The first carriage of the luxurious, one-of-a-kind Kruger Shalati train-on-a-bridge hotel was hoisted onto a disused railway bridge overlooking the Sabie River, in the Kruger National Park last week.
When complete, the train will offer 24 en-suite rooms, which will sleep 48 guests, with another seven rooms in the adjacent Kruger Shalati Bridge House with 14 beds next to the bridge. The opening of the hotel is scheduled for June 2020.
The Kruger Shalati pool deck and luxury train suites in the Kruger National Park. Image supplied.
‘The idea behind this project began several years ago as part of a commercialization programme conducted by SA National Parks to increase revenue opportunities in the Kruger. While the original concept was to recreate the historical experience, an extensive consultation process with the engineering team saw us make the practical decision to keep the train static,’ said Judiet Barnes, the General Manager of Kruger Shalati.
Despite not offering guests a train ride, the hotel will endeavour to recreate the magic of these early visitor encounters at the spot where the KNP’s first warden, James Steven-Hamilton, welcomed visitors who’d travelled on the old Selati railway at Skukuza Camp nearly 100 years ago.
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Images: supplied
