The old Selati site, near the Skukuza Rest Camp, is being transformed into a new lifestyle precinct offering exceptional, value-for-money experiences, from food to theatrical storytelling.
Opening its doors this August, the reimagined Kruger Station is the rebirth and modernisation of this iconic site with the heritage train at the centre, offering a unique part of the KNP history and opportunity for short breaks between game views. It has a family restaurant focused on unique food concepts, a casual dining facility with an accompanying bar and deli. Mouth-watering menus include venison bobotie samosas with mango chutney and crocodile steak parmesan schnitzel – yum!
With edutainment a priority, the Station features a virtual reality 360-degree theatre with wrap-around screen for storytelling, communicating the founding history of the Park and the rail. Entertainment at the Station also focuses on families, with a kiddies’ play area and family dining.
Throughout the precinct and via the use of both classic and clever design, the station’s reimagining commemorates and preserves the feel and touch of the original venue’s bygone era, by creating a balance between existing features of the station, built in the 1980s to house the locomotive, which is now a heritage piece, with contemporary elements to create the perfect and historically appropriate ambience throughout the precinct.
Subtle patterns, tactile textures and well-considered colours complement the age-old station without competing with it or overshadowing its past, adding depth, authenticity and character to the visitor’s experience.
The restaurant, for instance, showcases oxblood leather for the seating booths, and herringbone tweed on the chairs which blends with black-coated steel, burnished copper and chrome and terrazzo tabletops to merge historic features with comfortable, contemporary style.
A welcoming deck bar embraces what has become the venue’s ‘brand’ pattern in a specially designed Shoe Shoe-like (pronounce shwe shwe) fabric on chair backs, creating a casual yet elegant, easy-going space that upscales the surrounding industrial elements.
It’s all in the detail
Reflecting a range of food and beverage services, as well as edutainment options, the Kruger Station consists of:
- 3638 Restaurant – A sit-down restaurant
- The Round in 9 – a facility offering a bar and casual dining
- En Route – a deli-styled space for fast track food and freshly made offerings
- The 360° Theatre – a virtual reality, 360-degree theatre that will tell the story of the venue
- Li’l Gricers – A kids’ play area
- Departing Soon café – Coffee and ice-cream café