Train travel in
How to travel by train in
Zimbabwe . . .
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Train travel in |
How to travel by train inZimbabwe . . . |
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Country information |
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Train operator in Zimbabwe: |
National Railways of Zimbabwe - no official website. |
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Time zone: |
GMT+2 |
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Currency: |
£1 = . Z$ are not available outside Zimbabwe. Currency converter |
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Tourist information: |
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Visas: |
UK citizens now need a visa to visit Zimbabwe, but this can be obtained at the point of entry for about £35 / $55. |
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Page last updated: |
3 January 2009 |
South Africa - Zimbabwe by train or bus...Whatever you may read in your guidebook, there are now no direct scheduled trains from South Africa to Zimbabwe, and have not been for some years. If your guidebook is a few years old, it may mention weekly trains from Johannesburg to Harare and Bulawayo, but for political reasons (in fact, exorbitant haulage charges imposed by the National Railways of Zimbabwe) these were suspended in 1999. Similarly, since 1999, the daily train that used to link Mafeking and Bulawayo via Gaborone now starts at Lobatse in Southern Botswana and terminates at Francistown in Northern Botswana, and does not enter South Africa. As at 2007, National Railways of Zimbabwe are allegedly considering re-instating a Harare-Johannesburg train some time before 2010, but expect this when you see it. So there are now several less-than-brilliant choices for overland travel from SA to Zimbabwe:
Botswana - Zimbabwe by train...The daily Mafeking-Gaborone-Francistown-Bulawayo train was cut back to running purely within Botswana in 1999. However, a new Francistown-Bulawayo train service started in June 2006, running 3 times weekly with modern coaches (complete with TV entertainment!). There are connections by overnight train to/from Gaborone and Lobatse, near the South African frontier. See the Train travel in Botswana page for train times and days of running. Zambia - Zimbabwe by train...There are now no scheduled passenger trains across the famous Zambesi bridge from Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) to Livingstone (Zambia). But you can walk across the bridge from Vic Falls to the Zambian border post and take a taxi the few miles on to Livingstone. Trains run from Livingstone to Lusaka and Kapiri Mposhi, where you can change trains onto the Tazara line to Dar es Salaam. See the Train travel in Zambia & Tanzania page for train times, fares and days of running. Namibia - Zimbabwe by bus...A bus links Victoria Falls with Windhoek 3 times a week, see the Namibia page or www.intercape.co.za. |
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This classic overnight train is THE way to reach Vic Falls from Bulawayo, even though (given Zim's economic situation) it's now getting very down-at-heel. It's an experience in itself, a piece of history with British-built coaches, some with wood-panelled interiors, dating from 1952 and 1958. The train may receive new coaches at some point during 2008, as it was reported that 64 new long-distance coaches were due to be delivered from China by the end of 2006 (but whether they were or not is anybody's guess!). If you have an update on this train, please email me.
In practice, expect an arrival in Vic Falls around 09:00, sometimes later. Fares...Fares are incredibly cheap, even judged at the very poor official exchange rate. The one-way 1st class sleeper fare from Bulawayo to Victoria Falls is about £5 or $8 at the prevailing official rate of exchange. A 2nd class sleeper ticket cost about £3 ($5).
What is the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls train like?There are three classes on the Bulawayo - Victoria Falls train:
In 1st class, 2 passengers travelling together will normally be booked into a 2-berth coupé, whereas a solo traveller will be booked into a 4-berth compartment with passengers of the same sex. If you pay for two tickets (perfectly affordable, given the fare) you can have sole occupancy of a coupé. The sleeping-cars are all British-built, the ones with wood-panelled interiors in Gloucester in 1952, the ones with the less attractive formica interiors in Birmingham in 1958. Although they now carry National Railways of Zimbabwe insignia, they are still painted in the original 'Rhodesia Railways' colours, and windows and mirrors are etched with the 'RR' logo. The coaches were in OK condition when I travelled myself in 2001, but admittedly have been let go a bit lately, given Zim's economic circumstances. Short video taken on the journey. How to buy tickets:You can buy tickets at Bulawayo station reservation office or the Victoria Falls reservation window, up to 30 days before departure. Reservations are not fully computerised, and can only be made for trains leaving from that station - reservations for your return journey will need to be made when you reach your destination. Your ticket will not show your coach or berth number - this will be shown on a passenger list posted in a glass case on the platform about an hour before the train departs. Although the train appears to be well used, it's a long train with plenty of berths available, and there is unlikely to be a problem getting a place even for travel on the same day. Things to do in Victoria Falls...- Visit the park to see the Falls from the Zimbabwe side. The park entrance fee is about £15 - take some waterproof clothing..!
- Arrange a day trip to Chobe game reserve in Botswana. There are many operators offering similar trips. A 45-minute minibus transfer takes you from your hotel to the Botswana frontier. A 3-hour game drive in the Chobe National Park is followed by a 3-hour river trip with lunch. Animals include lion, impala, antelope, elephant, hippo, warthog, crocodile, mongoose, and even tortoise. - Take afternoon tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel, the poshest hotel in town. Staying there will cost you over £200 per night. Afternoon tea (complete with cucumber sandwiches) will cost you just £10. The hotel is next to the railway station. - Go on an afternoon river cruise on the Zambezi. Many operators offer similar trips for the going rate of about £15, which includes plentiful wine or beer. You will probably see hippo and crocodile. -
For those interested, there
are a whole range of adventure activities available such as
white water rafting down the Zambezi, or for the completely
insane, bunji jumping off the Zambezi bridge. ...and in BulawayoBulawayo is a pleasant town, with very wide open streets and relatively little traffic. There is an excellent railway museum, which features Cecil Rhodes' private railway coach. You should not miss a day trip to the Matobo National Park, some 25 miles South of Bulawayo. Day tours generally visit the Whovi game reserve in the morning (famous for its rhinos), then the haunting hills of the main park in the afternoon. Pictured right: Cecil Rhodes is buried in a breath-taking spot in Matobo, on a rocky outcrop known as 'the view of the world'. Sponsored links:
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How to buy tickets...The only way to buy tickets is at Bulawayo and Harare station reservation offices, up to 30 days before departure. Reservations are not fully computerised, and can only be made for trains leaving from that station - reservations for your return journey will need to be made when you reach your destination. Your ticket will not show your coach or berth number - this will be shown on a passenger list posted in a glass case on the platform about an hour before the train departs. Fares are not expensive - in the region of £20/$35 or less one way in Sleeper class.
What is the Bulawayo-Harare train like..?New coaches have been introduced on the Bulawayo-Harare overnight train. There are 3 classes of accommodation on this train:
In sleeper class, two passengers travelling together will normally be booked into a 2-berth coupé, whereas a solo traveller will be booked into a 4-berth compartment with passengers of the same sex. If you pay for two tickets you can have sole occupancy of a coupé.
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Walk
across the frontier into Zambia to see the Zambian part of
the Falls. Between the Zimbabwean and Zambian
frontier posts you cross the famous steel bridge carrying
the road and railway across the Zambesi between the
Zimbabwean and Zambian sides of the river. Remember to
have US$10 on you in US dollars cash, as this is the cost of a
Zambian one-day visa. Sterling is also accepted, but
not Zimbabwe dollars or South African Rand. If you
pass any warthogs on the way, give them a wide berth...
