August 19, 2025 • 19 mins
Pippa Hudson speaks to travel writer Allison Foat about Kruger Shalati, which is a hotel in a train suspended over the Sabie River.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And Kate Talk dot Seal done today on the app
on DEARSTV channel eight eight five and across the city
on five six seven am.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Join the conversation. This is Kate Talk.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Time to do some armchair travel as we wander the
world together. And today we are wandering off to a
much loved part of the country for me, but a
part of it that I've not experienced in a way
of experiencing it that is going to be new to
almost everybody listening. I think I'll explain in just a moment. First,
let me tell you that our guest in studio with
us is travel writer Alison Fote, who's blog Cape Town
(00:35):
Diva has loads of lifestyle content and travel inspiration, including beautiful,
beautiful photographs of their travels. So if you have not
spent some time playing around on the blog, I suggest
that you go and take a look. Just make sure
you've got time in hand to get lost down the
rabbit hole of all the places you're going to want
to go and visit after visiting that site. It's always
great to have you with us. Allison, welcome back. Good
(00:56):
to be here talking trains, talking trains, but not the
kind of training think we're talking because Allison is taking
us on a train trip to a train that doesn't move.
It sits atop a bridge in the Kruger National Park
overlooking the Sabi River, and it is the newest luxury
lodge suspended in mid air Kruger Shalati. When were you there, Alison.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
A couple of months ago.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
It was absolutely intriguing to see the train that goes
nowhere yep, suspended on this incredible bridge. Everything's been restored
and brought back, you know, vintage and revived, and it
is quite remarkable and I believe the only one of
its kind in.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
The world, in the world, not the world South Africa.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Chat GBT told me that, Okay, I did a deep
a dive.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
All right. We always know we have to check everything,
chat GBT tells us, but I'm certainly not aware of
anywhere else offering that kind of of thing. If we
are mistaken, and you have had the experience of sleeping
overnight in a stationary train on a bridge over a river,
in a game farm or a game park, let us
know where it is. I suspect we're not going to
get that message, Allison. But I mean, let's start with location.
(01:58):
Because Sabi is a sizeable river and it runs to
quite a bit of the park. So where in the
park are we talking?
Speaker 2 (02:04):
So we're talking in Pumlanga Kugar National Park.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
About if you look at time wise from Skakuza Airport,
it's about fifteen minutes drive. Like us, you very close
to close, very close to a number of key locations
like the Hamilton Museum and this Coacusa golf course and
of course that amazing cougar station that's been there whatever
was once Thiskacuza station that'd been reimagined as a hub
(02:29):
with restaurants bars, also an old a vintage carriage, and
that ancient locomotive, the three six three eight that's been
there since time immemorial. Yes, and that's just the most
amazing little resource if you want to do a little
spot of shopping or have a tipple. And it's right
literally five steps from the train on the bridge.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Okay, you know you've just jolted the memory. I flew
into Kruger a couple of months ago and I saw
the Shalati Bridge because it's very hard to not see
a swimming pool suspended in mid air above a river.
We'll talk about that in a month, but it did
catch my eye, and of course you're right. It's right
there outside the main Skakuza pass. So if you are
(03:07):
looking for convenience, you've got to fly into Skakuza, which
is nine incredibly easy to do giply direct from Cape
Town these days, and then a short hop, skip and
a jump of fifteen minute drive to get yourself to
krugus Shilati Lodge. Tell us a little bit about the
history of this project. I mean, who had the vision?
When did it all start?
Speaker 3 (03:24):
I believe that this whole project came into fruition with
the dream from that one Jerry Mbanner from Theoebe Investments,
who loved the train ride Otanikuwa Tutu back in the day,
remember it from his childhood. I mean, obviously train travel
is all about nostalgia, and he had this idea to
create a train on a bridge. Got together great players
(03:46):
in the industry. I mean I'm talking really superb names
Rohan Foss from Rovos Rail, Dave Varti, Londolozi. So the
consulting with these incredible engineers, you know, the real players
in the industries. On Safari specialists daycold design of course,
like next level engineering teams, architecture, it is.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
It was quite the operation.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
And I believe that they sourced these trains on auction
some years ago, had them restored in Johannesburg, and then
pop them onto low bed trucks, those flat beds and
chundle them along into Johannesburg into the Kruger National Park.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
I'm imagining the car on the road watching a train
drive past you on the highway way to the park.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Yes, so, And obviously then they deposited them onto the
tracks on the actual bridge WoT had been seriously reinforced.
