IT had to come. The material, though ancient, could not be allowed to rot in the train- graveyard now called the train museum. To demonstrate that not all that is preserved in a museum is of no use, two high-profiled firms of Livingstone resorted to resurrecting the once-upon-a-time pride of the country as NDUBI MVULA reports…
IT is called the Royal Livingstone Express.
The inaugural launch on October 23, 2007, the eve of Zambia’s 34th Independence anniversary, was viewed and welcomed as an independence gift to both Zambians and foreign tourists.”
The rare occasion brought joy to many a Livingstone resident such that the young and old could be seen running after the miracle train, and ululating as the smoke billows while the spent steam is released from the cylinders through the blast pipe below the stack of the locomotive engine 156.
The harder the locomotive works, the more gas is drawn through the tubes, generating more steam and it is this steam that attracts more attention from, especially children as the train passes through the residential area of Dambwa.
A magnitude of residents of Dambwa and the nearby compound adjacent to the Railway Museum thronged to the Mulobezi Railway line to catch a glimpse of the Royal Livingstone Express Steam engine as it pulled the refurbished 1923 and 1926 five dining and lounge carriages.
Yes, one enterprising gentleman, Christopher Tette who set up his destination management firm, the Bushtracks Africa in 1997 mooted the vision which has come to stay.
Bushtracks Africa is a destination management company specialising in the Victoria Falls Region, Botswana, Malawi, Zambia as well as Southern Africa.
They provide transfers both land and air from Victoria Falls, Livingstone and Kasane Airport as well as personalised tours including game safaris, Elephant back safaris, cultural tours, historical tours, Chobe National Park day trips and all the extreme activities.
They also design personalised itineraries for travel throughout Africa.
However, after having achieved this vision of setting up this company, Tett still had yet another portion of his vision waiting to be fulfilled and that was the Royal Steam Safari.
This, he thought, had to be done in partnership with someone also interested of sharing the same vision so that Livingstone could have additional treats apart from the famous Victoria Falls and other attractions.
That partner happened to have been the Sun International Hotel, who would then team up with Tett and bring to life the vision for this additional tourist attraction.
Lo and behold, October 23rd, 2007 stands out as the day to reckon with in the quest to add value in the promotion of tourism by bringing to life activities of quality and memorable stay for visitors.
The partnership between Sun International Zambia and Bushtracks led to the introduction of five-star dining services on the Royal Livingstone Express.
The Royal Livingstone Express is an extension of Sun International’s five-star Royal Livingstone Hotel as well as a unique experience combining the luxury of one of the World’s leading hotels with the charm of travel.
The train is an all-inclusive luxury rail cruise with an opportunity to experience luxury in an environment only history can express vividly.
The Royal Livingstone Express provides fine wining and dining with a six-course dinner meal in an ambiance of warm elegance to guests.
It also provides guests with a nice panoramic view as it rails down a 19-kilometre stretch on the Mulobezi Railway line to Simonga village, which during day time or part of the night tourists can be taken to experience village tourism and mingle with the friendly people.
Former Sun International Zambia General Manager Craig Storkey once declared that his resort wanted the guests to have an alternative dining option to the Royal Livingstone dining room, which would provide a world class dining experience.
The Royal Livingstone Express was rehabilitated and refurbished by Rovos Rail, a South African reputable company at a cost of US $500,000. The carriages were built between 1923 and 1926. The steam train has a capacity to accommodate 92 passengers at once in its five carriages.
The steam locomotive number 156, originally belonged to the largest private railway network in the World, Zambezi Sawmills Limited. It was used on the Mulobezi Railway Line to pull logging carriages from the forests in Mulobezi district to the railhead in Livingstone.
It took David Shepherd, the renowned wildlife artist to rescue the locomotive and later donated it to the National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) in 1971.
And excited Storkey who was then custodian of the dining services and marketing aspects of the Royal Livingstone Express could not hide his joyous feelings as he declared that the train had already opened to guests from all walks of life.
The train trip starts at 17:00 hours and ends at about 22:00 hours with transfers to various hotels accommodated the guests who are entertained to a six-course meal with wine, beer and soft drinks and for those who smoke there is a provision for spirits and cigars which are available for sale aboard the train.
The steam train journeys a 19km stretch through the Mosi-O-Tunya National Park. It is the most romantic and inspiring activity available in Livingstone and is highly recommended for couples to experience it.
It is noted that clients will experience the romance of a bygone era aboard the Royal Livingstone Express.
The Royal Livingstone Express provides two dining cars and a fully equipped kitchen car that produce a superb dining experience.
Carriage No. 211 of the Royal Livingstone Express is called the Wembley Dining Car and can seat up to 44 people while Carriage No. 4821 is called the Leather Dining Car, and has the capacity to accommodate 48 guests.
And Carriage No. 6049 houses the Kitchen, Bar and Small Lounge Car. Carriage No. 4101 is the Lounge Car and Carriage No. 4933 is an observation Car.
The train starts off from the Old Mulobezi Line offices, currently where Bushtracks Africa offices are situated and moves directly onto the Mulobezi Railway line, through Dambwa suburb before winding into the Mosi-O-Tunya National Park.
As the train meanders into the park, there is a possibility of viewing game such as elephants, buffaloes and giraffes among others.
The steam train which was officially launched 20th January 2008, halts at Simonga villages and returns to Livingstone at the Bushtracks Africa offices.
The train would also cross the Zambia-Zimbabwe border onto the bridge and stop to allow tourists to marvel at the Seventh Wonder of the World, the Victoria Falls before returning back to Zambia.
It should be noted that the Victoria Falls Bridge was the brainchild of the British businessman and imperialist John Cecil Rhodes. It was part of his hope of a railway linking the Cape to Cairo in Egypt.
The bridge was built to span the Batoka Gorge and in the early 1900s, he hoped that the bridge would be built close enough to the Victoria Falls for the train’s passengers to feel the Falls’ spray.
With the Victoria Falls Steam Railway you too will be part of this dream as you embark on an unforgettable ride on this historic steam engine to this illustrious bridge. The steam engine, which was first in service in 1912, is the ultimate colonial experience.
This, dear reader, is a no-miss occasion when in Livingstone. Like always the cliché goes thus, pack your holiday bag and get to Livingstone and enjoy this additional rare occasion from the obvious.
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