SOUTH
AFRICA - SAFARI TRAINS SERVICES & GENERAL INFORMATION Phone: 1-888-682-6449/1-303-670-5640 Fax: (425) 984-7676
ACCOMMODATION
General Information
Beds are used in cabins as
opposed to bunks. All cabins have a hand basin
with running water. In the Ivory cabins the basins
are covered by a folding table, which converts into a bedside table at
night. Each cabin has a safe and plug
point.
The categories of accommodation on the trains are as
follows:
HERITAGE TRAIN (Southern Cross and Dr
Livingstone trips) Emerald, Gold and Ivory
cabins.
AFRICA TRAIN (Good Hope & Dune Express
trips) Commodore and Ivory cabins.
Accommodation description:
Emerald: Twin or double beds with
private bathroom, small lounge area, air-conditioning, safe and
hairdryer.
Commodore: Twin beds with private bathroom, air-conditioning
and safe.
Gold: Twin beds with private
bathroom, airconditioning and safe. Ivory: twin beds or single beds
(Coupe) with fan, safe, hand basin and running water – shared bathroom
facilities. There is one shower and two toilets per carriage. No more
than two people will be allowed to share any compartment. Extra
carriages that could be different to current rolling stock may have to
be added onto the train from time to time.
ACCOUNTS Guests will be requested to
sign for on-board purchases throughout the trip. This includes signing
for drinks, additional excursions, purchases of a personal nature, etc.
All accounts are to be settled
on the evening before departure. Please note that drinks purchased on
the last night of the trip will be settled by way of a “cash bar” basis.
Accounts may be settled by
means of: South African Rand, major foreign currencies, travellers
cheques or credit cards. Regrettably debit cards are not accepted.
Kindly note that all credit
card payments are converted into ZAR.
AIR-CONDITIONING Air-conditioning (where
available) will be operational while the generator is running. The
generator runs for 24 hour except when there is a major break down.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE DETAILS It is very important that
Shongololo Express has the guests arrival and departure details so that
transfers may be organised and the train manager is aware of the times
the guest will arrive and depart at the beginning and end of each trip.
Should a guest be delayed in any way kindly contact the Train Manager,
their contact details are set out below under ‘Telephone’.
BANKING A minimal cash advance
facility can be made available while on board and debited to your
account. The amount advanced will carry a 10% surcharge. Banks and ATMs
can be found in most of the towns we travel through. Therefore, should
you prefer to go into a bank or foreign exchange provider a nominal
transportation fee will be levied.
BAR The bar will be open daily
from early in the morning until late at night.
CHILDREN Shongololo Express cannot
accommodate children between the ages of 0 and 7 years and children
from 17 years are regarded as adults. Children may not be in a cabin on
their own and will have to share with an adult.
CORKAGE As Shongololo Express is a
licensed establishment, a corkage fee of ZAR150.00 per bottle for wine
and spirits, and ZAR20.00 per can/bottle for minerals and water, will
apply accordingly.
Guests who have special
requests with regard to liquor are requested to notify their
reservations agent or Shongololo Express in advance. If notified
timeously, Shongololo Express will make every effort to obtain the
requested brand.
CURRENCY We suggest that guests bring
Rands, US Dollars or Euros. In South Africa only Rands may be used. In Zimbabwe, Zambia,
Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana and Tanzania it is possible to use
Rands, US Dollars or Euros. In Namibia Namibian Dollars.
DINING CARRIAGE The total seating capacity is
38. This means that there will be two meal sittings each day. Meal
times largely depend on the activities planned for the day, but meals
are generally served at the following times:
Breakfast from 06h00 to 08h00 Dinner from 18h30 to 21h30
Cuisine on board includes
traditional Cape Malay, Central, West and Southern African
specialities. Breakfast offers both a traditional English and
Continental breakfast selection.
Dining carriage is
air-conditioned The dress code for meal times
is casual The dining car is a
non-smoking areas Please inform your
reservations agent or Shongololo Express directly of any special
dietary requirements.
DRESS CODE As a relaxed atmosphere
prevails on board, comfortable clothing is recommended. Winter in
Southern Africa can be very cold and it is therefore advisable to bring
along warm clothing for early mornings and evenings.
DRINKING WATER We strongly advise against
drinking the water in the cabins or bathrooms. Bottled water can be
purchased from the bar.
ELECTRICITY The electric current on board
is 220 volt. Each compartment is fitted with a round 3-pin socket
(South African style). Adapter plugs and extension cables are available
from the Assistant Train Manager. Please treat sockets as live at all
times. Power is supplied by a generator. Please be aware that certain
breaks in power are necessary.
GAME DRIVES Game drives in open 4x4 safari
vehicles can be arranged as an optional excursion in certain areas. As the early mornings and
evenings can become rather chilly, when one is sitting in an open
vehicle, we recommend that
warm
clothing be brought along. Some game drive vehicles do not have a shade
cover so hats and good sun block is necessary.
GROUP BOOKING Our Group Policy affords a
"free of charge" for one traveller for every 20 full paying guests.