But yeah, it's just it's so unique in every aspect. Obviously,
when you say I'm staying in her train hotel, you
know that conscous in itself something quite romantic and nostalgic
and all the charm, but they're really it's it's just
a tremendous feat from all aspects and there it is
(04:55):
this one of a kind stay that even David from
Shitt's Creek, yes, he stayed there.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Oh, oh gosh.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
During COVID there was there was that break in where
you could travel and he was part of a show
called The Reluctant Traveler, which is Apple TV, and he
stayed there and he actually famously said, you know, he thought, oh,
you know, rolling up the eyes a little bit, what's
so fabulous about this? And apparently he said, and it's
all over the interwebs, that it was magical and it
was a place he went for a day or two,
(05:23):
wanted to stay for way longer. It really impacted him,
as it's a whole he must go on to the
Reluctant Traveler. There's a whole segment on that, and it's
actually divine. I've got a lot of intel out of
that which is quite marvelous. And he is spot on
in the way he describes it. So there's somebody is
super famous.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
So rather than going eh, you can go exactly right,
Dad Levy is the name we've been looking for. He
played the character of David. And if you don't know
what we're talking about, that means you haven't seen Shit's creak.
I should have just got to go and watch it,
because what a treat to have still lying in store
for you. As an aside, But back to the trade, Okay,
So you are staying in these beautiful reconfigured carriages. The
(05:58):
entire lodge experience is within a former train carriage, or.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
So they are.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
In total there are I think there are thirty four
units altogether. So you've got garden cottages and then you've
got twenty four carriage suites which are on the train
suspended above the sab which flows all year around.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
So you must imagine.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Hippos grunting morning and evening, elephants crossing the river, lots
of incredible bird life. I mean, it's nothing finer than
sitting with your glass of wine and watching the swallow
starting to flitch, you know they.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Do at dusk. It's really beautiful.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
And I tell you something, bathing will never be the
same again because you are sitting in this beautiful bath
with this vast window right there, and you are having
your glass of bubbly while watching whatever's going on the
theater of Safari life in front of you.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
It really is.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
I mean, I can't even try and talk it up
because it really is just there for the taking.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
It really is beautiful.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
So yeah, okay, so we are talking about Krueger Shalati.
For those who are asking how it is spelt, it's
sha Lati. The train on the bridge. If you fly
into Skakusa Camp you can see it from the air
as you come into land. The whole thing has been
constructed around the bridge over the Sabi River, the railway
bridge over the Sabi River and these rail transformed reconditioned
(07:15):
rail carriages fitted out as sleeping units as part of
the hotel offering and Bang in the middle Alison.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
The pool.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Oh, if you were there a few months ago, and
if you were in swimming weather, I.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Was you know, winter in Johannesburg and Puma Langa is
quite fly during the day, right, so yes, it was perfect.
Actually it was around about April, so good timing. And
this pool is quite something. So it's a circular pool.
We are dipping pool rarely, and so it's on this
deck that extends out and the pool is sort of hovering.
(07:48):
It's like an extension hovering over the river and the
sort of lush pathway that's used by wildlife and it
really is the most divine place just to do some
game viewing or whatever you can see. And there's a
little bridge right on the other side where you can
see guests arriving trunneling across the bridge in there's Safari
vehicle the new intake.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
So it really has there. You can't. There is no
bad position.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
So whichever train carriage you're in looks out over this
view it is and there's a long wooden walker that
takes you in to embark into into your little abode.
It's just so romantic. It really is beautiful. It's ideal
for two people sleeping. I think there's one carriage that joins.
They'll organize fine dining for you. On the right, on
(08:33):
the edge of the track, there's a space that they've
made sort of like a sunken dining.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Area, so that's something you can book.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
That's something special for individuals or small families.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
There's three pools on the properties, and not just so if.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
You are staying on the on the train, on the bridge,
you can actually enjoy that dipping pool. But there are
two other pools which people can enjoy closer to the
main lodge.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
On the banks of which is right there exactly on
the banks. Because I'm facing a dilemma, I have a rule, Allison,
and it dates back to childhood when we didn't have
a swimming pool, that if I went somewhere and there
was a pool, you have to swim in it, and
it doesn't matter if that is Stellenbosch in the middle
of winter as it was last year, or wherever.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
You may be.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
If there is a pool, you've got to swim in it.
But I'm also quite afraid of heights, so the sort
of a pool that is kind of sticking out into
the nether is a little bit intimidating for me. Perhaps
I'll go to the one on the bank side. Okay,
so you are staying in this extraordinary train carriage experience
or in the cottages on the side on the banks
of the river. Obviously it looks good enough to make
(09:34):
you want to stay there and just just relax in
the carriage for the entire time you there. But of
course you've got all the way to Krueger. You want
to go and explore the game while you're there. Yes,
how does it work? Is it a just accommodation and
you self drive or do they offer game vehicle drives?
