03 March 2016
Yesterday evening I had the pleasure of being invited to the steam train relaunch, show casing the recent luxurious upgrade to the dining, bar and observation cars.
The steam train, a regular feature of Victoria Falls tourism for many years takes guests on a train ride that hails from a bygone era, quintessentially colonial with plush furnishings, dark wood interior, well stocked bar where G&T’s are genteelly supped and gourmet snack platters are in abundance.
The experience starts within yards of Victoria Falls hotel, with the 512 Garret huffing, primed, steamed and ready to go. Copper pipes burnished to African sunset brilliance, this old lady of the steam world is lovingly looked after and treated with a respect bordering justified reverence.
A gentle twenty minute ride see’s the train parked on the century old, Cecil Rhodes inspired bridge spanning the Zambezi, with magnificent views of the falls upstream and inspiring downstream views as Africa’s fourth longest river thrashes it’s tumultuous journey on wards to the Indian ocean.
Guests have the opportunity to explore the bridge on foot, marveling at one the greatest engineering feats of the twentieth century location considered, drink in the majesty of the falls, engage with local traders as
they ply their wares between Zambia and Zimbabwe and on a good day watch today’s youth fling themselves off the bridge attached to a rubber ‘umbilical’ cord.
For more information, rates, schedules, private hire contact the writer:
John Nicholson
john@agentsafrica.com