Elegant lounges

Each of The Blue Trains has two lounges: the main lounge car in which high tea is served each afternoon, and the club car where guests can relax over a post-prandial cognac. The club car is the only public area available for smoking.

Linking the private suites of The Blue Train are two wood-panelled cars: the lounge and club cars. Our elegant lounges are ideally positioned for an apéritif, an interlude between meals or an after-dinner conversation over coffee, cognac and Cuban cigars.

Smokers will feel at home instantly in the burnished surroundings of the club car, where mellow lamplight sets the tone for quiet reflection or the glow of good company.

You can while away the miles with a game of cards, chess or backgammon, tune in to the big-screen television or browse through a volume from the library while savouring your beverage of choice from the well-stocked bar. Unwind, relax, and indulge.

Fine dining

The dining car provides seating for 42 people. There are two sittings for lunch and dinner. Lunch is smart-casual, dinner is jacket and tie for the men and elegant wear for the ladies, while breakfast is casual.

The Blue Train experience is a banquet for all the senses and this is especially true of our dining car. Here the reassuring weight of Sheffield cutlery and crystal glassware on crisp white linen set the tone for the delights to follow.

As the sky darkens over the landscape, the day's smart-casual dress code gives way to a parade of elegant eveningwear or traditional attire, in keeping with The Blue Train's classic livery and earthy African décor.

Each meal is scored to a selection of tasteful background music, ranging from smooth jazz to light classical to the mellow tones of the Soweto String Quartet.

A meal on The Blue Train is an experience in itself. Our menus feature a selection of local cuisine from Karoo lamb and ostrich fillet to Knysna oysters accompanied by award-winning cultivars from the Cape winelands, all serving as the perfect complement to the landscape through which you are travelling.

Prepared from the freshest produce and ingredients, artfully presented in the finest Silver Service tradition, The Blue Train's legendary cuisine is an irresistible tribute to culinary mastery.

The Blue Train is fully equipped to accommodate vegetarian, Halaal, Kosher or other special dietary requirements, which should be specified when you make your reservation. Join us at one of two dinnertime sittings, or savour your meal in the comfort of your suite. A Continental or full English breakfast is served at your leisure.

Take your seat and make yourself at home. The banquet is about to begin.

Jewellery Boutique

The boutique on The Blue Train is a treasure trove of gems and minerals as rich as Africa itself. It allows the discerning traveller the opportunity to purchase treasures from South Africa's best designers. Our current range includes an exquisite collection of wildlife jewellery designed and manufactured by internationally acclaimed jewellers.

Competitively priced, exquisitely set and designed, these desirable pieces will prove ideal for a loved one, or as a glittering memento of this unforgettable experience.

A selection of elegant art objects exemplifies the distinctiveness of our award-winning craftsmen. Gold, diamonds and quartz are merely a few of the materials from which these objects are crafted. Many of the pieces reflect African culture with wildlife a predominant theme.

The boutique also offers The Blue Train branded mementos, such as:

• golf shirts,
• caps,
• clocks,
• playing cards,
• letter openers,
• leather goods and
• coffee table books.

Personal Service

Each coach has a butler on call to attend to our guests' every need. Our butlers serve a maximum of four suites and are there to ensure that your experience is as memorable and comfortable as possible.

The train manager is also on call at all times. Guests can contact him whenever they require assistance or if they would like information pertaining to their journey.

Our on-board services include:

• A variety of delicious snacks and beverages served in your suite on request,
• A limited on-board laundry and valet service,
• Safes in all the suites for your valuables, and
• A luggage van for additional luggage that a guest may not need during the journey.

The two engineers who are always on board the train are happy to share their knowledge with train enthusiasts.

The telephone in each suite allows guests to contact the train manager or butler 24 hours a day. Should guests wish to make external calls (local or international), the staff will gladly assist them to do so at a nominal fee. Fax facilities are also available.

Facilities

Fax facilities are available in the train manager's office. There are also facilities for mailing letters, as well as stamps and The Blue Train postcards.

A camera mounted on the front of both trains gives guests a driver's-eye-view of the scenery ahead. The unfolding journey is shown on a TV screen in the club car and on one of the TV channels so guests can view it in their suites.

Each suite is also equipped with a cellular communication telephone which can be used for phone calls and to reach train staff.

The Blue Train has a central intercom system which is used for making relevant announcements.