How does it work.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
It's pretty much like a Safari lodge, so it's all included.
You get your usual game drives early morning and late afternoon.
And the one thing people should notice that Kricker National
Park is a national park. It's open to the public,
so you can find yourself in slight traffic situations, which
I haven't seen in a long time because of the
type of lodges that I go to. But having said that,
(10:12):
these guides are on their game. They know how to
scroll around the place, how to find those hidden gems,
those spots. So say there's a sighting of wild dog,
which we saw a lot of which was amazing painted dogs,
they will know exactly where to go, how to avoid
other cars so that you are getting that exclusive experience.
And then of course when they want to stop and
(10:33):
give you that sort of sundowner of your dreams, they
know too where to do it where you don't.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Have any other eyes on. It's just you, your guide.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
She or he unpacks the region, the history, the backstory,
and all the guides and all the people that work
at Chalati are sourced from the immediate environment in terms
of the local communities and the towns nearby. So it's
really a very nice holistic approach, you know, creating micro
economies for all these people, and I think it's just wonderful.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
So your guides, that's it.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
They will find you those gem hidden spaces to enjoy
whatever it is that you need to be seeing.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
Okay, so you're going to get the whole guided experience.
I mean we'll talk about costs in a moment, but
it means if you're bringing visitors in for the first time,
I mean, everybody should be so lucky as to experience
absolutely a park from that perspective of the really personalized.
As much as I love the camping trip, pile the
whole family in the make your own way with Bobril
sandwiches for breakfast at nine o'clock in the morning, whatever
(11:32):
it may be, that's a wonderful way of experiencing Kruger.
But that way of having that input of a guide
with you who knows the bush, who knows deeper than
what your guide to mammals or birds is going to
tell you, is something very special.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
It is. And of course, I mean the sightings were fantastic.
Aside from you know, the elephant and the lion and
the panther dogs, I've never seen so much extraordinary bird
life in terms of the kingfisher.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Variety, and quite situated.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
So the game vehicle would drive past, say there was
a kingfisher perched on a branch or on the on
the edge of the bridge. We would be able to
edge quite close and just observe this bird. I mean,
I haven't had that opportunity ever. And then I was
a skittish exactly, and though they were quite chilled, I
must say I saw some remarkable bird life.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
And that's that.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
If you're a twitcher and you love your you know
your binox and all that, Johnathan, I'm talking to you,
then this is for you.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Just in case you've come in midway to this conversation.
My guest with us in studio, Allison Fote, travel writer
from Cape Town, Diva, talking to us about her fairly
recent experience of the magnificent Kruger Shlati, the new lodge
that has been built in the Kruger Park just outside Kakuza,
guest camp on a railway bridge on top spanning the
Sabi River. An absolutely extraordinary experience in terms of where
(12:49):
you get to sleep and experience life inside a train carriage.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
That isn't going anywhere.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Talk about going nowhere slowly, I know, going nowhere at all,
not at all. Yeah, love it. Okay, let's get the
nasty pricing conversation out the way. Where does this fit
in terms of this the hierarchy of how much you
are paying for this experience.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
I would say mid range to higher range for sure,
because of where you're located, this unique experience, and it's
just one of those coveted trips one has to do.
So it's not cheap, I guess one wants to put
it that way, but it's the value is tremendous. So
aside from your actual stay this unique location suspended in
Bliss above the River, you've got full service in terms
(13:31):
of all your meals, provided your game drives all your drinks.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
The food is excellent.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
They've got a team led by a guy called Vusy
and it's an extended cuisine team, and you get really
it's a really well curated menu and it's paired with
excellent wines that are all grounded in South African vineyards.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
So gun Ferrara, the GM, he's really adept at switching
that up every six months.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
So there's that just that local authenticity that threws all
the way through from top to toe. So if you're
going to be paying a top dollar, then you're getting
that and more so. I'm sure there's a saturd grade.
It's all on their website, which I didn't do a
tip dive into the actual prices, but it's all there
for the inquiring, okay.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
And that website is Kruger Shalati dot com for those
who want to go and look it up and see
some photographs, Alison, before we wrap up, Like many of
these lodges, I know that this one has made an
effort to ensure that they benefit the surrounding community, not
just the visitors who are coming there to enjoy the experience.
Tell us a bit more about how they do that
at chill Oh.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
There's so many different ways, but one of the things
I picked up on was that they support a community
creesh called Happy Homes and you can actually go and
visit see what the teachers are doing with the young children,
and it's always wonderful. And I do this on any safari.
I go to our tap into the GM and I
say what can I bring? And for this situation, you
know crayons and pencils and you know stationary for children
(14:56):
drawing utensils. I think that is a wonderful thing to do.
