Tongabezi Lodge

Highlights

• Hidden riverside setting 7 miles upstream of Victoria Falls
• Five River Cottages plus individually designed Houses, each with a private valet
• Sampan dinner served course by course on the Zambezi
• World's first electric dhow for silent sunrise and sunset cruises
• Guided visits to the Falls from both the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides
• Named one of Condé Nast Traveler's Top 20 Resorts in Africa

You Should Know

• Children aged 0 to 4 stay free of charge
• Children aged 5 to 15 pay 50% when sharing with two adults
• Guests aged 16 and over pay the full adult rate
• 40% single supplement applies all year
• Zambia enforces a fishing ban from 1 December to 1 March each year

The Details

Location

Tongabezi sits on a quiet bend of the Zambezi River about 7 miles upstream of Victoria Falls, hidden among ebony and jackalberry trees on the Zambian bank. The lodge looks across the river to Zimbabwe and is a short drive from Livingstone, with easy access to Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.

Despite the proximity to one of the world's most visited natural wonders, the setting is tranquil and private. The lodge began as a handful of tents with bucket showers in the early 1990s and has grown into an established eco-lodge while keeping its founding character.

Accommodation

Accommodation is split between five River Cottages and a collection of individually styled Houses, including the Honeymoon House, Bird House, Nut House, Tree House, Dog House and Garden House. Each room has its own character, with interiors collected from across Africa and a private valet looking after guests throughout their stay.

The Houses suit families and groups travelling together. The Dog House includes private vehicles for activities and transfers when booked by a minimum of four paying guests.

Dining

Meals draw on produce from the lodge's organic garden, where the former tennis courts have been replanted with herbs, citrus, seasonal fruits and vegetables. Guests can dine in the main lodge, on their private deck, or take a picnic lunch to a private island in the Zambezi.

The signature experience is the sampan dinner, where each course is paddled out to a floating wooden boat on the river. Availability depends on water levels and the weather, and the experience is best booked in advance.

Activities

• Visit to the local village
• Sunrise and sunset boat trips on the Zambezi
• Picnic lunch on a private island in the Zambezi
• Guided visit to Victoria Falls from the Zambian and Zimbabwean sides, with transfers, guide and entrance fees included (visa fees excluded)
• Game drive in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, with park fees included
• Fishing on the Zambezi, with equipment provided
• Massages available at additional cost

Price Includes

• Accommodation on a per person per night sharing basis
• All meals
• Selected activities as listed
• Laundry
• Non-premium drinks
• Park fees and bednight levies
• Levies, service charges and taxes
• Shared road transfers to and from Jeki/Royal, Mfuwe, Livingstone, Chunga, Busanga and Likoma airfields