Look inside a luxury hotel made of vintage train cars that sits atop a bridge in South Africa's largest national park
Melissa Wiley
A rendering of Kruger Shalati's central lounge car, observation area, and pool deck.Courtesy of Kruger Shalati
- A first-of-its kind hotel suspended 50 feet above South Africa's Kruger National Park opened on Monday, giving safari lovers a new way to see the reserve's wildlife.
- Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge consists of 24 rooms built in converted 1950s train cars, with rates starting at $528 per night per person.
- The hotel sits atop the historic Skukuza Bridge where some of Kruger National Park's first visitors would stay overnight.
- Guests can wake up to views of Big 5 wildlife crossing the river below them then soak in an outdoor pool that appears to float mid-air.
A first-of-its-kind hotel made out of converted 1950s train cars opened Monday in South Africa's Kruger National Park.
Vintage train cars sit atop the Skukuza Bridge in Kruger National Park.
Courtesy of Kruger Shalati
Source: Kruger Shalati
Called Kruger Shalati: Train on the Bridge, the hotel sits 50 feet above the Sabie River atop the historic Skukuza Bridge in Kruger's Skukuza Rest Camp.
Partial view of Kruger Shalati: Train on the Bridge from the Sabie River.
Courtesy of Kruger Shalati
The bridge has been out of commission since 1973, but was a popular spot in the park's early days.
The Skukuza Bridge crosses the Sabie River in Skukuza Rest Camp.
Courtesy of Kruger Shalati
Source: Kruger Station
Back in 1923, South African Railways introduced a nine-day rail tour through Kruger that included an overnight stop at Skukuza.
Vintage train cars, photographed in black and white, sit atop the Skukuza Bridge.
Courtesy of Kruger Shalati
The park was then known as the Sabie Game Reserve, and rest camps were few and far between, according to South African National Parks.
During the overnight stay, guests would gather around campfires on solid ground for dinner, then return to their train carriages on the bridge to sleep, according to South African National Parks.
The sun sets over the Sabie River and the Skukuza Bridge.
Courtesy of Kruger Shalati
Source: SAN Parks
Now, guests at Kruger Shalati can experience the same views as the park's early visitors.
A rendering of the train cars that make up the Kruger Shalati hotel.
Courtesy of Kruger Shalati
Source: Kruger Shalati
In addition to 24 hotel rooms, Kruger Shalati has a central lounge car, observation deck, and pool that appears to float mid-air.
A rendering of Kruger Shalati's central lounge car, observation area, and pool deck.
Courtesy of Kruger Shalati
Source: Kruger Shalati
All are connected by outside walkways.
An outside walkway connects runs alongside the Kruger Shalati: Train on the Bridge.
Courtesy of Kruger Shalati
Source: Kruger Shalati
Rooms celebrate local art and design ...
A rendering shows the interior of a Train on the Bridge hotel room.
Courtesy of Kruger Shalati
Source: Kruger Shalati
... and floor-to-ceiling windows offer sweeping views of the river.
A rendering of a bathtub and wash area in a Train on the Bridge hotel room.
Courtesy of Kruger Shalati
Source: Kruger Shalati
"Lying in the bath with a glass of wine and looking down at the river underneath while animals come to frolic in the water [...] is such an idyllic experience," hotel general manager Judiet Barnes told Insider.
!["Lying in the bath with a glass of wine and looking down at the river underneath while animals come to frolic in the water [...] is such an idyllic experience," hotel general manager Judiet Barnes told Insider.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-79769514,width-700,height-525,imgsize-384678/quotlying-in-the-bath-with-a-glass-of-wine-and-looking-down-at-the-river-underneath-while-animals-come-to-frolic-in-the-water-is-such-an-idyllic-experiencequot-hotel-general-manager-judiet-barnes-told-insider-.jpg)
A rendering of a Train on the Bridge hotel room bathtub looking out over the Sabie River.
Courtesy of Kruger Shalati
Source: Kruger Shalati
Rooms cost $528 (7,950 ZAR) per person per night for double occupancy and are available to guests over the age of 12.
Rendering of a Train on the Bridge hotel room interior.
Courtesy of Kruger Shalati
Source: Kruger Shalati
For their meals, guests can head to the hotel's on-land Bridge House, which serves seasonal menu items in indoor and outdoor spaces.
The Bridge House is seen from an outdoor patio.
Courtesy of Kruger Shalati
Come 2022, the Bridge House has plans to expand to have seven hotel rooms.
View of a Bridge House interior bar and dining area.
Courtesy of Kruger Shalati
Source: Kruger Shalati
Six will be family-friendly, open to children of any age ...
Rendering of the interior of a Bridge House hotel room.
Courtesy of Kruger Shalati
Source: Kruger Shalati
... and the seventh will become the hotel's honeymoon suite.
Chairs on an outdoor deck of the Bridge House face the Skukuza Bridge.
Courtesy of Kruger Shalati
Source: Kruger Shalati
Rates for the Train on the Bridge rooms, and in time the Bridge House rooms, include meals, drinks, and transfers to and from the Skukuza Airport.
The sun sets over the Skukuza Bridge.
Courtesy of Kruger Shalati
Source: Kruger Shalati
They also include two game drives daily in open Land Rovers. Private game drive vehicles can be booked in advance for an additional $300 (4,500 ZAR) per day.
A leopard crosses the road on a game drive in Kruger National Park.
sirtravelalot/Shutterstock
Source: Kruger Shalati
The hotel is currently operating with COVID-19 safety measures in place, including contactless check-in, daily staff temperature screenings, and regular disinfection of common areas.
Light reflects in the Sabie River beneath the Skukuza Bridge.
Courtesy of Kruger Shalati
While South Africa opened its borders to all international visitors in November, it is important to note that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises US citizens to avoid nonessential travel at this time.
You can find out more about Kruger Shalati on its website.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story was published May 15, 2020, on Business Insider.
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