Around the world, railways once teeming with life now lay dormant following the evolution of air travel, providing little footing for hospitality development despite spanning untouched locations. Looking to transform one of South Africa’s underutilised spaces is Kruger Shalati, a train-turned-hotel stationed permanently on the Selati Bridge in the heart of Kruger National Park.
Slated to open in September 2020, the property pays homage to those who first explored the park in the early 1920s, when the train would pull up overnight in the exact spot where Kruger Shalati will be positioned. The train name itself is inspired by Shalati – an African warrior queen whose origins of ruling date back to the 19th century. According to tradition, she was one of the first female warrior chiefs of the small Tebula clan, part of the Tsonga tribe that lived around the Murchison Range in the present-day Limpopo Province.
Perched above the Sabie River, the hotel’s 24 glass-walled Carriage Rooms will celebrate African design through collaborations with local artists and craftspeople, and honour the natural world by way of organic furnishings, patterns and textures. Elsewhere, the Bridge House will be made up of seven rooms offering views of the Sabie River and adjacent bridge, and will encourage guests to be at one with nature. One of the spaces is an exclusive honeymoon suite, while others can be inter-leading to cater for families.
The lodge will also feature a viewing deck complete with an overhanging pool, where guests can tuck into African-inspired fare, while games drives undertaken by professional rangers will allow visitors to see the national park’s prides of lions, herds of elephants, crocodiles and giraffes with their very own eyes.
“Even though we’re experiencing a nationwide lockdown, the excitement of the outdoors grows stronger and stronger,” the hotel told its followers via Instagram. “We’re looking forward to heading back to construction on the Kruger Shalati Train on a Bridge and experiencing the beauty of its surroundings.”
