From Siberia With Love
go! - South Africa|June 2020
The Trans-Siberian Railway offers an almost mythical journey across nearly a quarter of the planet, through frozen forests and across icy lakes, in a landscape that was once off-limits to anyone who wasn’t doing time in a gulag. Come experience the train trip of a lifetime.
Jacques Pauw
From Siberia With Love

I have always felt happy on a train, unlike many travellers who rush to airports where they are frisked and searched before jetting over exactly why I do train travel: to peep at how real people live – the back gardens, the cowsheds, the shantytowns, people plodding along dirt roads, grimy children playing alongside the track, hideous apartment blocks in the middle of nowhere, ugly steel mills, golden-domed cathedrals and bewildering landscapes painted in the hues of the season.

Any conversation with a train enthusiast like me always turns to the inevitable question: Have you done the Trans-Siberian? The world’s longest railway continues to captivate, even in this era of instant-gratification travel.

It’s an iconic trip yet few do it, perhaps because of the immensity of the journey, the inhospitableness of the land, the language barrier and the thought of dealing with Russian red tape. Yet it’s actually easy to organise; it’s relatively inexpensive and South Africans no longer need a visa to visit Russia.

Those who have done it tell tales of gently gliding through an icy wilderness, navigating the planet’s largest swamps, hugging the shores of the earth’s biggest freshwater lake and stopping in cities that were outlawed to foreigners under Soviet rule.

But the train is also about living among strangers, tolerating their stink and perfume and eavesdropping on opinions and arguments in strange languages. Those travelling in second and third class tell of everyone sleeping in their clothes, the windows shut, oversized luggage blocking the doorway, damp boots steaming under the seats, old leather jackets and glazed-eyed Russians swigging vodka for breakfast.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM GO! - SOUTH AFRICAView all
Rolling out the big guns
go! - South Africa

Rolling out the big guns

If you're still scanning the horizon for a Chinese automotive invasion you're looking the wrong way. It's already happening, and the new GWM Tank is the off-road spearhead into the highly lucrative and hotly contested lifestyle market.

time-read
2 mins  |
June/July 2024
TAKE A HIKE
go! - South Africa

TAKE A HIKE

The beautiful agony of Tienuurkop

time-read
3 mins  |
June/July 2024
Time out in Dullies
go! - South Africa

Time out in Dullies

A long weekend in Dullstroom is just long enough to make you realise you need to spend several more weekends here! There's food, drink, art and action in abundance. Here's your guide.

time-read
4 mins  |
June/July 2024
Gallivanting in the Galápagos!
go! - South Africa

Gallivanting in the Galápagos!

The Galápagos Islands are on many a traveller's wish list. They were on Hanlie and Vivian Gericke's too, even though the price of visiting made their eyes water. Was it worth it? Read on...

time-read
9 mins  |
June/July 2024
BURCHELL AND THE COUNTRY OF THE BUSHMEN
go! - South Africa

BURCHELL AND THE COUNTRY OF THE BUSHMEN

How many times have you driven through a landscape and wished you could have seen it centuries ago? In 1811, the English artist and explorer, William John Burchell, travelled through South Africa. Join us as we follow in his footsteps.

time-read
10+ mins  |
June/July 2024
Long live the Hibiscus Coast
go! - South Africa

Long live the Hibiscus Coast

The KZN South Coast is a national treasure. It's still the place to go if you want a classic seaside holiday complete with warm waves, cold beer, soft serve and good vibes. Here's your guide.

time-read
8 mins  |
June/July 2024
The island at the end of the earth
go! - South Africa

The island at the end of the earth

Imagine adlace-with the cleanest air arid:the clearest seawater, where_no human.oranimabwants to:harm you: A placewhere the climates balmy. year-round:-with a sekrhistory ahd wwild scenery. A place like this:exist8” and it’s called St Helena.

time-read
10+ mins  |
June/July 2024
A day on the road
go! - South Africa

A day on the road

You never know what the road will bring. Toast Coetzer heads south on the N1 and discovers South Africa.

time-read
5 mins  |
June/July 2024
The wilder shore
go! - South Africa

The wilder shore

The final leg of a 30-day trek across East Africa sees lan Tyrer and the Africa - Wild & Untamed crew explore both shores of Lake Malawi. Get ready for an overloaded ferry, a croc attack and being surrounded by elephants...

time-read
10+ mins  |
February/March 2024
A river runs through it
go! - South Africa

A river runs through it

Sabie is onthe Drakensberg escaromentialongMpumalanga’s famous Panorama Route. Want a weekend away surrounded by forests and waterfalls? Here's wnat you need to know.

time-read
10 mins  |
February/March 2024