Train Travel

Trains between Kimberley and Johannesburg (eight hours) run daily, with extra trains on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. There are daily trains to Cape Town (seven hours), with an additional one on Thursday. Sleepers are available only in first and second classes, but you'll want to travel first or second class for safety reasons anyway, and preferably with a companion. Make sure you book tickets together so that they are issued for the same compartment. First- and second-class passengers must reserve in advance. The one-way fare between Kimberley and Johannesburg is R170, R340 between Kimberley and Cape Town, but prices increase for the December to January school vacation. Information on these routes can be obtained from Shosholoza Meyl, the long-distance passenger division of Spoornet. A private security company (Spoornet Security), train assistants, and a manager are on every train.