Outdoor Expo held in the Clearwater Mall in Weltevreden Park, Roodepoort. Many regular passengers have come to greet us and talked about their tours.
WINNER ANNOUNCED
The winner of our ‘Win-a-Train-Tour-Competition’ held at the Beeld Holiday Expo at the Galagher Conference Centre hosted by the end of Feb 2015, is Ms. Erika Marx from Kempton Park. Although she has not decided when she’ll opt for the train tour from Jo’burg to Durban for two persons, she said she ‘is looking forward to it’.
OLDER NEWS
BLUE TRAIN SPECIAL – LAST MINUTE OFFER & EXTENDED FURTHER GOOD NEWS
Special offer now extended to the end of July 2015. A gift to yourself and a ‘tick on your bucket list’.
Note: There was a substantial increase in the number of bookings we’ve received from our readers on this tour. For many people it is a dream come true when they travel on the world famous Blue Train and so much more on this heavily reduced tour package. We (JB Train Tours) are proud to announce that we’ve again negotiated a ‘last minute’ special offer 4-day tour package at a discounted rate for our clients on the luxurious Blue Train between Pretoria and Cape Town or in the opposite direction. This 4-day tour package will cost you less than the normal train ticket price but it includes the overnight trip on the train, all meals on board, two night’s accommodation in a 4-star hotel in Cape Town (for the PTA to CPT trip), certain meals in CPT, hop-on-hop-off bus ticket, transfers, flight from CPT to JHB and safe car parking in PTA or CPT. This package is ONLY available to South African and Africa citizens or people with a residence permit. The tour package price is from R11999 per person sharing. The train departs only on a Monday morning from Pretoria and only on a Wednesday morning from Cape Town. Contact us today at info@namibweb.com Note: This last minute special offer is only available up to July 2015. It has in the past served for many people as an anniversary trip or even as a honeymoon. Some passengers did it as a ‘must do on their bucket list’ trip! Traveling on the Blue Train is a very special experience.
VICTORIA FALLS TOURS in 2015
The Vic Falls between Zimbabwe and Zambia is one of the new natural Wonders of the World. It is almost on our South African doorstep. Did you know that Pretoria and Johannesburg is closer to Vic Falls than to Cape Town! Africa citizens or people with a permanent residence permit can travel on a reduced tour price on this 10-day tour. It is hosted by Shongololo Express but JB Train Tours acts as an agent on their behalf. The tour price is offered at a huge reduced amount: R22 999pp sharing, single rate is R34 498.50 pp.
One can either travel Northbound or Southbound. The Northbound tour starts in Nelspruit and the Southbound tour ends in Nelspruit. One can either fly to Nelspruit OR make use of a shuttle bus service from Gauteng OR do a self-drive trip.
Other places to visit include: Zimbabwe national Monument (Zim Ruines), Matobo Hills, Bulawayo, Hwange National Park, Livingstone in Zambia and Chobe Game park.
Remaining Tour Dates for 2015:
° 24 Nov – 3 Dec, Nelspruit to Vic Falls, VFN#3 ° 9 – 18 Dec, Vic Falls to Nelspruit, VFS#3 Contact us today at info@namibweb.com
NAMAQUALAND FLOWERS in SEASON - 2015
Although it is now only autumn, for the people living in Namaqualand it is important to receive some good rains from now on, because it will not only the condition of the ‘veld’ for grazing purposes, but also for the ‘wealth of flowers’ in the upcoming season in July, August & September.
Bookings for our different tours have opened and we have again scheduled not less than 14 tours from Jo’burg to the flowers in 2015. There will be nine (9) tours on the Tourist Class train (the most popular tour package), two (2) Motorbike-on-Train tours, two (2) flight tour packages from anywhere in South Africa, as well as a train tour on the upmarket Premier Classe train departing from Jo’burg.
This year Capetonians can join two x 6-day bus tours as well. Contact us today at info@namibweb.com
COMRADES MARATHON TRAIN TOUR
Our train was fully booked. We’ve got some extra space for runners, family and supporters on the tour. Book NOW!
This tour takes place from Friday evening 29th May to Monday morning 2nd June 2015. Runners, spectators and supporters welcome. Contact us today at info@namibweb.com
Request: Passengers that went on tour with us can send their pictures to us for publication. Please send it to info@jbtours.co.za and put your Name & Surname, the name of your home town and which tour you’ve participated in. We prefer photo’s with people in it – not nature pics.
