| Passion and professional knowledge - making outstanding memories Geoff Cooke grew up in Zimbabwe, and for many years owned and operated the Train de Luxe steam safari train to Victoria Falls. Although now living in England, he maintains his interest and continues to support this wonderful, if troubled, country. |
| Rhodesia Railways history and preservation, including the Bulawayo Railway Museum |
| The history of the Beira, Mashonaland and Rhodesia Railways and their locomotives is represented in these pages. The Bulawayo Railway Museum is represented with information on the displays, big and small. The museum is supported by "The Friends of the Bulawayo Railway Museum". Geoff's Trains supports the FoBRM by hosting their website. |
| Rovos Rail Pretoria to Victoria Falls aboard Africa's most luxurious train |
| Rovos Rail once more offers luxury train travel through Zimbabwe to Victoria Falls. Travel over the famous Cape to Cairo rail route in grand style. Add a journey from Cape Town to Pretoria for a magnificent train holiday. Multiple departures. |
| Shongololo Express The Southern Cross Adventure |
| This 16 day train journey travels across six countries. The route is carefully crafted to deliver stunning experiences every day. The train travels leisurely between Victoria Falls and Johannesburg making numerous calls at destinations in Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. As the tracks unfurl you’ll gain rare insight into the cultural and geographical cocktail that makes Southern Africa so vibrant and exciting. Multiple departures |
| Zimbabwe is a unique and fascinating train holiday destination for both tourists and railfans. The country is blessed with a landscape of extraordinary beauty, rich and diverse tropical wildlife and the last commercially working Garratt articulated steam locomotives in the world. Situated on a high plateau in southern Africa between the Zambezi and the Limpopo Rivers, Zimbabwe is landlocked between Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa and Botswana. Zimbabwe covers an area equal to the state of California. The climate is warm without being oppressive, with a daily sunshine average of 7 hours all year round. Generally, days are bright and sunny and nights clear and cool. Temperatures and rainfall are directly influenced by altitude. The high veld and eastern highlands are cooler and the low veld and the Zambezi Valley hotter, with summer temperatures often soaring over 35 degrees C, well above the high veld average of 28 degrees C. November to April are the rainy summer months, with the dry winter running from May to July, when daytime winter temperatures range from 13 degrees to 20 degrees C but can fall to minus 5 degrees C at night. The August to October period is particularly dry. Equally warm are the Zimbabwean people, renowned for their friendliness and hospitality. Although people living in urban areas have adopted a westernised lifestyle, in the country areas many African traditions have been preserved. English is the official language with the other widely spoken languages being Chishona and Sindebele. Bulawayo and the Matopos Sunny and spacious, Bulawayo is the country's second largest city. Its high veld climate, and broad tree lined streets wide enough to turn an ox wagon, the attractive mix of architecture give Bulawayo her special appeal. Bulawayo is historically very important for its locale was chosen by the Ndebele king, Lobengula, to commemorate the military achievements of his people. He named his town Bulawayo - the place of killing. Bulawayo boasts a Museum of Natural History, the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere. There is also an art gallery, and of course, the Railway Museum. Just 40 kilometres from the city centre lies the Matopos National Park, where the ancient Matopo Hills are located. The granite outcrops form a dramatic landscape. The extraordinary granite formations are a result of violent geomorphologic actions, which created an eerie panorama so brooding and mysterious that it has enchanted Bushmen, Ndebele kings and colonial settlers alike. Cecil Rhodes was so impressed by this areas that he requested that 43,200 acres be turned into National Park and asked to be buried there, at a place known as 'World's View'. Close to this monument are cave paintings, painted by Bushmen thousands of years ago. The fenced, western sector of the park is a reserve for small game where most animals except elephant and big cats can be seen. Hwange The largest National Park in Zimbabwe is Hwange, which covers an are of more than 14,000 square kilometres. The park has about 90 species of animals, 413 species of birds and approximately 1,000 species of trees and shrubs. The vegetation ranges from savanna grassland and acacia scrub to grassy vleis and mopani woodlands. Viewing platforms have been erected close to water holes and safari operators offer morning, afternoon or full day trips. The railway between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls forms the eastern boundary of the game reserve for 150 kilometres, with Dete Station being located close to the centre of this section, and within easy reach of the Main Camp game reserve entrance. Hwange Town and Thomson Junction Hwange is a coal mining town, located to the north of the National Park of the same name. From here, roads continue to Deka on the Zambezi River, and to Victoria Falls. The town has little to attract the tourist, but the adjacent colliery operates its own Garratt powered railway that transfers coal from the grading plant to Thomson Junction, its connection with the National Railways of Zimbabwe that is located a few kilometres from the town centre. Victoria Falls - a magnificent train destination The Victoria Falls is undoubtedly Zimbabwe's best-known tourist attraction and well as one of the world's premier train holiday destinations. The Falls are a truly magnificent sight, where millions of gallons of water plunge over a 1,7 kilometre wide cliff into a narrow gorge below. In November 1855 David Livingstone became the first European to record having viewed their awesome splendour and, out of loyalty to his Queen, named them after her. Victoria Falls has dozens of view points that emerge from paths through the rain forest, which grows in the area of the spray. The rain forest, with its huge mahogany, wild fig and sausage trees, is home to numerous birds, butterflies and small animals. The Falls themselves are not the only attraction. The Bridge that spans the Zambezi River a short way down river is a masterpiece of engineering. Opened in 1905 for railway traffic, it was modified in 1929 to accept road traffic as well, and continues to be the only working railway bridge spanning the Zambezi River. A number of activities can be enjoyed. A variety of river cruises are available, the best known being the sunset cruise where you can enjoy the wildlife along the banks and a stunning sunset complemented by chilled drinks and snacks. For the more active, whitewater rafting and canoing are offered. You can also body board down the gorge, bungee jump off the bridge into it or slide down a steel wire across it. Other attractions in the area include Elephant Back Safaris, Walking with Lions, Horseback Riding, Game Drives, Cultural Tours, Village Tours, Birding Safaris, Fishing and Golf. |
| The Bulawayo Park Railway |
| The Round Table and Rotary Clubs of Bulawayo recently joined hands to refurbish Bulawayo's miniature steam railway that has run since the 1970's in Centenary Park |
| The Victoria Falls Bridge Over 100 years of history |
| Opened in 1905, the Victoria Falls Bridge continues to provide a vital rail and road link between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The famous bridge is portrayed here in old photographs and postcards |
| Zimbabwe |
| Tour Reports |
| Tours to Zimbabwe hosted by Geoff Cooke July 2005 August 2005 August 2006 July 2007 |
| Steam Trains to Victoria Falls 22 July to 02 August 2010 |
| Zimbabwe is unique. Necessity, availability and forward thinking have come together to create an amazing spectacle. Garratt locomotives, still serviced in the steam depot that has been their home since new, operate most days in the railway city of Bulawayo. These magnificent locomotives will operate chartered mixed and freight trains as part of our memorable tour. Also included are game drives in the Hwange Game Reserve, a cruise on the Zambezi River and options that include tour of Bulawayo, Matobo Hills, Chipangali Wildlife Orphanage and the Victoria Falls Geoff Cooke has run tours to Zimbabwe since 1986. Join him in one of the last bastions of revenue steam. Don't miss this opportunity, Zimbabwe's Garratts may not last much longer! |
| The Zimbabwe 2007 Photographic Competition To see the entries, click here. |
| Click here for Geoff Cooke's Fotopic website |
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