Africa Wild

From the "Lowvelder" 1st November 2016:

Bridge plans a grave concern for KNP purists
Elize Parker

SKUKUZA - Kruger National Park (KNP)
purists are up in arms about a proposed SANParks plan to allow guests to sleep on the Selati Bridge in train coaches.

The SAR Class 24 locomotive known as The Grand Old Lady, which made its last stop at Selati Station in 1978, would form part of the planned Selati Precinct Development (SPD).It would include an additional 10 coaches that would move from the present unused platform at Selati onto the bridge at night.The coaches would move back in the morning for breakfast at the restaurant on the platform.This would offer guests spectacular views of the Sabie River and Skukuza area. Between 42 and 76 beds would be available to tourists in these coaches.

This would be part of a development that would include a restaurant in the dining coach or on the platform, a cocktail bar in a separate coach, a pool and parking.

At present there is a locomotive, coach, platform, kitchen, storage and toilets on site. Train coaches would have to be purchased by the operator.
A public tender was put out for the development of the precinct. The SPD is part of the Strategic Plan for Commercialisation for the KNP that was developed in 2012.

Africa Wild, a lobbying group against the commercialisation of the KNP, argue that the SPD is another tourist development in a visitor hot spot. Members feel that the area would be unable to carry another load of visitors, especially at peak times.

“There will be more traffic jams than ever, with people unable to see the animals. Can you think about the noise and the lights above the river? It can only be unpleasant for all,” said Mr Richard Prinsloo, committee member of Africa Wild.

Mr Rey Thakuli, general manager for SANParks PR and stakeholder relations, told Lowvelder the area would be able to carry the additional capacity.
“It is anticipated that many of the guests will make use of open safari vehicles and therefore the additional traffic will be limited,” said Thakuli.

From April 2014 to March 2015 a total of 1,7 million visitors came through the gates of the KNP. The southern area of the park where the SPD would be located, was home to more than 70 per cent of the visitors, about 1,2 million. All parks in the SANParks stable receive more than 5,5 million visitors a year.

Thakuli confirmed that a feasibility study had been done.
“The locomotive parked in Selati Station at present is in good state with the coach parked at the station requiring minor refurbishment, mainly to the seat upholstery,” he said.

The Selati Restaurant at the platform was outsourced in 2014 after an extensive tender process. Shortly after operation commencement the management of KNP terminated the contract. The restaurantremained closed while a lengthy legal battle was fought and concluded.

“The operator defaulted on the contract that was signed with SANParks, which increased the risk to SANParks and therefore led to a termination of the contract,” explained Thakuli.

Management of SANParks felt that the bridge has historical value and should be optimised The estimated tariffs to be paid would be R550 per person per night for self-catering and up to R8 000 for five-star accommodation in the SPD. Capital for the project would be sourced from the private sector according to the tender documents. SANParks will appoint an engineer to verify the integrity of the bridge. Restoration of the tracks was recently completed by SANParks. One of the conditions is that no diesel locomotive will be used between the station and bridge. Colours that should be used for decor are maroon, green and beige. The closing date for the tender is November 18.

If no diesel will be allowed, what are they going to use? coal? An electric engine would be rather costly IMO. maybe they will push it

It will run on steam, Lis...steamtrainfan must apply his mind to this!

Electric not enough there...

steam = water+coal
not enough water too

what do you think tracting (pulling) by donkeys ... pun intended

Now I wonder who those donkeys are, nan

Here's background on why the train has been lying unused...a real mafia story...

viewtopic.php?f=79&t=2866&start=130

Mr Rey Thakhuli, general manager for SANParks PR and stakeholder relations, told Lowvelder the area would be able to carry the additional capacity.
“It is anticipated that many of the guests will make use of open safari vehicles and therefore the additional traffic will be limited,” said Thakhuli.

One can't say "it is anticipated"...that makes no sense regarding the limiting of vehicles, either say no self-drive or not? Whatever, those tourists will come in in their own vehicles, adding another load, as overnight guests are not subject to gate quotas.


Thakhuli confirmed that a feasibility study had been done.

That is a lie...


The Selati Restaurant at the platform was outsourced in 2014 after an extensive tender process. Shortly after operation commencement the management of KNP terminated the contract. The restaurant remained closed while a lengthy legal battle was fought and concluded.

The lengthy process resulted in a legal loss for SANParks and an expensive settlement using conservation and tourist money. As per the above link, the existing establishment had been running for many years indeed, and was advertised as a drawcard by SP.


“The operator defaulted on the contract that was signed with SANParks, which increased the risk to SANParks and therefore led to a termination of the contract,” explained Thakhuli.

The courts found otherwise. The owner was literally dumped in 2014, so how could it have been outsourced in 2014..what does that have to do with it then?



Management of SANParks felt that the bridge has historical value and should be optimised The estimated tariffs to be paid would be R550 per person per night for self-catering and up to R8 000 for five-star accommodation in the SPD. Capital for the project would be sourced from the private sector according to the tender documents. SANParks will appoint an engineer to verify the integrity of the bridge. Restoration of the tracks was recently completed by SANParks. One of the conditions is that no diesel locomotive will be used between the station and bridge.

Why should a bridge of historical value be optimised for financial gain? That makes no sense, as it is historical? Just say someone came up with the idea of making more money? Surely one should appoint an engineer to verify the integrity of the bridge before the project is made available for tender? Why has taxpayer money already been used to upgrade tracks, in this same regard? Obviously a diesel locomotive will not work, and be impossible to get there..a red herring?

The estimated tariffs to be paid would be R550 per person per night for self-catering

How can this be self catering

SANParks will appoint an engineer to verify the integrity of the bridge.

They have upgraded the track before knowing if the bridge will be able to support the train? Very sharp

Some comments from my SAR list friends.

Years ago the tour trains through the Kruger National Park used to park on the Sabi River Bridge at night. It could be a bit tricky getting your luggage to your coach and what about dining facilities? A diner in the consist would be a big plus. I think it is a great idea.

There used to be this little trolley sitting on the track to the bridge... if it's still there, it could be used for the transfer of guests and luggage between main land and the train... dinner could be had at the station.... this could just be wonderful.... :)


I hope that they will be steel coaches and not some of the remaining timber coaches which should be stored/preserved under cover.


I think the parking of coaches on the Sabi River bridge as overnight accomodation is an excellent idea but, being currently engaged in a public liability lawsuit, I would counsel caution. The entire exposed deck area should have a boarded floor and be boarded up to coach body level on the inside and waist level on the outside, then on the outside carried up to 2 metres with strong wire mesh at least, with this preferably carried over the coach top as a complete cover, precluding any possibility of anyone falling out or over. I presume that in SA, as in the UK, any such operation must be not just foolproof, it must be idiot-proof and lawyer-proof.


My concern is the same as above - idiots falling off the bridge.

Not sure what condition the steam loco is in at the restaurant but a steam engine costs a fortune to restore.

Anyway, how will they move it and the coaches to the bridge?

By boarding the coaches up as mentioned above to stop idiots falling off the bridge will spoil the whole ambiance of train coaches. May as well put a wooden box on the bridge.

I do not think that the addition of 76 people per day will make a huge difference to the total number of visitors - can anyone work out the percentage?

The coaches would also have to have their windows locked , again to stop idiots climbing out as falling out of a coach even from window height can result in injury. That will mean having to air condition the coaches.

If I receive anymore comments I shall paste them here.

If you cannot open the windows, during winter they will be blear and the passengers will not be able to see a thing

With all these very relevant objections, the whole operation will not have any sense