Tengile MalaMala Collection Launches as Community-Partnered Safari Brand in Sabi Sand
Tengile MalaMala Collection launched on 7 April 2026 as a new owner-led safari brand uniting six lodges along a protected stretch of the Sand River in South Africa's Sabi Sand and MalaMala Game Reserve. The collection is jointly owned by the N'wandlamhari Communal Property Association and the Saad family, led by father-daughter duo Stephen and Savannah Saad. The brand positions itself as one of South Africa's few community-partnered ecotourism enterprises, with community equity, land restitution, and benefit sharing central to its foundation - ensuring neighbouring Shangaan communities share directly in the collection's success.
The six properties span a range of offerings, from the heritage-led Rattray's Lodge and historic Kirkman's Kamp - dating to the 1920s - to the design-forward Tengile River Lodge and the flagship MalaMala Camp. A seventh property, Khensani River Lodge, is set to open in December 2026 with nine stand-alone units, each featuring a private plunge pool and viewing deck. The collection will continue to invest in anti-poaching operations, habitat management, and ecological research, while the MalaMala Foundation and Mintirho Community Development Trust will support education, skills development, and enterprise growth within neighbouring communities.
Source: Tourism Update
