BIRD is delighted to share that Tengile MalaMala Collection will welcome Khensani River Lodge, a new nine-suite flagship lodge opening on 20 December 2026, with bookings now open. Perched on the banks of South Africa’s Sand River, the lodge is the sixth addition to the collection, joining a portfolio of heritage camps and contemporary lodges across MalaMala Game Reserve and neighbouring Tengile Game Reserve in the Sabi Sand.
Owned by the local community together with the Saad family, the collection is one of South Africa’s few community-partnered safari brands, combining conservation with long-term local investment.
A New Chapter for Tengile MalaMala Collection
15 years in the making, Khensani River Lodge will be the collection’s most design-led property to date. Named by the local community, with Khensani translating to “gratitude” in Shangaan, the lodge reflects Tengile MalaMala Collection’s longstanding partnership with neighbouring communities and its commitment to conservation, and long-term local investment. This shared stewardship ensures protection of the land while supporting local prosperity, through employment, skills development and conservation investment.
Khensani River Lodge joins Tengile MalaMala Collection’s five heritage lodges and camps, set along 27 kilometres of the Sand River in Mpumalanga. Sharing an unfenced boundary with the Kruger National Park, one of Africa’s richest wildlife ecosystems, and with traversing rights into neighbouring Tengile Game Reserve, guests enjoy access to an expansive wilderness where wildlife roams freely and game viewing is exceptional.
Contemporary Design Rooted in Place
Designed by architect Joy Brasler, with interiors by Michele Throssell, Khensani River Lodge draws inspiration from the surrounding landscape. Locally sourced stone, weathered timber, woven grasses and handcrafted South African artworks sit alongside contemporary architecture, creating a lodge that feels deeply connected to the bush while embracing a refined aesthetic.
Nine expansive suites, each with a private plunge pool and viewing deck, are complemented by river-facing lounges, dining spaces, a library, wine cellar and a dedicated wellness centre with treatment rooms, sauna, cold plunge and yoga spaces.
A Safari Beyond the Game Drive
While wildlife remains central to every stay, Khensani River Lodge has been designed to encourage a slower rhythm of safari. Alongside twice-daily game drives and guided bush walks, guests can spend time enjoying riverfront wellness, seasonal menus celebrating South African produce, and evenings in the traditional boma centred around live fire-cooking.
Conservation at the Core
Beyond the lodge itself, Khensani River Lodge reflects Tengile MalaMala Collection’s long-standing commitment to conservation and community stewardship. Across the reserve, significant investment supports anti-poaching operations, habitat management and ecological research, with rhino protection remaining a defining priority through extensive ranger presence, aerial surveillance and advanced monitoring systems. The collection also works alongside leading conservation organisation Panthera, to monitor and protect predator populations, including the endangered African wild dog.
That commitment extends beyond the reserve through the MalaMala Foundation and Mintirho Community Development Trust, supporting neighbouring communities with education, skills development, lodge-based internships and infrastructure projects such as the Hippo Roller water initiative.
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