PICTURES of TRAINS We have noticed that some people get confused about the type of trains we (JB Train Tours) make use of for our variety of train tours. Kindly note that we do NOT make use of the daily commuter train, called the Metro Rail (which many people mentioned their concerns to us about the safety on the train). We have been making use of the following trains for many years - feel free to join us for a relaxing and SAFE experience: Shosholoza Meyl train (budget), Premier Classe train (upmarket), Shongololo Express train (heritage upmarket), Desert Express train (upmarket), Blue train (luxury). Please find below images of the different trains.
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UPCOMING TOURS: May to June 2015
UPMARKET TOURS:
All the below mentioned up market tours are hosted monthly. Please contact us for details or click on the link
Cape Town Stylish weekend Train Tour: JHB to CPT Travel from Jo’burg to the Mother City on a 3-night long weekend trip. (Thursday afternoon to Sunday afternoon). Enjoy the luxury on the Premier Classe train for one night, sleep two nights in a hotel in Cape Town and fly back. Transfers in CPT and open deck bus excursion included. From R6599 pp. Cape Town Stylish weeklong Train Tour: JHB to CPT Travel on a return train trip from Jo’burg to the Mother City on a 6-night weeklong trip. (Thursday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon). Enjoy the luxury on the Premier Classe train for two nights, sleep four nights in a hotel in Cape Town and return again by train. Transfers in CPT and open deck bus excursion included. From R9999 pp.
Cape Town Stylish weeklong Train Tour: JHB to CPT Travel from Jo’burg to the Mother City on a 6-night weeklong trip. (Thursday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon). Enjoy the luxury on the Premier Classe train for one night, sleep five nights in a hotel in Cape Town and return by flight. Transfers in CPT and open deck bus excursion included. This tour is very popular with honeymoon couples and anniversaries. From R8699 pp.
All these up market tours are hosted monthly.
MAY 2015 TRAIN & BUS TOURS
Budget Tours:
Garden Route: Jo’burg to PE. Depart from JHB by train and enjoy a holiday in the spectacular Garden Route on South Africa’s Southern Coast. Visit places like Knysna, Pletterberg Bay, Tsitsikamma Forest, Mossel Bay, Outiniqua Mountains, Oudtshoorn and much more. 10 – 16 May 2015. From R7600 per person sharing. More info
Kruger National Park & Lowveld: CPT to JHB & Lowveld. Depart from Cape Town by train and enjoy a 9-day holiday on tour in the historic and world famous Kruger National Park. Visit the panoramic God’s window, Bourkes’s Luck potholes, Pilgrims Rest and much more. Sleep 3 nights in the KNP. 8 – 16 May 2015. From R9100 per person sharing. More info
Motorbike-on-Train to Garden Route: Jo’burg to PE & back via Beaufort WestDepart from JHB by train and ride many mountain passes (all on tar). Enjoy the scenery and beauty of the Eastern Cape, Garden Route and Karoo. Accommodation in top hotels en route and certain meals included. Motorbike travels on train with you. No racing – it’s a tour. 10 – 16 May 2015. From R6100 pp sharing.
Kruger National Park & Lowveld: Gauteng to JHB & LowveldDepart from JHB, PTA & OR Tambo by luxury bus and enjoy a 7-day holiday on tour in the historic and world famous Kruger National Park. Visit the panoramic God’s window, Bourkes’s Luck potholes, Pilgrims Rest and much more. Sleep 3 nights in the KNP. 9 - 15 May 2015. From R6990 per person sharing.
Comrades marathon: Jo’burg to DBNDepart from JHB by train and enjoy this sport tour. It is our 16th consecutive tour to the Comrades marathon. We take you to the Expo and registration in Durban, as well as from the finish line to the station in Pietermaritzburg on race day. Accommodation and bus transport in Durban included. 29 May – 1 June 2015. From R2050 per person sharing.
UPMARKET TOURS:
See above all the up market tours that are hosted monthly.
JUNE 2015 TRAIN & BUS TOURS
Budget Tours
Durban 4-day Weekender: Jo’burg to Durban Depart from JHB by train and enjoy the weekend in the Holiday City. Visit uShaka Marine World, the beaches, Sun Coast casino and much more. Accommodation in a top hotel in Durban and certain meals included. 19 – 22 June 2015. From R2300 pp sharing.
Maputo 4-day Weekender: Jo’burg, Pretoria & OR Tambo Airport to Maputo Depart from JHB by luxury bus and enjoy the weekend in the Capital City of Mozambique. Visit the historical places, the beaches, Catembe and much more. Accommodation in a top hotel in Maputo and certain meals included. 13 – 16 Jun 2015 (Long weekend). From R3550 pp sharing.
Equilibria 6-day train tour to the Western Cape A finishing school in Potchefstroom visiting the Breede River valley outside Worcester in the Western Cape.
