Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge and the Kruger Station has added another feature to their name: the KRUGER 360 Cinema, which will provide guests with an immersive movie experience in the middle of the Kruger National Park.
‘We wanted to ensure that guests are able to experience something truly unique when visiting Kruger Station,’ says Judiet Barnes, Executive Manager: Brand, Sales and Marketing. ‘The entire Kruger Station is already something special, and now, with the addition of the KRUGER 360 cinema, it’s become a must-see attraction within the Park.’
Located within the Kruger Station precinct located in Skukuza rest camp, the cinema is built like a cylinder with a 360 wrap-around screen inside that gives guests an immersive viewing experience no matter which way they are facing. Viewers will sit on chairs that swivel and rotate in order to give them the full 360 experience.
Stanley Edwards of the content and technical team behind the KRUGER 360 cinema says that this has been a challenging but fun project to work on. ‘It’s been exciting to create an innovative product such as this in what is essentially a remote location,’
he says. ‘We’re starting with two licensed wildlife 360 movies and a space safari movie, while also working on a bespoke piece specifically focussed on Kruger in order to create something that will be enjoyed by young and old. We can’t wait for guests to enjoy
what we have built.’
Movies screened at the cinema will run during the operational hours of the Kruger Station and will focus on conservation stories. Tickets for the two wildlife shows cost R75 per person (opening special) and can currently be purchased at the Grab and Go retail counter. Please check the website and social media for exact screening times.
The launch movies include REWILD, a movie about six black rhinos that were chosen to be part of a highly confidential translocation from South Africa to Chad. This immersive virtual reality documentary puts visitors on the front line of the historic operation and face-to-face with the extremely rare black rhino. Guests will see just how a multi-disciplinary team made up of intergovernmental organisations is changing the face of biodiversity by rewilding Africa.
Another movie is BIG 5. This is a virtual reality education experience that teaches children – and adults – about Africa’s famous Big Five animals – the lions, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo. ‘Everyone told the filmmakers that filming African leopards in the wild for virtual reality was impossible,’ says Edwards ‘The solitary animals are notoriously hard to catch on camera and are declining in population around the world due to habitat loss. However, not only did they manage to film the leopards, they even got one on a kill and another one sniffing the camera.’ Featuring the BIG 5, viewers are brought close up to animals in various locations across South Africa – all on a 360-degree screen.
‘An added bonus movie allows visitors to go on a Space Safari.’ Richard Branson and Jeff Bezos recently went into space and guests can now do the same in the middle of the Kruger National Park where they’ll join astronaut Helen Sharman on a virtual space safari. Together they’ll leave earth and travel through space and see our home like never before, in all its fragile beauty. ‘Once they’ve returned to Earth they’ll be inspired and ready to promote faster green action,’ says Edwards.
Barnes notes that building a circular screen in the middle of the Kruger Park was no easy feat. ‘There was a lot to consider in this area such as the heat and humidity we experience in Skukuza for most of the year. We also wanted to ensure that we keep the space authentic, yet interesting and informative while still staying true to the ethos of being based in a world-renowned National Park. It had its challenges, but we are extremely excited to share this innovative experience with our Station guests and give a new perspective to all aspects of conservation and the importance thereof for the future.’
Where to find the KRUGER 360 cinema: Once you enter the Kruger National Park, make your way to Skukuza rest camp. Once there you can enter in one of two ways: from the rest camp – at the traffic circle just past camp reception and the fuel station – you turn right and just keep following the road until you see the Kruger Station on your right-hand side – the Kruger 360 cinema is within the Station precinct.
Alternatively, you make your way to the Skukuza Day Visitors area where you can park and enter through our entry point there which can be found at the end of the day visitor’s parking area – just look for the red entry container with the Kruger Station logo on.
Pictures: Supplied
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