Slow Train Through Africa with Griff Rhys Jones - Season 1
Season 1
Episodes
Namibia
In the first episode, Griff crosses wild terrain in Namibia, southwest Africa.
Namibia has the least rainfall in sub-Saharan Africa and is home to what is considered to be the oldest desert in the world. Griff begins his journey in the far Northern town of Oshikango, where a brand new railway was built just two years ago. Passengers are still an uncommon occurrence and he is surprised to find he is the only person in his carriage during most of the seven-hour journey. Fewer than 200 passengers a day use the freight-oriented trains, in the whole of Namibia.
North Africa
In episode two, Griff begins a 1700-mile journey across North Africa in Morocco. His North African train ride takes him east on a line that links the great trading cities of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia with the Mediterranean on one side and the Sahara on the other. From Tunis, Griff will head South towards the desert and final destination of Tozeur.
He begins his journey in the city of Marrakech, where he stocks up for his trip with items from the souk, including some traditional Berber medicines.
Kenya and Tanzania
In episode three, Griff attempts to zigzag his way 1200 miles through Kenya and Tanzania. The journey proves a challenge, with large parts of the railways being relics, leftover from colonial days. Neither tracks nor trains work as well as they used to. Boarding Nyaturu, a vintage steam locomotive made in Glasgow, Griff begins his journey on the high plateau in southwest Kenya.
Zambia and Zimbabwe
In episode four, Griff takes the train through Zambia and Zimbabwe, via one of the natural wonders of the world, the Victoria Falls.
He begins the 1100-mile trip in Kasama in northern Zambia, where the train arrives, just 33 hours late. After setting off on the six-hour journey, he attempts to drink a cup of tea.
South Africa
In episode five, the last of Griff's epic adventures through Africa by train, he crosses a thousand miles of South Africa, reaching the most southerly passenger railway station on the continent.
Griff begins in Pretoria, catching Africa's most modern train on a short journey south, to Johannesburg. On board he almost finds himself in trouble with the security guards for attempting to eat his breakfast, which is against the strict train rules, which also include no singing.
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