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Tongabezi Lodge
Livingstone, Southern, Zambia · Green Safaris · High Luxury
Ben Parker and William Ruck Keene opened Tongabezi in 1990 on the upper Zambezi, about 12 kilometres upstream from Victoria Falls, with open-plan houses that were then a new idea in Zambia. Twelve rooms now sit in five river cottages and named houses (Tree House, Dog House, Nut House among them), each with a private valet. Green Safaris took the lodge in 2020; the Tujatane Tongabezi Trust School still runs beside it.
- 12 rooms
- Opened 1990
- Neighborhood: Upper Zambezi
About Tongabezi Lodge
- Floating sampan dinners are served on the Zambezi; inclusive days take you to Livingstone Island and Devil's Pool.
- Sunrise and sunset river cruises sit in the same stay as game drives and a guided walk at Victoria Falls.
- The Tree House wakes you in the canopy; the Garden House keeps its own plunge pool.
History
Founded in 1990 by Ben Parker and William Ruck Keene, Tongabezi was one of the first lodges on the Zambian Zambezi to try open-plan houses instead of tented camps. Five river cottages and named houses (Tree House, Dog House, Nut House, Bird House, Honeymoon House, Garden House) now make twelve keys, each with a private valet. Green Safaris took the lodge in 2020. The Tujatane Tongabezi Trust School still sits beside the property, about 12 kilometres upstream from Victoria Falls.
The setting
The address sits in Livingstone District, Livingstone, Zambia.
Experiences
- Devil's Pool — Swimming at the edge of Victoria Falls on Livingstone Island, accessed with Tongabezi guides; described as the most famous natural infinity pool.
- Dining experiences at Tongabezi — Farm-to-table dining led by Chef Zuwi Nawa, many ingredients grown in the lodge's own organic garden.
- Guided walk to Livingstone Island in low water — Walk across from the Zambian side in low water, only with an official Tongabezi guide.
- Scenic flight over Victoria Falls — Flights over the Victoria Falls in the Tongabezi plane, as mentioned in the lodge's history.
- Angel's Pool — Swimming activity at the edge of Victoria Falls, a sister swim to Devil's Pool.
Amenities
- Private valet/concierge service for every room
- Inclusive visits to Livingstone Island and Devil's Pool
- Floating Sampan dinners on the Zambezi River
- Guided Victoria Falls tours and game drives
- Sunrise and sunset river cruises
- On-site gym and personal training sessions
- Spa
Open Tongabezi Lodge in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
More hotels in Livingstone
- The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Zambia Hotel by Anantara — Anantara · High Luxury