Outeniqua Transport Museum

The Outeniqua Transport Museum in George is a collection of railway and road transport history, kept under one roof in a large hall in town. Steam locomotives are the main draw, but there are also vintage cars and historic carriages with real stories attached. It is one of the better indoor stops on the Garden Route, and a good choice for a rainy day.

What to expect

The collection includes 13 steam locomotives, among them a narrow gauge engine. The Emil Kessler, imported from Germany in 1889, is a national monument, and at the other end of the scale is a GL Garratt, the largest type of steam locomotive used in the country. The carriages are the other highlight: a coach from the 1947 Royal Train, and the coach and saloons that carried Paul Kruger towards exile through Maputo. Vintage motor cars and assorted old machinery fill out the rest of the hall.

The museum sometimes runs extras. Over the 2024 festive season it hosted a market with food stalls, a temporary cafe and music in the hall.

Practical details

• Closed on Sundays. Weekday and Saturday hours change with the season, so check before going on a Saturday afternoon.
• Phone: 044 801 8289.

Good to know

Allow an hour or so, more if anyone in your group is a railway enthusiast. The museum is in town, so it combines easily with a morning in central George or a drive over the Outeniqua Pass. Published hours differ between seasons and between sources, which is another reason to phone ahead.

Last updated 6 October 2026. Sources: Vuk'uzenzele (South African Government News), George Herald.