Train Across South Africa

My great grandfather took the train when moving from Pretoria to the Cape Colony in 1913. His route included a few days’ stop in Bloemfontein and Kimberley. Then, it was the long journey to the southwest corner of the African continent. Since, my adventures in South Africa were taking me from Kimberley to Cape Town, I decided to take the same route as my great grandfather via train between the two cities. I rode the Shosholoza Meyl train, which begins its journey in Pretoria.

A Long Delay

Let me say here, unless you have a great desire to travel by train or a reason to do it like I did following my ancestor, I wouldn’t recommend this train or transport. It is long, hot, and slow. In fact, my train arrived several hours late, so I had to sit around at the Kimberley Station for about five hours waiting. We finally departed well after midnight. Then, it was still slower in traveling making it even later to arrive in Cape Town. I was fortunate enough to get an entire compartment to myself, but it wasn’t comfortable and had no A/C.

Lovely Countryside

The benefit, once you crossed the desert, which happened in the dark of night, for the most part, the scenery got more and more beautiful. This is when you drop from a plateau down into the Hex River Valley. It is beautiful with vineyards, granite peaks, and grand vistas. All along the way I was seeing places my great grandfather mentioned in his journal. I also came to understand how a farmer from Utah could give any advice with his almanacs from Utah to farmers of South Africa. The Hex River Valley, and what follows, reminded me so much of Utah, particularly southern Utah Valley, where he was from.

Anyhow, I made it to Cape Town for the last few days of my marvelous South African adventure glad I had taken the time to follow my ancestor’s footsteps.