Meet your tour leader: Geoff Cooke
Recognized as one of Africa's leading authorities on tourist train operations, Geoff has traveled on most of the continent's trains, including the Blue Train and Rovos Rail.
Born in London, England, Geoff was four when he emigrated with his family to Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) in 1954. On leaving school, Geoff's first job was on the South African Railways. He trained as a radio technician, then formed his own company to service the technical aspects of theatre, film and television.
While researching a television series to promote tourism to the newly independent Zimbabwe, Geoff came up with a brainstorm: run a steam tourist train from the historic city of Bulawayo to Victoria Falls via the great Hwange Game Reserve. Geoff and his wife Sheelagh put together the Train de Luxe, one of the world's most authentic mainline steam tourist trains. In fact, our 1998 Society tour group named the Cooke's Train de Luxe, and the Cookes themselves, as one of the tour's highlights.
In 1999 the train was sold. Geoff wanted to move on to new things which, of course, included the railway. He organized a Steam Railway Festival and started working as a tour host to groups visiting southern Africa. Recognized as one of Africa's leading authorities in tourist train operations, Geoff has traveled on most of the continent's tourist trains, as well as many that are not as famous.
Geoff and his wife, Sheelagh, now live in Wales, where Geoff had for many years wanted to run tours on the Great Little Trains of Wales. These tours are the culmination of that desire -- or should it be passion?
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