The iconic Blue Jewel of South Africa, The Blue Train, walked away with Africa’s Leading Luxury Train accolade at the World Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2018 held at the Durban International Convention Centre in Durban, South Africa, on Friday October 5, 2018. This is the 10th year The Blue Train has won this award.

“This is a fantastic nod for The Blue Train, a recognition that affirms our place in Africa’s luxury travel landscape. That it comes from the leaders who make this industry, with an appreciation of what goes into providing the five-star service on the train, is a much appreciated validation,” said Vincent Monyake, Executive Manager of The Blue Train.

The prestigious World Travel Awards (WTA) is an annual global travel and tourism award established in 1993, achieved by way of votes from travel and tourism professionals and consumers worldwide. A WTA accolade is the ultimate hallmark of quality worldwide and celebrates an establishment’s commitment to excellence.

“The Blue Train is as much a journey as it is a destination, and the experience has been refined over decades and we continue to improve our offering. From the legendary 24-hour butler service, the silver service gourmet five-course meals freshly prepared on-board, to the finest cognacs and handmade Cuban cigars, The Blue Train continues to surpass the standard for luxury travel experiences,” concluded Monyake.   



The WTA Africa & Indian Ocean 2018 was the silver jubilee of the awards’ Grand Tour celebrating 25 years of honouring excellence in the international hospitality industry. The event brought together leaders in travel and tourism from across Africa and the Indian Ocean islands.