But I like the you, as a guest, are able
to visit. I think most lodgers do that if they're
in proximity to a local community, whether it's a beading
community or weaving workshops or whatever the case may be,
there is something that you can visit and just by sheer,
just by your visit, you are contributing in a way
(15:17):
because you've now staying at the lodge and there's always
this interaction and they see the benefit. The community always
sees the benefit, and it is legit. There's no talking
it up and strap lines at us, so dujure, you know,
but it really is legitimate efforts being made and everybody wins.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
So Kenton telling us it's not just the Levy family
who've been experiencing this. Apparently Gary Barlow took a turn
past this venue as well in the TV series he
made just the other day. I do remember mentioning that
in our TV slot, but I haven't watched it, Kenton,
So that's.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Was it Wasstlife. I don't know see the boy band.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
I think it was WestLine. I do remember seeing him
doing a trip that included South Africa in his travel program.
So there we go. Okay, So the rich and famous
are popping in. If you're lucky, you might rub shoulders
with one or two of them in the next door carriage.
Although Frankly, if I had the opportunity to go and
stay in a railway carriage hovering over a river, I
wouldn't want to know who was next door, Alison. I
wouldn't want to know anybody was anywhere near me.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
And you can't hear anybody either, because they're very nicely
spaced apart. So that is very nice about the design too.
So if anyone has to have a party and whatever,
you're not going to be disturbed on this, and you
don't want to be loud and boysed. Just the kind
of people that are there are there to enjoy the
silence and the wonderful wildlife, the bird life. Just taking
that desperately gorgeous fiery sunset or that pastal sunrise.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
It's just something to be seen to be believed.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Really.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Twenty four carriage suites, seven bridge house suites, which are
the cottage is located alongside the bridge in the garden area,
and I'm just seeing on their webside a little extra
bit of history. The choice of this location, Allison, is
that this was the very bridge where the very first
visitors to the Kruger Park would come to stay. Yes,
they had been brought in to visit the new declared park.
(17:04):
This was where they met their rong.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Exactly and the whole Another part of the inspiration was
what they called the round In nine tour, which was
a rail safari that took prospective gold diggers or whatever
people that were curious about that or just tourists on
this low felled trip that took nine days and there
was one night that they got to stop on the bridge.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
And this is where that.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Colonel Hamilton Stephens Stephens is something like that. He was
the one who then pitched the idea to the local
authorities as then warden of the Kruger National Park to say, listen,
this is so popular because he would greet the guests
and tell them wildlife stories and how he's aiming to
be part of the whole new conservation, forward thinking movement.
(17:47):
In fact, his nickname was Kukusa, which means the one
who rethinks certain ways.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
So I didn't know.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
I found that out also in my deep dive on
the chat chipity, you know, So that was fascinating. But
that's how the kind of I think that birthed the
whole idea, and I think Jerry and Macbenna clocked onto
that and then one thing left to the other and
got all these role players involved, and that's what they
came up with.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
And they have certainly done something special.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Creating something really unique. Lovelessen. If anybody listening to us
this afternoon, thank you everybody correcting me and shouting at me.
It was take that not wete time.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Oh okay, I got my boy bands mixed up.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
I apologize. They all looked at the sound at the
same Throw me a little bit of LeMay. Yeah, I digress.
I was going to say, if anybody listening has been
to Kruger Shalati had the experiences staying there, if you
want to tell us where you stayed, what you thought,
what you ate, what you saw, because of course no
trip to the Kruger Park can be spoken of unless
you're talking about the sightings. You were lucky enough to
(18:47):
have wild dog, yes, boiled.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
And elephant, lot of giraffe and lion. Yeah, just did
not all the Big five. But I'm not to say
that they're not there. I don't know what the story
is with Rhino, nervous to speak about Rhyana anyway, even
if they were there.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
But certainly the Big four. So I think you are
in for a feast. In terms of what you're going.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
To see, I mean that part of the park is
always teeming with Yeah, that stretch between Skukuza and Lowers RB, Yes,
in my mind is the most sort of densely populated
you always see something, So a wonderful part of the
park to be located in. Alison, you've wit our appetite,
something silly. Thank you very very much for coming in
to share this incredible experience or all the picks.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Up on your blog already, Yes, there are and then
some I've got a feast of photos from the PR people,
so yes, okay, So.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
If you want to check out what it looks like,
have a little look at the carriages and the pool,
et cetera. Got Cape Town Diva which is Alison's blog,
and then if you want to go and explore the
offering and the rates, et cetera. The actual venue site
is Krueger Shalati dot com spelled s h A l
A t I. Safe travels till next time, Alison, Thanks
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Thank you for having me
And Kate Talk dot Seal done today on the app
on DEARSTV channel eight eight five and across the city
on five six seven am.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Join the conversation. This is Kate Talk.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Time to do some armchair travel as we wander the
world together. And today we are wandering off to a
much loved part of the country for me, but a
part of it that I've not experienced in a way
of experiencing it that is going to be new to
almost everybody listening. I think I'll explain in just a moment. First,
let me tell you that our guest in studio with
us is travel writer Alison Fote, who's blog Cape Town
(00:35):
Diva has loads of lifestyle content and travel inspiration, including beautiful,
beautiful photographs of their travels. So if you have not
spent some time playing around on the blog, I suggest
that you go and take a look. Just make sure
you've got time in hand to get lost down the
rabbit hole of all the places you're going to want
to go and visit after visiting that site. It's always
great to have you with us. Allison, welcome back. Good
(00:56):
to be here talking trains, talking trains, but not the
kind of training think we're talking because Allison is taking
us on a train trip to a train that doesn't move.
