(Posted 10th November 2026)
Serving as a platform dedicated to elevating African tourism, hospitality and conservation leadership, the Africa Tourism Awards combine expert panel evaluations, peer assessments, and public voting to showcase Africa’s leading hospitality brands.
As the only Two MICHELIN Key hotel situated directly inside Kruger National Park, a distinction it recently retained, the property continues to maintain its reputation as one of Africa’s premier eco-luxury destinations. Stationed permanently on the historic Selati Bridge overlooking the Sabie River, the iconic train seamlessly marries 1920s railway romance with high-end modern luxury and extraordinary wildlife viewing.
Now approaching its sixth year of operation, this international recognition underscores Kruger Shalati’s commitment to world-class hospitality, high-end gastronomy emphasising the Lowveld landscape and ingredients, and community-led tourism under the stewardship of Motsamayi Tourism Group.
Commenting on the win, Gavin Ferreira, Concession General Manager at Kruger Shalati, expressed his pride in the team’s dedication:
“Being acknowledged alongside such exceptional competition in an increasingly competitive industry is incredibly rewarding. When I think of how far we have come, for me, this award is a testament to our people – every single person who contributes to the experience we create, from our gardeners, housekeepers, and support teams to the people engaging directly with our guests every day. It reflects the collective effort, commitment, and passion of our entire team. And so we are immensely proud as we continue raising the bar for our guests, delivering a truly unique and iconic safari experience to everyone who has the opportunity of visiting Kruger Shalati – Train on the Bridge.”
Jerry Mabena, CEO of Motsamayi Tourism Group, highlighted the broader vision behind Kruger Shalati’s ongoing success:
“Kruger Shalati was conceived as a pioneering project to reimagine iconic South African heritage and tourism infrastructure. Seeing it celebrated on an international stage in London reinforces the strength of our vision for innovative, high-impact tourism that benefits local communities and conservation alike.”
The “Safari Lodge of the Year” title adds to an impressive run of other recent global accolades for Kruger Shalati. Alongside retaining its Two MICHELIN Keys and recent honours as “Best in Gastronomy Tourism for Fine & Casual Dining” at the South African initiated Gastronomy Tourism Awards, the property has also been recognised two years running by the World Travel Awards as “South Africa’s Leading Safari Lodge”, further elevating its recognition among South Africa’s elite travel experiences.
