Zimbabwe Hotels
Heading off with a train timetable for Zimbabwe will create an unforgettable experience and a captivating story, whether you’re chatting in the student bar or talking between hands at the bridge club.
The best way to start your trip is from Johannesburg. Whilst there have not been any direct scheduled trains from South Africa to Zimbabwe since 1999 the Blue Train offers true luxury from Pretoria to Victoria Falls about once a month. However, you must consider the one-way fare exceeding £500. The alternative is to take a daily overnight train to Messina, just 12km short of the border at Beitbridge and then a bus to Bulawayo.
From Bulawayo the train experience really begins. Taking the route to Victoria Falls, passing by the Hwange National Park, is the way to travel on a classic overnight train. The sleeping-cars are all British-built with the earlier ones featuring wood panelling. First and second class sleepers have leatherette bench seats convertible to bunks, and each room has a washbasin. Carriages now carry National Railways of Zimbabwe insignia, but are still painted in the original 'Rhodesia Railways' colours. In practice, trains arrive in Victoria Falls around 09:00, perfect for checking into your choice of Zimbabwe hotel.
Connecting the stations, African Sun Hotels form a network of accommodation where you are guaranteed a warm welcome. Indeed the spread of Zimbabwe hotels could be viewed as an extended family, with core values of relaxation and efficient service, each with its own unique character. From three resorts at the mighty Victoria Falls and Hwange Safari Lodge, to city hotels teamed with the Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza brands in Harare, Bulawayo, Mutare and Beitbridge.
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There’s unfortunately no direct train from Victoria Falls to Harare, so make the return journey for the Bulawayo - Harare train. When you’ve spent enough time experiencing the sights and sounds of Harare, you can head for Mutare on the daily train leaving Harare at 9.00 pm and arriving in Mutare around 6.00AM the next morning.
During your great train adventure you may well be tempted to travel by alternative means of transport to reach African Sun’s other hotel resorts. Caribbea Bay and Fothergill Island on the shores of Lake Kariba are a 365 kilometre drive from Harare and the Eastern Highlands can be explored from the luxury of Troutbeck Resort in Nyanga. Great Zimbabwe provides a countryside retreat 300 kilometres from Mutare.