It sits atop a bridge in the Kruger National Park
overlooking the Sabi River, and it is the newest luxury
lodge suspended in mid air Kruger Shalati. When were you there, Alison.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
A couple of months ago.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
It was absolutely intriguing to see the train that goes
nowhere yep, suspended on this incredible bridge. Everything's been restored
and brought back, you know, vintage and revived, and it
is quite remarkable and I believe the only one of
its kind in.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
The world, in the world, not the world South Africa.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Chat GBT told me that, Okay, I did a deep
a dive.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
All right. We always know we have to check everything,
chat GBT tells us, but I'm certainly not aware of
anywhere else offering that kind of of thing. If we
are mistaken, and you have had the experience of sleeping
overnight in a stationary train on a bridge over a river,
in a game farm or a game park, let us
know where it is. I suspect we're not going to
get that message, Allison. But I mean, let's start with location.
(01:58):
Because Sabi is a sizeable river and it runs to
quite a bit of the park. So where in the
park are we talking?
Speaker 2 (02:04):
So we're talking in Pumlanga Kugar National Park.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
About if you look at time wise from Skakuza Airport,
it's about fifteen minutes drive. Like us, you very close
to close, very close to a number of key locations
like the Hamilton Museum and this Coacusa golf course and
of course that amazing cougar station that's been there whatever
was once Thiskacuza station that'd been reimagined as a hub
(02:29):
with restaurants bars, also an old a vintage carriage, and
that ancient locomotive, the three six three eight that's been
there since time immemorial. Yes, and that's just the most
amazing little resource if you want to do a little
spot of shopping or have a tipple. And it's right
literally five steps from the train on the bridge.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Okay, you know you've just jolted the memory. I flew
into Kruger a couple of months ago and I saw
the Shalati Bridge because it's very hard to not see
a swimming pool suspended in mid air above a river.
We'll talk about that in a month, but it did
catch my eye, and of course you're right. It's right
there outside the main Skakuza pass. So if you are
(03:07):
looking for convenience, you've got to fly into Skakuza, which
is nine incredibly easy to do giply direct from Cape
Town these days, and then a short hop, skip and
a jump of fifteen minute drive to get yourself to
krugus Shilati Lodge. Tell us a little bit about the
history of this project. I mean, who had the vision?
When did it all start?
Speaker 3 (03:24):
I believe that this whole project came into fruition with
the dream from that one Jerry Mbanner from Theoebe Investments,
who loved the train ride Otanikuwa Tutu back in the day,
remember it from his childhood. I mean, obviously train travel
is all about nostalgia, and he had this idea to
create a train on a bridge. Got together great players
(03:46):
in the industry. I mean I'm talking really superb names
Rohan Foss from Rovos Rail, Dave Varti, Londolozi. So the
consulting with these incredible engineers, you know, the real players
in the industries. On Safari specialists daycold design of course,
like next level engineering teams, architecture, it is.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
It was quite the operation.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
And I believe that they sourced these trains on auction
some years ago, had them restored in Johannesburg, and then
pop them onto low bed trucks, those flat beds and
chundle them along into Johannesburg into the Kruger National Park.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
I'm imagining the car on the road watching a train
drive past you on the highway way to the park.
Speaker 3 (04:31):
Yes, so, And obviously then they deposited them onto the
tracks on the actual bridge WoT had been seriously reinforced.
