Page 17 - Dainfern Precinct Living 6 2021

TRAVEL

is: ‘the man who turned everything upside
down’. Fair enough. But some historians
believe the name given to him by the tribe
living there and who, for centuries, had
freely hunted using bows and arrows, spears
and, later, rifles, was less complimentary.
Their translation was ‘the man who wrecks
everything’.

Their descendants are, nowadays,
conservationists and form most of the team
that manages the Train on the Bridge. They
also patrol the now 360km-long reserve,
watching for poachers.

This lower reach of the Sabie River is,
biotically, the richest river in Southern Africa.
Above and below its fast-moving water, an
abundance of wildlife flourishes – just as it
has for millennia.
Potentially, it is possible to see from the
bridge snatches of the richest wildlife show
on earth for this is the habitat of the world’s
three largest land mammals – elephant,
white rhino and hippo, as well as the world’s
tallest animal, the giraffe. I have seen along
this river the world’s fastest mammal, the
cheetah, and the world’s biggest bird, the
KRUGER SHALATI ostrich, as well as the world’s heaviest flying
bird, the almost 20kg kori bustard.
THE TRAIN ON THE BRIDGE Driving along this river, one frequently sees
lion, leopard, buffalo, zebra, herds of impala,
wildebeest and several other kinds of
antelope. Not that one is assured of seeing
all this from the bridge. Even an elephant
can hide and a pride of lions, from half-a-
dozen metres away, can blend invisibly into
the savanna.

The wonder of the Train on the Bridge
experience is that all this wildlife is there
and at some stage might appear. Once
international tourism picks up, overseas
visitors are in for a treat but, in the interim,
South Africans are able to get in there at
hugely discounted prices.

Guests have access to the train’s smart
lounge carriage where drinks are served.
Breakfasts, lunches, afternoon tea and
dinner prepared by chefs are part of the
deal. One can bathe in the train’s circular
pool perched 15m above where crocodiles
and hippo are doing the same.

At a later stage, seven land-based family
rooms* will be available next to the bridge
in what will be known as Bridge House,
which will overlook the river and include a
honeymoon suite. (*Children are not allowed
on the bridge itself).

Kruger Station (the old Selati railway station)
down below is open to anybody visiting
Kruger Park and so are the Selati Train
Restaurant, a bar for casual meals, a novel
For more information visit: www.krugershalati.com. play zone for children and a 360-degree
family cinema.
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DPL