Kruger Shalati

The Shalati station platform dually serves as the hotel’s reception and an extraordinary restaurant for both hotel guests and visitors. From here, you'll have exceptional vistas of the horizon, the riverbanks and the hippos directly below. It's difficult to hold back on the adjectives here – unparalleled, enchanting, dizzying all lurch to mind, and they would be justified. Attached to the bridge, between the expanded deck and a bolster, is a retrofitted swimming pool that juts out beyond the train tracks (surreal, vertiginous – extremely cool!).

There are 31 rooms – 24 in the train carriage and 7 in the bridge house - that have the historic integrity but add the necessary upgrades of modernity and luxury. An external walkway attaches to the bridge, giving each room a private outdoor entrance and inside, floor-to-ceiling windows offer plummeting views to the river below and the bush beyond. The Afro-chic décor also helps reinvent the experience– think smart contemporary furnishings and intricate local textiles. And then of course, there's the spacious ensuite bathrooms with walk-in showers and deep, deep tubs.

Located near Skukuza Camp in southern Kruger, this region is ripe for the exploring. Although a stay at Shalati appears decidedly more hotel-like than bush-like, it compliments a traditional safari swimmingly. Spend one or two days in the lap of luxury on the train, peering over the precipice – hearkening back the the good ol' days of slow travel – and a week maxing out on game drives, guided walks and all the Big Five action you can handle at a camp of your choice.