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.
Bulawayo Railway Museum
Click here to visit the
Rhodesia Railways pages
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.
Rovos Rail on Vic Falls Bridge
Click here for Rovos Rail's scheduled service
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
Shongololo Express on the Victoria Falls Bridge
Click here for Shongololo's scheduled service
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
Bulawayo Park Railway
Click here for more on
Bulawayo's other steam
refurbishment programme
The Victoria Falls Bridge
Over 100 years of history
Victoria Falls Bridge
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
More.....
Zimbabwe
Flag of Zimbabwe
Tour Reports
Tours to Zimbabwe hosted by
Geoff Cooke

July 2005
August 2005
August 2006
July 2007
Geoffs trains tours
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!
Click here for more information
The Zimbabwe 2007
Photographic Competition

To see the entries, click here.
Click here
for Geoff Cooke's
Fotopic website