But yeah, it's just it's so unique in every aspect. Obviously,
when you say I'm staying in her train hotel, you
know that conscous in itself something quite romantic and nostalgic
and all the charm, but they're really it's it's just
a tremendous feat from all aspects and there it is
(04:55):
this one of a kind stay that even David from
Shitt's Creek, yes, he stayed there.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Oh, oh gosh.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
During COVID there was there was that break in where
you could travel and he was part of a show
called The Reluctant Traveler, which is Apple TV, and he
stayed there and he actually famously said, you know, he thought, oh,
you know, rolling up the eyes a little bit, what's
so fabulous about this? And apparently he said, and it's
all over the interwebs, that it was magical and it
was a place he went for a day or two,
(05:23):
wanted to stay for way longer. It really impacted him,
as it's a whole he must go on to the
Reluctant Traveler. There's a whole segment on that, and it's
actually divine. I've got a lot of intel out of
that which is quite marvelous. And he is spot on
in the way he describes it. So there's somebody is
super famous.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
So rather than going eh, you can go exactly right,
Dad Levy is the name we've been looking for. He
played the character of David. And if you don't know
what we're talking about, that means you haven't seen Shit's creak.
I should have just got to go and watch it,
because what a treat to have still lying in store
for you. As an aside, But back to the trade, Okay,
So you are staying in these beautiful reconfigured carriages. The
(05:58):
entire lodge experience is within a former train carriage, or.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
So they are.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
In total there are I think there are thirty four
units altogether. So you've got garden cottages and then you've
got twenty four carriage suites which are on the train
suspended above the sab which flows all year around.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
So you must imagine.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
Hippos grunting morning and evening, elephants crossing the river, lots
of incredible bird life. I mean, it's nothing finer than
sitting with your glass of wine and watching the swallow
starting to flitch, you know they.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Do at dusk. It's really beautiful.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
And I tell you something, bathing will never be the
same again because you are sitting in this beautiful bath
with this vast window right there, and you are having
your glass of bubbly while watching whatever's going on the
theater of Safari life in front of you.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
It really is.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
I mean, I can't even try and talk it up
because it really is just there for the taking.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
It really is beautiful.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
So yeah, okay, so we are talking about Krueger Shalati.
For those who are asking how it is spelt, it's
sha Lati. The train on the bridge. If you fly
into Skakusa Camp you can see it from the air
as you come into land. The whole thing has been
constructed around the bridge over the Sabi River, the railway
bridge over the Sabi River and these rail transformed reconditioned
(07:15):
rail carriages fitted out as sleeping units as part of
the hotel offering and Bang in the middle Alison.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
The pool.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Oh, if you were there a few months ago, and
if you were in swimming weather, I.
Speaker 3 (07:25):
Was you know, winter in Johannesburg and Puma Langa is
quite fly during the day, right, so yes, it was perfect.
Actually it was around about April, so good timing. And
this pool is quite something. So it's a circular pool.
We are dipping pool rarely, and so it's on this
deck that extends out and the pool is sort of hovering.
(07:48):
It's like an extension hovering over the river and the
sort of lush pathway that's used by wildlife and it
really is the most divine place just to do some
game viewing or whatever you can see. And there's a
little bridge right on the other side where you can
see guests arriving trunneling across the bridge in there's Safari
vehicle the new intake.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
So it really has there. You can't. There is no
bad position.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
So whichever train carriage you're in looks out over this
view it is and there's a long wooden walker that
takes you in to embark into into your little abode.
It's just so romantic. It really is beautiful. It's ideal
for two people sleeping. I think there's one carriage that joins.
They'll organize fine dining for you. On the right, on
(08:33):
the edge of the track, there's a space that they've
made sort of like a sunken dining.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Area, so that's something you can book.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
That's something special for individuals or small families.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
There's three pools on the properties, and not just so if.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
You are staying on the on the train, on the bridge,
you can actually enjoy that dipping pool. But there are
two other pools which people can enjoy closer to the
main lodge.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
On the banks of which is right there exactly on
the banks. Because I'm facing a dilemma, I have a rule, Allison,
and it dates back to childhood when we didn't have
a swimming pool, that if I went somewhere and there
was a pool, you have to swim in it, and
it doesn't matter if that is Stellenbosch in the middle
of winter as it was last year, or wherever.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
You may be.
Speaker 1 (09:13):
If there is a pool, you've got to swim in it.
But I'm also quite afraid of heights, so the sort
of a pool that is kind of sticking out into
the nether is a little bit intimidating for me. Perhaps
I'll go to the one on the bank side. Okay,
so you are staying in this extraordinary train carriage experience
or in the cottages on the side on the banks
of the river. Obviously it looks good enough to make
(09:34):
you want to stay there and just just relax in
the carriage for the entire time you there. But of
course you've got all the way to Krueger. You want
to go and explore the game while you're there. Yes,
how does it work? Is it a just accommodation and
you self drive or do they offer game vehicle drives?
How does it work.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
It's pretty much like a Safari lodge, so it's all included.
You get your usual game drives early morning and late afternoon.