GUESTS RESPONSIBILITY All guests shall be solely
responsible for ensuring that they are physically and mentally capable
of undertaking the journey and participating in the activities. A
medical questionnaire must be completed by all guests 60 years and
over. This completed form must reach Shongololo Express prior to the
start of the trip, otherwise guests will be denied embarkation.
Questionnaires can be obtained from reservations agents or from
Shongololo Express directly.
GUIDES Guides and vehicles will be
rotated on a daily basis. Language groups will be considered with
guides generally speaking
French,
German, Afrikaans and English. Please feel free to discuss questions or
queries with your Guide or Train Manager at any time.
HAIRDRYERS Hairdryers are supplied to the
Emerald Double and Twin cabins on the Heritage Train only. Guests in other accommodation are asked to please bring their own.
HEATING The Lounge and Dining room are
heated via the airconditioning unit.
INCLUSIVE OPTIONS Daily excursions will be
written on the white board, which is located in the smoking lounge of
the Heritage Train and the lounge of the Africa Train. Please indicate
your choice of activity in the space provided. The Train Manager will
add a vehicle number next to your name for easy reference for the next
days touring.
Daily departure times depend
on the nature of the activity. Most activities depart at 08h30, while
others may depart earlier. Please check the information board to
confirm. In the event that various inclusive options are offered and
only a small number of passengers choose a specific tour, that
particular activity may have to be cancelled at the Train Manager's
discretion. Alternative options will be given.
INTERNET There are no internet
facilities on the train. Internet cafes are available in most towns we
travel through. In Zimbabwe internet facilities are only available in
Victoria Falls.
KEYS Cabin and safe keys will be
handed to you by the Train Manager upon checking in. In the event that
your keys are lost, or not handed back, a replacement fee of ZAR500.00
will be charged. Please ensure that all keys are handed back to the
Train Manager at the end of the tour.
LAUNDRY A laundry service is offered
on board. A laundry bag is provided in your cabin with laundry costing
between R3 and R15 an item, depending on the item. Clean laundry will
be returned within 24 to 48 hours - the return time is dependent on
weather conditions and travelling time of the train. Please refer to
the laundry list provided in your ‘Welcome pack’.
LIBRARY A small library is located on
the trains. Guests are free to make use of the books, but kindly return
them before the end of the trip. The guide books are also for use by
the guests but these must be returned at the end of each day.
LOUNGE / BAR CARRIAGE The lounge / bar carriage has
the following features: Accommodates approximately
forty guests Fully licensed Air-conditioned Non-smoking area The dress code is casual Kindly advise your booking
agent or Shongololo Express in advance if you would like us to obtain a
certain brand of liquor for you.
MAIL Mail can be sent by using a
post box, which is located in the lounge area. Items to be mailed can
also be handed to the Assistant Train Manager. Wherever possible, mail
is posted every day, except when in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. If guests
do not have stamps they only need put their cabin number where the
stamp will be affixed and this will be charged to your cabin.
MAINTENANCE Should you discover that
something in your carriage or cabin does not work, please advise the
Train Manager in order for it to be repaired / replaced as soon as
possible.
MALARIA It is strongly recommended
that clients on the Good Hope, Southern Cross and Dr Livingstone trips
take Malaria prophylactics.
MEALS If you have any special
dietary requirements, kindly advise your reservations agent or
Shongololo Express before the start of the trip. This notification
would enable the Train Manager to provide for your request. Lunch will
be for each guest’s own account, except when otherwise stated. For
example, In the Tracks of Dr Livingstone trip, there are a few days on
the rails when Shongololo Express will provide lunch. Guests on a Light
Package will be provided lunch for the days they are not doing
excursions, but this will be for their account.
MEDICAL First-aid boxes are carried
onboard the trains. Although first-aid equipment is carried on board,
limited medical facilities are available in some areas. We therefore
request that the Train Manager be immediately advised of any possible
medical requirements, should you require medical assistance. The Train
Manager also has a list of emergency numbers.
PACKAGES Shongololo Express offers two
packages, namely the Light Package and the Plus Package.
The Light Package includes: Arrival & departure
transfers from airport to train and train to airport Accommodation on a dinner, bed
and breakfast basis A choice of 5 Land Excursions
over the 16 days (additional Land Excursions can be bought on board the
train)
The Plus Package includes: Arrival & departure
transfers from airport to train and train to airport Accommodation on a dinner, bed
and breakfast basis A free choice of available
Land Excursions on a daily basis over the 16 days
PASSPORTS & VISAS Guests require valid passports
for entry into South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia,
Mozambique, Botswana and Tanzania. Some visas are obtainable at the
border post. Please check with your reservations agent or Shongololo
Express prior to the trip which visas are required. Visas are for
guest’s own account. The
cost of visas obtained at
the border will be added to your onboard account. Guests should ensure
that there are 6 free pages in their passports.
PRE-NIGHT Pre-night includes dinner, bed
and breakfast. Rates for pre-nights differ depending on the type of
cabin booked.
