Lonely Planet has released its annual Best in Travel 2026 guide, highlighting 25 standout travel experiences and destinations worldwide.
Among them is a South African gem: A one-of-a-kind lodge that is a must-experience, according to the publication.
That lodge is none other than Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge, a uniquely positioned accommodation above the Sabie River in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.
Kruger Shalati: An experience like no other
Lonely Planet has just published its roundup of the 25 Best Experiences in 2026, which range from eating at restaurants, doing adventure activities and staying at notable accommodations.
And on the list sits a South African marvel that blends heritage, design, and pure wilderness: Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge.
The often-used railway bridge that once carried visitors into the park in the 1920s has since been repurposed into a luxury lodge.
Each carriage suite offers floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river and bushveld, where elephants and hippos may pass beneath the structure. An infinity pool, built into the timber deck on the bridge, allows guests to watch wildlife from an elevated viewpoint.
Inside the suites, the décor draws on local materials and crafts feauting carved wooden screens, woven rugs in ochre and red tones, Basotho-inspired blankets, and soaking tubs positioned toward the view.
While traditional safari drives are still available, the experience emphasised by Lonely Planet is one of pausing and observing, from a fixed vantage point rather than always being on the move.
This dual approach of “active safari + stillness” is a key reason the lodge was selected among the 2026 best experiences.
