Courtesy of Kruger Sharati: Train on the Bridge
Kruger Sharati: The Train on the Bridge is a luxury hotel made up of refurbished rolling stock that spans a historic bridge in the middle of South Africa’s Kruger National Park. Check out our gallery to see more.
Courtesy of Kruger Sharati: Train on the Bridge
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this park is one of the best places to see Africa’s ‘big five’: elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalo. The hotel’s location on the Sabie River makes it a particularly good spot for wildlife viewing.
Courtesy of Kruger Sharati: Train on the Bridge
Most of the hotel’s rooms are converted from old Transnet railway carriages. Motsamai Tourism Group, which operates the company, told CNN they wanted the interior to be modern and “decolonial.”
Courtesy of Kruger Sharati: Train on the Bridge
The windows face east, allowing visitors to watch sunrise, which increases animal activity along the river.
Courtesy of Kruger Sharati: Train on the Bridge
The hotel was inspired by the railway service that passed through the Kruger National Park a century ago. The railway is an essential means of access to the park, and visitors to the Serati railway line stopped overnight at this bridge as part of their tours.
Courtesy of Kruger Sharati: Train on the Bridge
The hotel has now decorated the bridge with luxurious decorations, including a pool, so you can play in the water while hippos and crocodiles swim in the river below.
Courtesy of Kruger Sharati: Train on the Bridge
Jerry Mabena, CEO of Motsamai Tourism Group, said some visitors to the hotel (room rates start at R9,950 ($530) per person per night for international guests) , some prefer to stay on-site and relax, taking advantage of the fine dining and spa treatments. .
By: Mia Rowe/Kruger Sharati: Train on the Bridge
Some visitors choose a stationary safari while having the comforts of home nearby, as the bridge is the perfect place to observe nature.
By: Mia Rowe/Kruger Sharati: Train on the Bridge
The hotel offers safari guides as part of its standard package, and visitors are guided through the park by experienced guides.
Courtesy of Kruger Sharati: Train on the Bridge
Private car safaris are possible in Kruger National Park, but Kruger Sharati guide Tuli Mnisi says tourists are far more likely to see wildlife with a guide. “We communicate with each other and know where animals can be found,” she says.
Courtesy of Kruger Sharati: Train on the Bridge
Beyond the Big 5, the area around the hotel is rich in birdlife, from birds of prey to this tiny lilac-breasted roller.
Michelle Spatari/AFP via Getty Images
The hotel opened in December 2020 after delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently welcoming guests for its fourth summer season.
Michelle Spatari/AFP via Getty Images
The hotel management company also operates nearby Kruger Station. The station is home to a carefully preserved steam locomotive that retains its original character, but has been completely isolated since the tracks leading out of the station were removed decades ago. “I think the culture of steam locomotives and the culture of historic trains is starting to emerge again,” Mabena says. “We don’t have a working steam locomotive, but I think we will someday.”