Ceres Rail Company presents an extended two-night rail journey to the Houwhoek Hotel – 8 to 10 August 2025
Join us for a special Women’s Day long weekend edition of our Overnight in the Overberg experience — a luxurious two-night countryside getaway that blends classic train travel, elegant hospitality, and local charm in the heart of the Overberg.
Your journey begins at 13h00 on Friday, 8 August, from the platform alongside the AC Hotel by Marriott, Dockrail Road, Foreshore, Cape Town. Once aboard, you’ll enjoy a relaxed afternoon travelling by train through the Cape landscape, including a scenic climb over Sir Lowry’s Pass. We arrive at Houwhoek Hotel around 17h00, just in time to settle in before dinner.
Guests will enjoy a leisurely à la carte dinner on Friday evening (included in the package) and can make use of the hotel’s amenities, spa, or surrounding gardens throughout their stay.
On Saturday, 9 August, guests may choose to spend the day relaxing at the hotel or enjoy a complimentary steam train excursion to Elgin Railway Market. Two departure times are available: morning and afternoon. You can opt to go up in the morning and return early, go up in the afternoon, or spend the full day at the market (space is limited and reservations are required).
That evening, enjoy the famous Houw Hoek Dinner Dance — a long-standing tradition hosted in the Barn venue. A three-course set dinner is served at 19h30, followed by live music and dancing from 21h30.
(Please note: no children under 12 are permitted at the Dinner Dance. Families with younger children may dine at the hotel restaurant. Babysitting services can be arranged through the hotel on request.)
On Sunday, 10 August, after a full breakfast buffet, guests rejoin the train for a 10h30 departure. The train stops at Van Der Stel Station (Somerset West) around 12h30, and arrives in Cape Town at approximately 15h00.
We look forward to welcoming you aboard this special two-night edition of Overnight in the Overberg — a steam-hauled escape filled with fresh air, great food, and timeless charm.
Return journey aboard our vintage passenger train
Two nights’ accommodation at Houw Hoek Hotel (8 and 9 August)
Friday dinner (8 August, included in package)
Full breakfast buffet on Saturday (9 August) and Sunday (10 August)
3-course Dinner Dance on Saturday night (9 August) for guests aged 12+
Light Lunch on the train on Sunday afternoon (10 August)
Restaurant dinner option for families with children under 12
Optional steam train excursion to Elgin Railway Market on 9 August (no additional cost, reservation required)
Onboard amenities: cash bar, snacks, and memorabilia for purchase
Access to spa facilities at Houwhoek Hotel (treatments at own cost)
Lunch on 9 August
Drinks (We do have a card machine on board.)
Hotel Activities
1. For information regarding wheelchair access, please email bookings@ceresrail.co.za
2. We do not permit own food or drinks on board, but we do allow baby foods and items related to health conditions
3. No smoking is permitted.
4. We cannot control the actions of communities alongside the rail line, although we do out best to. We do have sporadic incidents of stones that are thrown at the train through certain areas; we undertake to do our best to monitor the known hotspots to ensure passengers are protected, and communities are engaged. We have patrollers on duty at various points along the railway line.
Customer reviews of this service will be posted soon.
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