Founded in 1990, Tongabezi is one of the oldest lodges in the Victoria Falls area, and it remains to this day one of the finest. It is situated on the banks of the Zambezi River about 20km upstream from the Falls, far removed from the hustle and bustle of Livingstone.
Small and secluded, Tongabezi accommodates just eighteen guest at any given time. Its guest rooms and stone-and-thatch public areas are hidden away among the leadwood trees that line the riverbank, so that from a distance it's easy to miss them altogether. Once you set foot inside Tongabezi, however, you’ll find that it’s a very roomy, spacious lodge. There’s a small pool, bar, marvellous viewing deck, and, what is our favourite feature, the “Lookout”, a tall, split-level lounge and leisure area built directly above the river.
Tongabezi Lodge is the sister lodge to the smaller, more exclusive Sindabezi Island Lodge, a remote private island lodge located a short distance upstream on the Zambezi River and accessible only by boat.
Accommodation
Tongabezi has just eleven rooms, divided into cottages and luxury suites, or ‘houses’. All of the rooms are spacious and attractively furnished, but it’s the luxury suites that really stand out. Each is individually named and decorated according to its own set theme. What is impressive is that the rooms really are entirely different in size, structure and décor—very little is shared between them. The bright, airy Bird House differs from the more secluded Dog House, while the Tree House, built on three levels, is perhaps the most impressive of all. The Garden House (a family unit) and the Honeymoon Safari House are also stunning. The Nut House has a private pool.
The River cottages are located apart from the suites and are somewhat overshadowed by them. These are luxurious by any standards, with large double beds, indoor and outdoor lounge areas and spacious bathrooms, but they lack the unique character and design quirks of the different ‘Houses’.
Dining
Tongabezi Lodge is booked on a full-board basis. The dining experience is top-class. Breakfast is a plentiful continental-style buffet, with cooked options to order, while dinner is a three-course fixed menu. You can choose to dine on your private balcony overlooking the river, or on one of the public decks.
Picnic lunches on nearby islands can be arranged on request. Even more special are the "floating dinners", private meals for two served on Tongabezi's river pontoon.
Facilities
- Swimming pool
- Restaurant
- Boma
- Bar
Activities (mostly at additional cost)
- Livingstone tour
- Game drives in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
- Specialist birding outing
- Water sports: white water rafting, river boarding, canoeing, jet boating
- Helicopter and micro light flight
- Abseil/gorge swing/high wire/bungee jumping
- Lunar rainbow trip (Mar - June at full moon during high water)
- Horse riding
- Chobe day trip
Child Policy
Tongabezi Lodge accommodates children aged 7 and above. A number of the larger suites double as family units.