UP MARKET TOURS:
See above all the up market tours that are hosted monthly.
Namibia: 10 Days – See it all! Depart from Windhoek by train and visit several areas of the country, including the Fish River Canyon, Giants’ Playground, a cheetah farm, ghost town Kolmanskop, Luderitz, Etosha Pans, Omaruru, Goanikontes, the Namib Desert, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. Accommodation is on the luxurious Desert Express train with en suite bathroom for every cabin. Two meals per day, excursions by bus and only 2 persons per cabin. 30 June – 9 July 2015. From R22980 per person sharing. Fully booked
JULY 2015 TRAIN & BUS TOURS
Budget Tours:
Kruger National Park & Lowveld: CPT to JHB & LowveldDepart from Cape Town by train and enjoy a 9-day holiday on tour in the historic and world famous Kruger National Park. Visit the panoramic God’s window, Bourkes’s Luck potholes, Pilgrims Rest and much more. Sleep 3 nights in the KNP. 10 - 18 July 2015. From R9100 per person sharing.
Mozambique, Swaziland & Kruger National Park 8-day: Gauteng to Moz, Swaziland & KNPDepart from Pretoria’s Gautrain station, Jo’burg railway station (Bus terminal) & OR Tambo Airport and travel by luxury coach (bus) to two of our neighbouring countries: Swaziland and Mozambique. Pay a brief visit to the Kruger National Park as well. Go enjoy the Portuguese food, night life, city as well as country areas, 2M Beer and experience something different. This 8-day tour is suitable for anyone. 4 - 11 July 2015. From R8500 pp sharing.
Kruger National Park & Lowveld: Gauteng to JHB & LowveldDepart from JHB, PTA & OR Tambo by luxury bus and enjoy a 7-day holiday on tour in the historic and world famous Kruger National Park. Visit the panoramic God’s window, Bourkes’s Luck potholes, Pilgrims Rest and much more. Sleep 3 nights in the KNP. 11 - 17 July 2015. From R6990 per person sharing.
Ironman in DBN: Jo’burg to Durban Depart from Jo’burg by train and travel overnight with your bicycle on the train to this major sporting event to be hosted in DBN. This international event will bring participants from all over the globe to South Africa. The tour is open to participants, friends, family and supporters. 31 Jul – 3 Aug 2015. From R2300 pp sharing.
Rugby in Cape Town: Jo’burg to CPT Depart from Jo’burg by flight to the Mother City and attend the opening rugby test of the season at Newlands. Watch the Springboks play a World XV side as part of their preparation for the upcoming series against New Zealand, Australia and Argentina. 10 – 12 July 2015.
Rugby in Jo’burg – 4 Tours Variety of tours will be hosted from different departure points to the rugby test between the Springboks and All Blacks in Johannesburg.
Train tour from Cape Town to Jo’burg R3850 pp 24 – 27 July 2015 Train tour from PE to Jo’burg R3400 pp 24 – 27 July 2015 Train/flight tour from Durban to Jo’burg R3890 pp 24 – 26 July 2015 Self drive or self fly to Jo’burg R2950 pp 24 – 26 July 2015
Laerskool Middelburg from Middelburg in Mpumalanga will be going on a 7-day tour to Cape Town, returning by flight.
UPMARKET TOURS:
See above all the up market tours that are hosted monthly.
Namibia: 7 Days - Two for the price of one! Depart from Windhoek by train and visit the central part of the country, including Omaruru, Goanikontes, the Namib Desert, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. Accommodation is on the luxurious Desert Express train with en suite bathroom for every cabin. Two meals per day, excursions by bus and only 2 persons per cabin. 20 – 26 July (Full) & 27 Jul – 2 Aug 2015. From R21980 per couple sharing.
More Namibian 10-day tours in Aug, Sept & Oct 2015.
More Namibian 7-day tours in Sept, Oct & Nov 2015.
#WoodlandsStopOver&Lodge #WoodlandsLodge #WoodlandsBotswana #ВудландсБотсвана Our luxurious 2-bedroomed cottage is fully equipped for the self-catering traveller. It is nestled amongst the trees along the beautiful banks of the Tati River.
The full length veranda offers space and privacy. It overlooks a secluded, private braai area with the river visible behind.
Rhodesian teak furniture and local art pieces create a warm and homely atmosphere. A feature area is the attractive fire place for the chilly winter nights.
The spacious kitchen will delight the caterer and family alike and the two bedrooms have two 3/4 beds each and their own bathroom en-suite.
Clean crisp linen is provided. A breakfast basket is available on request whilst tea & coffee facilities are provided.
Serviced daily.
Parking is adjacent to the cottage for your convenience.
