that route used to be known as the lunatic express because its construction in the late 19th centuryngerous. thousands of labourers died working on it, many from malaria, some from being attacked by lions. the 12—hour journey has now been reduced to 4.5, but at those speeds, you might find that any visible big game whizzes by at a pace that makes it slightly trickier to spot. one of the most luxurious and most expensive rides africa has to offer is south africa's blue train. it takes 27 hours to travel the nearly 1,000 miles from pretoria to cape town and will set you back around £900, or about $1200 us, however, you are paying notjust for dramatic views of the landscapes but also for high—end 5—star service onboard. and in egypt, the line from cairo to aswan tracks the course of the nile and offers excellent views of plantations and villages on the way. if you try and book at the ticket office, they'll put you on the sleeper service and you will miss all the views. however, there is nothing to stop you booking online orjust turning up and getting your ticket on the train. do check t