One of a kind train hotel overlooking South Africa’s National Park
Years ago, visitors of South Africa‘s world-renowned Kruger National Park would get there by train. It was a long journey that started in the South Africa-Mozambique border town of Komatipoort and ended at the town of Tzaneen just outside the park. Visitors would disembark at the railway bridge at Sabie river to enjoy the sights and sounds of the park, only to return and settle in for the night to their respective train carriages before continuing the journey.
Trains have ceased operations, but soon this nostalgic experience will be revived once again with a brilliant initiative by the Thebe Tourism Group. The Kruger Shalati is a planned boutique hotel that will fit 24 rooms within the parked classic train carriages on the very same railway bridge. Sporting 24 carriage rooms with the addition of 7 luxury bridge houses, it’s set to be a unique hotel experience that will bring nostalgia and a new sense of adventure for visitors.
The luxury hotel will be located on the bridge and suspended at heights of about 50 feet above the Kruger National Park, allowing guests to feel immersed in the exotic natural landscapes and ambient sounds of wildlife.
Nightly stays at the Kruger Shalati is expected to start from US$430 per adult. Currently, this project is still under development and was initially planned to open as early as December 2020. However, due to the current international health crisis and South Africa’s plans on closing until things stabilise, the Kruger Shalati may have to wait a while before it can finally begin operations. The boutique train hotel may likely open early next year and they are already taking advanced reservations for the year 2021.
Staying at such a unique piece of South African history at the heart of its most famous national park will surely be a chance of a lifetime.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Kruger Shalati, Selati Bridge beside Skukuza Rest Camp, Kruger National Park, South Africa
- Coordinates
- -24.9909856, 31.5968154
- Access
- Kruger Shalati is overnight accommodation, not a walk-in day attraction. Book a stay directly with the lodge. The restaurant and spa are reserved for overnight guests; each stay includes two guided game drives a day. Complimentary return road transfers are included between Skukuza Airport and the lodge. Self-drive and other transfers can be arranged, but only the Skukuza Airport transfer is included.
- Admission
- There is no separate day-visitor ticket listed; access is by accommodation booking. For Carriage Suites, the operator lists R14,900 per international guest or R10,990 per SADC guest per adult per night sharing for 1 November–15 December 2026. Rates are valid only through 15 December 2026. Meals, house drinks and two daily game drives are included; the 1% community levy and Kruger National Park entrance fees are extra. Children under 12 cannot stay in the Train on the Bridge suites and must use Bridge House accommodation.
- Time needed
- This is an overnight lodge, not a timed day visit. The operator sells stays by the night and includes two guided game drives each day; no standard day-visit duration or minimum stay is stated on the reviewed pages. Confirm the itinerary and arrival arrangements when booking.
- Best season
- The lodge operates across distinct seasons and does not prescribe one best time. Its seasonal guide describes May–September/October as the drier period with thinner vegetation and stronger game-viewing visibility; the rainy season brings greener scenery, young animals and migratory birds. SANParks likewise says dry-season vegetation can make animals easier to see. Choose according to whether wildlife visibility or lush scenery and birdlife matter more; sightings are never guaranteed.
- Opening hours
- No public day-visitor hours are published; visits are for booked overnight guests. Confirm check-in, arrival and transfer times with the lodge. The reservations/office contact schedule is not guest-access hours.
- Location checked
- 2026-10-23
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-23
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