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Above:  Boarding a StarLine train at Windhoek. Photo courtesy of Ishizaki, Naoichi

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South Africa - Namibia by train+bus

Zimbabwe or Zambia - Namibia by bus

Train travel in Namibia

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There are no international ferry links to Namibia, but it's possible to travel between Namibia and South Africa by train with only one relatively short section now sadly involving a bus.  It's also possible to travel between Namibia and Zimbabwe or Zambia by bus.

Cape Town or Johannesburg ► Windhoek:

• From Cape Town: Step 1, travel from Cape Town to Kimberley by Shosholoza Meyl 'Trans-Karoo' passenger train, departing Cape Town 12:30 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays, arriving Kimberley at 07:21 next day.  This is a comfortable and safe tourist class train, with 2-berth & 4-berth sleepers and restaurant car.  As you leave Cape Town you get great views of table Mountain, pass through Stellenbosch & Paarl wine country, then into the veldt up the Hex River pass, with great scenery!  Fare 210 Rand (£15 or US$30) including sleeper.  Stay a day or two in Kimberley (visit the mining museum!).  See the South Africa page for more information (and photos) about Shosholoza Meyl passenger trains, and book by phone as shown or at the station.

• From Johannesburg:  Step 1, travel from Johannesburg to Kimberley by Shosholoza Meyl 'Trans Karoo' passenger train, departing Johannesburg at 10:30 on Mon, Tue, Fri, Sun, arriving Kimberley at 18:40 the same day.  This is a comfortable and safe tourist class train, with 2-berth & 4-berth sleepers and restaurant car.  Fare 110 Rand (£8 or US$15).  Stay a night or two in Kimberley (visit the mining museum!).  See the South Africa page for more information (and photos) about Shosholoza Meyl passenger trains and book by phone as shown or at the station.

• Step 2, travel from Kimberley to Keetmanshoop by bus, as sadly things have degenerated so there's now only a bus link, no longer any civilised train.  The bus is run by InterCape, runs on Fridays & Sundays at 11:40 arriving Upington at 16:30 the same day, you need to switch buses departing Upington 18:30 and arriving Keetmanshoop 00:25 the same night.  Fare 390-500 Rand (£28-£36 or $56-$72).  Check times & book online at www.intercape.co.za.  Stay overnight at Keetmanshoop.

• Step 3, travel from Keetmanshoop to Windhoek by StarLine passenger train.  The train leaves Keetmanshoop daily except Saturdays at 18:50, arriving in Windhoek at 07:00 next day.  The train is modern & air-conditioned, with reclining seats but no sleepers, see photos below.  Fare around N$7 (£5 or US$10).  See the current StarLine timetable.  Note that a train used to run from Upington to Keetmanshoop twice a week to connect with this overnight train to Windhoek (and is till shown as running in the un-updated 2006 timetable on the StarLine website), but this train now only runs from Karasburg (just inside the Namibian frontier) to Keetmanshoop, so you may as well switch from bus to train at Keetmanshoop.

Windhoek ► Cape Town or Johannesburg:

• Step 1, travel from Windhoek to Keetmanshoop by StarLine passenger train.  The train leaves Windhoek at 19:40 daily except Saturdays, arriving Keetmanshoop at 07:00 next morning, see the current StarLine timetable.  The train is modern and air-conditioned, with reclining seats but no sleepers.  Fare around N$87 (£5 or US$10).  Spend the day in Keetmanshoop.

• Step 2, travel from Keetmanshoop to Kimberley by bus, as sadly things have degenerated and there's now only a bus link.  The bus is run by InterCape, departs Keetmanshoop on Wednesdays & Fridays at 23:15, you need to switch buses at Upington (arrive 06:15, depart 07:30), and you arrive arriving Kimberley at 12:40 on Thursdays & Saturdays.  Fare 390-500 Rand (£28-£36 or $56-$72).  Check times & book online at www.intercape.co.za.  Stay overnight at Kimberley.

• Step 3, travel from Kimberley to Cape Town by Shosholoza Meyl 'Trans-Karoo' passenger train, departing Kimberley at 18:40 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays & Sundays, arriving Cape Town at 12:41 the next day.  This is a comfortable and safe tourist class train, with 2-berth & 4-berth sleepers and restaurant car.  You leave Cape Town with great views of table Mountain, passing through Stellenbosch & Paarl wine country, then into the veldt, with great scenery!  Fare 210 Rand (£15 or US$30) including sleeper.  See the South Africa page for more information (and photos) about Shosholoza Meyl passenger trains and book by phone or at the station.

• Alternative step 3, travel from Kimberley to Johannesburg by Shosholoza Meyl 'Trans Karoo' passenger train, departing Johannesburg at 07:21 on Mon, Wed, Thur, Sat, arriving Kimberley at 15:23 the same day.  This is a comfortable and safe tourist class train, with 2-berth & 4-berth sleepers and restaurant car.  Fare 110 Rand (£8 or US$15).  Stay the night in Kimberley.  See the South Africa page for more information (and photos) about Shosholoza Meyl passenger trains and book by phone or at the station.

Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) or Livingstone (Zambia) ► Windhoek:

• A bus run by www.intercape.co.za leaves Vic Falls at 11:00 on Wednesdays & Sundays or Livingstone at 12:00, arriving Windhoek 06:45 next day.  Fare 455-580 Rand (£32-£41 or $64-$84).

