South African Trappist Missions and Steam Trains

When a train has been fitted out by Rovos Rail, it will be luxurious. The 'Sisonke Stimela' steam train is just so, and I had a wonderful overnight stay on it in Underberg, KZN, South Africa while doing a tour of the Trappist mission stations in the southern Drakensberg area. Launched in the first week of September, 2010, this tourism initiative melds a deluxe steam train journey with mission and avi-tourism in a region which celebrated author Alan Paton described thus: "There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo to the hills. These hills are grass-covered and rolling and they are lovely beyond any singing of it."
The quaint, restored station at Creighton was our boarding point and we sighed with pleasure when we saw our compartment - complete with duvet-covered double bed, seating area and a bathroom with shower. There was champagne in our fridge. Before our gourmet dinner we joined other travellers in the comfortable lounge for cocktails and conversation. the train stopped overnight for the most peaceful sleep imaginable which put me in the mood for a sumptuous breakfast of Eggs Benedict, done to perfection. In addition to this luxurious steam train, there is a narrow-gauge steam train run from Ixopo by owners Julian and Jos Pereira.
In the Ixopo area there is a network of over twenty Catholic Mission Stations which were built by the Trappists in the latter part of the 1800s and early part of the twentieth century. Visiting Reichenau, Centocow, Lourdes, Emaus, Mariathal and St. Isidore Missions, our guides, architectural historian Robert Brusse and Dudley Smith gave us a depth of perspective, insights into the cultures of the region and an appreciation of the beautiful architecture of these missions. We spent a night at St. Isidore, now King's Grant guest house, which was splendidly comfortable with outstanding cuisine.
This entire region has so much to enthrall the traveller. Smithfield Guest House facilitates birding tours as this region features more than 300 species and is identified by Birdlife International as having nine 'Important Bird Areas'. Malcolm Gemmell leads these tours.
For visitors wanting an interesting an different experience, I heartily recommend this area. The Southern Midlands Tourism Association has more information.