And the one thing people should notice that Kricker National
Park is a national park. It's open to the public,
so you can find yourself in slight traffic situations, which
I haven't seen in a long time because of the
type of lodges that I go to. But having said that,
(10:12):
these guides are on their game. They know how to
scroll around the place, how to find those hidden gems,
those spots. So say there's a sighting of wild dog,
which we saw a lot of which was amazing painted dogs,
they will know exactly where to go, how to avoid
other cars so that you are getting that exclusive experience.
And then of course when they want to stop and
(10:33):
give you that sort of sundowner of your dreams, they
know too where to do it where you don't.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
Have any other eyes on. It's just you, your guide.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
She or he unpacks the region, the history, the backstory,
and all the guides and all the people that work
at Chalati are sourced from the immediate environment in terms
of the local communities and the towns nearby. So it's
really a very nice holistic approach, you know, creating micro
economies for all these people, and I think it's just wonderful.
Speaker 2 (11:03):
So your guides, that's it.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
They will find you those gem hidden spaces to enjoy
whatever it is that you need to be seeing.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
Okay, so you're going to get the whole guided experience.
I mean we'll talk about costs in a moment, but
it means if you're bringing visitors in for the first time,
I mean, everybody should be so lucky as to experience
absolutely a park from that perspective of the really personalized.
As much as I love the camping trip, pile the
whole family in the make your own way with Bobril
sandwiches for breakfast at nine o'clock in the morning, whatever
(11:32):
it may be, that's a wonderful way of experiencing Kruger.
But that way of having that input of a guide
with you who knows the bush, who knows deeper than
what your guide to mammals or birds is going to
tell you, is something very special.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
It is. And of course, I mean the sightings were fantastic.
Aside from you know, the elephant and the lion and
the panther dogs, I've never seen so much extraordinary bird
life in terms of the kingfisher.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Variety, and quite situated.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
So the game vehicle would drive past, say there was
a kingfisher perched on a branch or on the on
the edge of the bridge. We would be able to
edge quite close and just observe this bird. I mean,
I haven't had that opportunity ever. And then I was
a skittish exactly, and though they were quite chilled, I
must say I saw some remarkable bird life.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
And that's that.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
If you're a twitcher and you love your you know
your binox and all that, Johnathan, I'm talking to you,
then this is for you.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Just in case you've come in midway to this conversation.
My guest with us in studio, Allison Fote, travel writer
from Cape Town, Diva, talking to us about her fairly
recent experience of the magnificent Kruger Shlati, the new lodge
that has been built in the Kruger Park just outside Kakuza,
guest camp on a railway bridge on top spanning the
Sabi River. An absolutely extraordinary experience in terms of where
(12:49):
you get to sleep and experience life inside a train carriage.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
That isn't going anywhere.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Talk about going nowhere slowly, I know, going nowhere at all,
not at all. Yeah, love it. Okay, let's get the
nasty pricing conversation out the way. Where does this fit
in terms of this the hierarchy of how much you
are paying for this experience.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
I would say mid range to higher range for sure,
because of where you're located, this unique experience, and it's
just one of those coveted trips one has to do.
So it's not cheap, I guess one wants to put
it that way, but it's the value is tremendous. So
aside from your actual stay this unique location suspended in
Bliss above the River, you've got full service in terms
(13:31):
of all your meals, provided your game drives all your drinks.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
The food is excellent.
Speaker 3 (13:36):
They've got a team led by a guy called Vusy
and it's an extended cuisine team, and you get really
it's a really well curated menu and it's paired with
excellent wines that are all grounded in South African vineyards.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
So gun Ferrara, the GM, he's really adept at switching
that up every six months.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
So there's that just that local authenticity that threws all
the way through from top to toe. So if you're
going to be paying a top dollar, then you're getting
that and more so. I'm sure there's a saturd grade.
It's all on their website, which I didn't do a
tip dive into the actual prices, but it's all there
for the inquiring, okay.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
And that website is Kruger Shalati dot com for those
who want to go and look it up and see
some photographs, Alison, before we wrap up, Like many of
these lodges, I know that this one has made an
effort to ensure that they benefit the surrounding community, not
just the visitors who are coming there to enjoy the experience.
Tell us a bit more about how they do that
at chill Oh.
Speaker 3 (14:33):
There's so many different ways, but one of the things
I picked up on was that they support a community
creesh called Happy Homes and you can actually go and
visit see what the teachers are doing with the young children,
and it's always wonderful. And I do this on any safari.
I go to our tap into the GM and I
say what can I bring? And for this situation, you
know crayons and pencils and you know stationary for children
(14:56):
drawing utensils. I think that is a wonderful thing to do.