Windhoek ► Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) or Livingstone (Zambia):

• A bus run by www.intercape.co.za leaves Windhoek at 16:15 on Mondays & Fridays arriving Livingstone at 13:00 or Vic Falls 14:00 next day.  Fare 455-580 Rand (£32-£41 or $64-$84).

More information:

If anyone has any more information. photos or travel reports that would be useful for this page, please e-mail me!

StarLine passenger trains...  2008 StarLine timetable

Regular passenger trains marketed as 'StarLine' are run by TransNamib, on the following routes:

• Windhoek - Swakopmund & Walvis Bay, runs daily except Saturdays, departs 19:55 , arrives next day at Swakopmund 05:20 & Walvis Bay 07:15.

• Walvis Bay & Swakopmund - Windhoek, runs daily except Saturdays, departs Walvis Bay 19:00, Swakopmund 20:45, arrives Windhoek 07:00 next day.

• Windhoek-Tsumeb, runs Mon, Wed & Fri, departs 18:15, arrives 10:50 next day.

• Tsumeb - Windhoek, runs Mon, Wed, Fri, departs 11:40 arrives 05:40 next day.

• Windhoek - Keetmanshoop, runs daily except Saturdays, departs 19:40 , arrives at 07:00 next day.

• Keetmanshoop - Windhoek, runs daily except Saturdays, departs 18:50, arrives 07:00 next day.

• Trains also link Windhoek with Gobabis, and Tsumeb with Walvis Bay, and one or two minor routes. 

Unfortunately, the timetable at www.transnamib.com.na/Starline.htm hasn't been updated since 2006, but I have obtained the latest 2008 StarLine timetable, & posted it here. 

On board the trains:  StarLine trains have two classes, Business Class and Economy, both with reclining airline-style seats in modern, air-conditions cars.  There are no sleepers, just seats.  There are vending machines but no restaurant car, so take your own food and drink.

Above:  A StarLine train at Windhoek railway station. Photo courtesy of Ishizaki, Naoichi		Above:  Business class reclining seats on a StarLine train. Photo courtesy of Ishizaki, Naoichi

Fares:  Windhoek-Walvis Bay N$80 (£5 or US$10), Windhoek-Keetmanshoop N$87 (£5.50 or US$11), Windhoek-Tsumbeb N$67 (£5 or US$9).  Children under 2 free, children 2 but under 12 half fare.

How to buy tickets:  Call central reservations at Windhoek on +264 (0) 61 298 2032, or email paxservices@transnamib.com.na.

The Desert Express...

TransNamib also operate a weekly tourist-orientated train between Windhoek & Swakopmund called the Desert Express.  The train has sleepers (with en suite shower/toilet), a restaurant, bar & lounge.  See www.desertexpress.com.na for more details.

• Departs Windhoek 12:00 (13:00 in summer) on Fridays, arrives Swakopmund 10:00 next day.

• Departs Swakopmund 15:00 on Saturdays, arrives Windhoek 10:30 next day.

• Fares:  N$1,850 (£115 or US$230) sharing, N$2,400 (£150 or $300) single occupancy.

• Buy tickets:  Via their website, www.desertexpress.com.na

Above:  Outside Windhoek railway station. Photo courtesy of Ishizaki, Naoichi		Above:  Windhoek station platform. Photo courtesy of Ishizaki, Naoichi

Traveller's reports:

Traveller Alexander Bradley used StarLine from Windhoek to Swakopmund in June 2008:  We called the reservation line and they told us they couldn’t take our reservation and that we needed to go to a station and book.  Arriving at the German-inspired Windhoek Station we booked our ticket from Windhoek to Swakopmund for the following day and were told to arrive half an hour before departure.  Arriving at the platform there were three individual carriages lined up on the platform, the first to Walvis Bay and last to Keetmanshoop, the middle one had the lights switched off.  We climbed onboard the Walvis Bay carriage and walk down the aisle past the economy class seats, past the drinks and snacks machine and the toilets to the business class section. There were 12 business class seats in the section;  we occupied two with another lady behind us, the economy section was half full.  The seats were 4 across in both business and economy, but the business seats were larger, higher and more padded.  The engine coupled to the train at 19:45, ten minutes before departure.  The conductor came on board and checked our tickets before switching on the DVD player.  They showed two films before we all fell asleep, although the speakers were a little too soft with the clickety-clack of the train and it became too soft to hear, and too loud to not watch.  The lights were out for the DVD, but I could turn on my reading light.  The train departed at 20:05, ten minutes after the scheduled time and we were full steam ahead for five minutes before the train turned around and spent half an hour coupling to about 15 wagons including box cars, steel pipes and petrol between us and the engine.  There was space above our seats for our baggage and the conductor sat in business call behind us so we felt quite safe.  The seats were comfortable and the air con/ heater were keeping us at a good temperature during the night, although we brought out our own blanket to be extra warm. We woke at about 06:00 and became very worried that we had slept in and missed our stop at 05:20 and that we were continuing onto Walvis Bay.  We were relieved when we found that our train was running late. We arrived at Swakopmund 06:35, 1h15m late. The sun rose just as we arrived in Swakopmund and we were able to see the landscape for the first time during the trip.  Photo courtesy of Alexander Bradley.

More information:

If anyone has any more information or travel reports that would be useful for this page, please e-mail me..!

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