By Kaveesha Fernando
MBOMBELA, South Africa (CWBN)_ One of the latest architectural feats to take the world by storm is an unconventional new hotel which just opened up in South Africa’s Kruger National Park earlier this week. The hotel, Kruger Shalati, is perched atop the historic Selati Bridge and is made out of refurbished train cars. This ground-breaking hotel is the first of its kind.
The hotel takes guests back a century to a time South African Railways introduced a rail tour which made an overnight stop at Selati Bridge. The bridge has not been used for nearly half a century.
The hotel comprises 24 hotel rooms, a central lounge car, observation deck, and an outdoor pool. International media reports that the hotel has confirmed that they regularly disinfect the premises to ensure the health and safety of guests amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pool transcends your average infinity pool; the hotel says that it will offer “a swimming experience unlike any other – with crocodile, hippos, buffalos and elephants greeting guests meters below – a vista unlike any other!”.
While the hotel is modern in design, its name is a tribute to African history. Shalati was an African warrior queen. Legend has it that she was one of the first female warrior chiefs of a small clan forming part of the Tsonga tribe. The tribe lived in the bush of what present-day Limpopo Province (where part of the park is located).
Naturally, this futuristic hotel is not cheap. International media reports that a stay costs $520 a night per person, which is inclusive of meals, in house-drinks and two daily game drives.