But I like the you, as a guest, are able
to visit. I think most lodgers do that if they're
in proximity to a local community, whether it's a beading
community or weaving workshops or whatever the case may be,
there is something that you can visit and just by sheer,
just by your visit, you are contributing in a way
(15:17):
because you've now staying at the lodge and there's always
this interaction and they see the benefit. The community always
sees the benefit, and it is legit. There's no talking
it up and strap lines at us, so dujure, you know,
but it really is legitimate efforts being made and everybody wins.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
So Kenton telling us it's not just the Levy family
who've been experiencing this. Apparently Gary Barlow took a turn
past this venue as well in the TV series he
made just the other day. I do remember mentioning that
in our TV slot, but I haven't watched it, Kenton,
So that's.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
Was it Wasstlife. I don't know see the boy band.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
I think it was WestLine. I do remember seeing him
doing a trip that included South Africa in his travel program.
So there we go. Okay, So the rich and famous
are popping in. If you're lucky, you might rub shoulders
with one or two of them in the next door carriage.
Although Frankly, if I had the opportunity to go and
stay in a railway carriage hovering over a river, I
wouldn't want to know who was next door, Alison. I
wouldn't want to know anybody was anywhere near me.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
And you can't hear anybody either, because they're very nicely
spaced apart. So that is very nice about the design too.
So if anyone has to have a party and whatever,
you're not going to be disturbed on this, and you
don't want to be loud and boysed. Just the kind
of people that are there are there to enjoy the
silence and the wonderful wildlife, the bird life. Just taking
that desperately gorgeous fiery sunset or that pastal sunrise.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
It's just something to be seen to be believed.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Really.
Speaker 1 (16:42):
Twenty four carriage suites, seven bridge house suites, which are
the cottage is located alongside the bridge in the garden area,
and I'm just seeing on their webside a little extra
bit of history. The choice of this location, Allison, is
that this was the very bridge where the very first
visitors to the Kruger Park would come to stay. Yes,
they had been brought in to visit the new declared park.
(17:04):
This was where they met their rong.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
Exactly and the whole Another part of the inspiration was
what they called the round In nine tour, which was
a rail safari that took prospective gold diggers or whatever
people that were curious about that or just tourists on
this low felled trip that took nine days and there
was one night that they got to stop on the bridge.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
And this is where that.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Colonel Hamilton Stephens Stephens is something like that. He was
the one who then pitched the idea to the local
authorities as then warden of the Kruger National Park to say, listen,
this is so popular because he would greet the guests
and tell them wildlife stories and how he's aiming to
be part of the whole new conservation, forward thinking movement.
(17:47):
In fact, his nickname was Kukusa, which means the one
who rethinks certain ways.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
So I didn't know.
Speaker 3 (17:52):
I found that out also in my deep dive on
the chat chipity, you know, So that was fascinating. But
that's how the kind of I think that birthed the
whole idea, and I think Jerry and Macbenna clocked onto
that and then one thing left to the other and
got all these role players involved, and that's what they
came up with.
Speaker 2 (18:10):
And they have certainly done something special.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Creating something really unique. Lovelessen. If anybody listening to us
this afternoon, thank you everybody correcting me and shouting at me.
It was take that not wete time.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
Oh okay, I got my boy bands mixed up.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
I apologize. They all looked at the sound at the
same Throw me a little bit of LeMay. Yeah, I digress.
I was going to say, if anybody listening has been
to Kruger Shalati had the experiences staying there, if you
want to tell us where you stayed, what you thought,
what you ate, what you saw, because of course no
trip to the Kruger Park can be spoken of unless
you're talking about the sightings. You were lucky enough to
(18:47):
have wild dog, yes, boiled.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
And elephant, lot of giraffe and lion. Yeah, just did
not all the Big five. But I'm not to say
that they're not there. I don't know what the story
is with Rhino, nervous to speak about Rhyana anyway, even
if they were there.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
But certainly the Big four. So I think you are
in for a feast. In terms of what you're going.
Speaker 1 (19:08):
To see, I mean that part of the park is
always teeming with Yeah, that stretch between Skukuza and Lowers RB, Yes,
in my mind is the most sort of densely populated
you always see something, So a wonderful part of the
park to be located in. Alison, you've wit our appetite,
something silly. Thank you very very much for coming in
to share this incredible experience or all the picks.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
Up on your blog already, Yes, there are and then
some I've got a feast of photos from the PR people,
so yes, okay, So.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
If you want to check out what it looks like,
have a little look at the carriages and the pool,
et cetera. Got Cape Town Diva which is Alison's blog,
and then if you want to go and explore the
offering and the rates, et cetera. The actual venue site
is Krueger Shalati dot com spelled s h A l
A t I. Safe travels till next time, Alison, Thanks
Speaker 2 (19:56):
Thank you for having me
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