RAILWAYS Shongololo Express uses the
railway tracks of the National Railways of Zimbabwe, South Africa,
Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Tazara. Therefore the possibility
exists that the trains will run late from time to time. Should the
train be delayed, land activities may have to be shortened, altered or
cancelled - for which we don’t accept responsibility - and cannot
refund - since its out of our control and therefore unavoidable.
SAFE There is a small safe located
in each cabin. The key will be handed to you by the Train Manager,
together with the key to your cabin. Replacement of keys and the
opening of the safe will be charged for, as determined by the locksmith.
SAFETY
As the railway environment can be dangerous, please take care when
looking out of open windows. In order to avoid accidents, we request
that guests adhere to the following: Never open exterior doors
while the train is moving Never jump off or onto the
train while it is moving An emergency communications
cord is located half way down each corridor. This cord is to be used
only in the case of an emergency. If it is used in a non-emergency
situation, the culprit will be fined ZAR10,000 When taking photographs out of
the window, always look ahead to see what is coming Please ensure that all
valuables, documents and cash are kept in a safe place Management and staff will not
accept responsibility for any loss of personal property or cash if it’s
not put in the safe. Please also be advised that if you leave your room
you must make certain that your windows are closed Do not stray from
well-frequented areas after dark Change foreign currency at an
authorised dealer only
SHEETS, TOWELS and PILLOWS Sheets are changed every third
day and towels are changed every second day. Extra pillows and blankets
are available on request.
SHOWERS and TOILETS The water used on the train is
carried in tanks under each coach. These tanks are filled every day,
but they cannot be topped up while the train is enroute. Please assist
us by using water responsibly.
SMOKING Smoking on the train is only
permitted when the train is moving and only allowed in designated areas
- on the Heritage train in the smoking lounge and in the pub area on
the Africa train. When the train is stationary you may only smoke
outside on the platform. Smoking is not permitted in the dining car,
bathrooms, your cabin, passageways, touring vehicle and any
hotels/venues on any tour. Smoking of pipes/cigars is not permitted in
the designated smoking area.
SPECIALISED ACTIVITIES Specialised Activities are
offered during the trip. The cost of these activities are over and
above the Land Excursions and are not included in the Light or Plus
Packages. As many specialised off-rail activities are subcontracted to
Tour Operators, certain options may not be available from time to time
and are subject to availability and price adjustments. Kindly advise
the Train Manager timeously if you would like to book any of the
specialised off-rail activities available on a particular day. It is
only possible to book these once on board. Specialised Activities will
be charged to guest’s onboard account.
START AND END STATIONS The train will be located in
the following stations at the start and end of trips:
Cape Town – Muizenberg Station
Johannesburg – Nasrec Station
Victoria Falls – Victoria Falls
Station
Windhoek – Windhoek Station
Dar es Salaam – Tazara Railway
Station
START TIME Guests are requested to be at
the train by 08h00 on Day 1 should they wish to participate in the
day’s excursions.
STORAGE OF SUITCASES It is possible to store
suitcases in your cabin under the bed or above the door, depending on
the category of accommodation you are in.
TELEPHONE There is no telephone service
on board. Should you however need to
contact your Train Manager urgently while on tour, herewith a list of mobile numbers:
Emmanuel Ndlovu (Heritage Train):
(when in South Africa): +(27) 82
419 0299
(when in Zimbabwe): +(263) 11 207 116
Petra Lucas (Africa Train):
(when in South Africa): +(27) 82
419 0298
(when in Namibia): +(264) 81 324 550
TIPPING - GRATUITIES This is entirely at the
guest's discretion. Tips will be divided equally between members of
staff. Our recommended gratuity for the full trip is between R650.00
and R750.00 per guest. Gratuities may be added to the final account or
can be handed to the Train Manager. Please do not tip staff members
individually.
TOILETRIES Please feel free to ask the
Train Manager for assistance with regards to items that may have been
forgotten.
TRANSFERS Only transfers to and from
local airports, and hotels close to the airports, to the train are
included in the price.
There will be a charge for all
other transfers. Please note that transfers to and from Livingstone Airport to the train in
Victoria Falls will carry a charge of US$ 25.00 per person.
TRAVEL INSURANCE It is strongly recommended
that all guests have comprehensive travel insurance including but not
limited to medical cost, emergency evacuation & repatriation,
cancellation or curtailment, loss of baggage, personal possessions or
money.
UPGRADES Your Train Manager will gladly
discuss upgrading to more spacious accommodation, provided that it is available. The cost for the
upgrade is payable directly to the Train Manager. Payment must be done
before the upgrade is granted.
VEHICLES Vehicles are carried on board
the train, which makes Shongololo Express a unique concept worldwide. A
change in these vehicles may be necessary to accommodate the excursion
for the particular day.
The Mercedes Sprinters (10
seaters) are fitted with air-conditioning and a public address system.
More Tours and Cruises
available on request
To book or for more
information please complete the INQUIRY FORM
