A new year arrives at our doorstep, carried in on swollen clouds and the deep, nourishing rains of the Lowveld. The Sabie River rises, not in haste, but with purpose, spilling life back into its banks. Across the bush, everything is green again. Lush. Reawakened. The land reminds us that seasons do not end. They turn.
Here in the Kruger National Park, we move through that turning with humility.
The year behind us taught us much. In 2025, we were asked to pause, to grieve, and to honour two remarkable lives that have shaped our days and our place in ways both visible and quietly profound. In May, we laid to rest our gentle giant, Sam Mkansi. In December, we said farewell to Bab Philemon Tiye, our green-fingered “father”, whose care for the land mirrored his care for people. Their absence is felt, like the sudden clearing left when a great tree falls.
Maya Angelou wrote that when great trees fall, the world notices. Even the lion hunkers down in the tall grass as the distant hills shudder…
We recognise that truth here. And yet, as the park teaches us time and again, the falling of a great tree also opens space for light. For renewal and new growth, pushing patiently through the soil.
As the rains feed the earth, fresh life follows. Shoots emerge where roots once stood. The promise is not loud, but it is certain.
It is with this understanding, and with deep respect for those we have lost, that we step into 2026. Carrying gratitude and wonderful memories, and a quiet excitement for what lies ahead.
A new year invites possibility. It invites return. To stillness. To wonder. To journeys that move beyond distance and into meaning. Travel to Kruger Shalati has always been about more than arrival. It is about perspective and heritage. About pausing above the river and allowing the wild to reset something essential within us.
As the seasons turn once more, we look ahead with open hearts. Ready to welcome moments yet to unfold. Ready to share the beauty of this place in all its renewed abundance. And ready to honour the past by continuing to care deeply for what we build, together.
The river flows on. The bush breathes – and we move forward, guided by those we remember, and inspired by all that is still to come.
The summer rains have reshaped the landscape of the Kruger, and with them, the way the park is experienced in this moment. From our vantage point on the bridge, we’ve been witnessing a season of resilience, collaboration, and extraordinary wildlife encounters unfold day by day.
Published: 21 January 2026 at 11:00 amFrequently Asked Questions Is Kruger Shalati open despite the recent rainfall? Yes. Kruger Shalati remains open, fully operational, and warmly welcoming guests.While…
At Kruger Shalati, every traveller arrives with a sense of wonder, and a few questions too. From how to get here to what to expect between sunrise game…
Kruger Shalati
the Train on the Bridge
Selati Station & Bridge
Skukuza Rest Camp
Kruger National Park
