Kruger Shalati - The Train on the Bridge

I Stayed at One of the Few Black-owned Safari Camps in Africa — Here’s Why You Should, Too

"A distinctive South African property built along the Sabie River that converts historic rail carriages and bridge structures into accommodation — 24 train carriage suites and seven bridge house suites suspended above the water — and complements the novel lodging with active outdoor programming such as guided bush walks and theatrical train trackside dinners for a dramatic, riverside safari experience." - Taryn White Taryn White Taryn White is a D.C.-based travel writer who covers a wide range of topics, including family travel, hotels, food, aviation, beaches, historical and cultural topics, and wellness travel. She can often be spotted around the world with her husband and two travel-loving kids. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

The 8 Most Unique Hotels Around the World - AFAR

"Set permanently on a bridge overlooking a flowing river, this locomotive-styled property recreates the feel of vintage sleeper trains with 31 earth-toned, glass-walled rooms that offer panoramic views of elephants, leopards, buffalo and other wildlife. Guests can take game drives, enjoy South African–inspired cuisine, unwind with in-room facials or clawfoot-tub soaks, and relax by a circular pool that appears suspended above the wildlife-filled terrain; the concept echoes the rail pauses that historically occurred on the nearby bridge in the 1920s." - Nora Zelevansky

"A true feat of design, this unusual property is built into a train that sits atop a bridge in Kruger National Park. Described as a sanctuary from the world, it’s easy to see why: Jaw-dropping views, indulgent facilities, and exceptional dining are on offer for guests in the rooms of this boutique wonder. All the while, the Kruger Shalati's articulate design gives a comfortable nod to its industrial heritage. If you’re looking for something very new and very different, this is it."

The 14 Best New Hotels of 2021 Are All Sustainable - AFAR

"The most innovative way to stay in South Africa’s Kruger National Park offers a rare look at the social history of the country’s famous wilderness. Kruger Shalati hovers 50 feet above the Sabie River on a retired train track that carried Kruger’s earliest visitors into the park about a century ago. Developed by Motsamayi Tourism Group, which describes itself as South Africa’s oldest Black-empowered tourism group, Kruger Shalati offers 31 guest rooms (some fashioned out of refurbished train carriages) where travelers can look down at waters filled with crocs, hippos, and elephants." - Jennifer Flowers

Black-Owned Hotels Throughout the World

"One of 2020's most innovative openings, the Kruger Shalati in Kruger National Park has transformed a historic train sitting on the Selati Bridge into a modern hotel."