A first-of-its-kind competition, in which a journey for two on South Africa’s luxurious Blue Train can be won, was announced in Kimberley.
This museums passport competition combines Heritage and Tourism Month in September with Transport Month in October, and was launched on Friday, 20 September, at the Transnet Transport Museum in the Northern Cape’s capital.
The competition aims to significantly boost heritage tourism in the region and showcase the rich historical offerings in Kimberley.
To enter the competition, participants need to get their museums passport stamped after visiting four specific museums in Kimberley. These are the Transnet Transport Museum, William Humphreys Art Gallery (Whag), McGregor Museum, and the Big Hole Museum.
Taking this journey across the four museums, knowledge concerning South Africa’s history will deepen, while completed museums passports will be entered into a lucky draw to stand a chance to win this once-in-a-lifetime, one-way trip for two persons aboard the Blue Train, valued at R73 000.
The Blue Train is a luxury train that travels approximately 1 600 km between Pretoria and Cape Town, and vice versa. As one of the most luxurious train journeys in the world, the service is being described as that of a “magnificent, moving five-star hotel”.
At the launch on Friday, Godfrey Cader, head of the Blue Train: Transnet Freight Rail, says the competition is a step forward to do more for Kimberley. He said visiting museums is to look in the rear-view mirror for a clearer view of the way forward.
Chepape Makgato, chief curator of the Whag, says the competition will increase the footprints to the collective initiative on offer in Kimberley, and that this will lead to growth.
“We are not doing it for ourselves, but for future generations. These four museums tell the story of Kimberley, a full story with different perspectives,” comments Thabo Seshoka, senior manager of Heritage Assets and Preservation: Group Business Development at the Transnet Group.
“Our goal is to promote Kimberley’s rich cultural history and ensure these institutions remain central to our community,” says Sunet Swanepoel, chief executive officer of the McGregor Museum, in a press release, commenting that the museums passport is a brilliant opportunity to engage with heritage in an interactive and rewarding way.
Get museums passport stamped
Entrants to the competition must be South African citizens and at least 14 years old. Any person below the age of 18 who wins the competition must be accompanied by an adult.
Entrants must pay the entrance fees to the participating museums and spend at least 20 minutes in each, after which the museum will stamp the passport.
After the visit to the fourth museum, in no particular order, the stamped passport will be deposited in the passport box of the museum.
Each entrant can only enter once.
Within two weeks after the end of the competition period, a winner will be selected by a random draw. The draw will be conducted and verified by an auditor. The winner will be contacted on the contact details provided on the museums passport.
If the winner can not be reached within three days, a second draw will be conducted.
The winner is liable to cover their own costs in respect of transport and accommodation before and after the journey to and from the stations in Cape Town and Pretoria.
The prize is to be taken up either between 1 January and 31 July 2025 or between 16 November and 31 December 2025.
Entries are already open, and can be done until 18 October.
Visit one of the four participating museums to collect a museums passport to be able to enter the competition.
