An unused historic railway bridge that crosses the Sabie River and a nearby former train station in South Africa are being converted into a unique luxury accommodation. Located near the Skukuza Rest Camp, the bridge itself will be used as the permanent base for a newly refurbished train that is “reminiscent of African excellence”.
Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge is billed as one of the “most anticipated and exciting new offerings” coming to South Africa’s Kruger National Park. The train features an overhanging pool, complete with a deck and loungers.
Kruger Shalati will comprise 31 rooms, 24 of which will be glass-walled Carriage Rooms aboard the re-envisioned train which will pay homage to the visitors who explored the park nearly 100 years ago. Perched over the Sabie River, the Carriage Rooms provide infinite views along the waterway, with each coach created as a luxury den, adorned with organic furnishings, patterns and textures. The Train on the Bridge is exclusively for persons 12 years and older.
On the land and at the former train station, the Bridge House features seven rooms with vistas alongside the Sabie River and adjacent to the bridge. One of the rooms is a dedicated Honeymoon Suite and another caters for families.
Accessed via the Paul Kruger and Phabeni gates of Kruger National Park, Kruger Shalati is a 5-hour drive from Johannesburg, two hours from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport and just 4kms from Skukuza Airport.
Initially slated to launch in December 2019, the project is currently earmarked for a possible opening in the last quarter of 2020, pending the current coronavirus pandemic and its impact on tourism.
Nightly rates, which include all meals and two game drives daily, are priced at ZAR7,950 (approx AU$700) per adult twin share until 16 December 2020, or ZAR8,950 (approximately $790) per adult twin share until 16 December 2021.
More details at krugershalati.com/
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