Kruger Shalati: A luxury lodge inside a strange train over the bridge in South Africa
Imagine sleeping in a luxury train carriage suspended above a river in the heart of the African wilderness!
Well, the Kruger Shalati is one of the world’s most unique safari hotels, found in South Africa.
Kruger Shalati The Train on the Bridge is a completely unique accommodation perched high above the Sabie River in South Africa’s iconic Kruger National Park.
The hotel is built inside a permanently stationed train on the historic Selati Bridge.
And the property is located inside Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s most famous wildlife reserves.
The rooms, essentially train wagons, overlook the Sabie River, where guests can often spot elephants, hippos, and other wildlife grazing or passing below.
The Kruger Shalati Hotel features luxury train-carriage suites with floor-to-ceiling windows.
It is also home to a spectacular swimming pool suspended above the river.
Operators boast that the hotel offers incredible sunrise, sunset, and wildlife photography opportunities.
For reviewers the hotel combines the romance of vintage rail travel with a five-star safari experience.
The train lodge is suspended on the disused Selati Bridge above the Sabie River, Kruger Shalati stands as the most unique accommodation in Kruger National Park to date.
The Shalati was re-envisioned within an old, restored train, it pays homage to khaki-clad travelers who ventured into the reserve back in the day via rail.
Thinking back to the time of James Stevenson-Hamilton (the original warden of the reserve), travelling into this wilderness wonderland in the early 1920s would entail an overnight stay in the exact place where the hotel is currently located.
Consisting of 31 rooms, built into 24 carriage cabins and 7 in the nearby Bridge House, this luxury locomotive is tailored for all-out opulence and immersive comfort.
It features floor-to-ceiling glass windows to add to the visceral experience. To make the most of the plummeting views, there’s a dedicated viewing deck and a swimming pool jutting out beyond the train tracks.
It is also a hybrid lodge, with carriage Suites are recommended for the full “train-on-the-bridge” experience, while the adjoining Bridge House Suites on the ground are ideal for families or those preferring land-based accommodation.