Tongabezi Lodge
Zambezi River, Livingstone, Zambia
Location
On the Zambezi above the Falls
The lodge sits on a sweeping bend of the Zambezi around 12 to 18 kilometres upstream of Victoria Falls on the Zambian side, facing the sunset in dense riverine forest — secluded, near Livingstone.
Transfer
A Livingstone transfer
A transfer from Livingstone Airport — a short drive to a secluded Zambezi bend upstream of the Falls.
Villas
Around 11 to 12 units
Around 11 to 12 units — five River Cottages open to the river and six or seven individually styled Houses, some with private plunge pools, plus the Tangala Private House for families — each with a dedicated valet.
Best For
Who it suits
Couples and honeymooners after an ultra-romantic Zambezi lodge — individually styled houses with valets, the Livingstone Island and Devil's Pool operator and the world's first electric dhow — with the Tangala house for families.
Board Basis
All-inclusive
All-inclusive — game drives, bush walks and river cruises included — with dinner on a floating sampan and meals on Livingstone Island.
About the Resort
An ultra-romantic Zambezi lodge
Tongabezi Lodge is the ultra-romantic Zambezi hideaway — individually styled riverside houses and cottages on a sweeping bend of the river upstream of Victoria Falls, each with its own dedicated valet. It set the standard for safari-lodge design when it opened in 1990, and it is the operator of Livingstone Island and Devil's Pool, the famous swim at the very edge of the Falls. One honest note there: Devil's Pool is seasonal, around August to January, when the Zambezi is low enough to be safe. Beyond it there are sunset cruises on the world's first electric dhow, silent and emission-free, dinner on a floating sampan, Victoria Falls excursions and Mosi-oa-Tunya game and rhino viewing, with a visit to the lodge-funded Tujatane Trust School and its 240 local students. Around 11 to 12 units range from open-to-the-river cottages to individually styled Houses, some with plunge pools, plus the Tangala Private House for families. All-inclusive and a short transfer from Livingstone Airport, it suits couples and honeymooners above all.
Accommodation
Houses & cottages
Around 11 to 12 units — five River Cottages open to the river and six or seven individually styled Houses, some with private plunge pools, plus the Tangala Private House for families — each with a dedicated valet.
Entry
River Cottage
Sleeps two. An open-to-the-river king with a pine deck and a valet.
Open to the riverZambezi riverfront
Signature
House
Sleeps two. An individually styled house, some with a private plunge pool, with a valet — the signature.
Some with plunge poolZambezi riverfront
Family
Tangala Private House
Sleeps up to eight. An exclusive-use family house with a private guide and vehicle.
Private guideExclusive-use
Food & Drink
Dining
Dining runs to the dining room with an outdoor deck over the river, farm-to-table, dinner on a floating sampan on the Zambezi, and meals on Livingstone Island.
Signature
The dining room
The dining room, with an outdoor deck over the river, farm-to-table.
Sampan
A floating sampan
Dinner on a floating sampan on the Zambezi.
Island
Livingstone Island
Breakfast, lunch or tea on Livingstone Island.
Wellbeing
Spa & pools
There is a spa, two swimming pools with private plunge pools on some houses, and Devil's Pool on Livingstone Island — the seasonal swim at the very edge of Victoria Falls, which the lodge operates.
A spa
A spa.
Two pools
Two swimming pools, with private plunge pools on some houses.
Devil's Pool
Devil's Pool, on Livingstone Island — seasonal.
Activities & Experiences
Signature Experiences
Romance on the Zambezi, and the edge of the Falls. Swim Devil's Pool in season, cruise on the electric dhow, dine on a sampan, and visit the lodge's school.
Livingstone Island
Livingstone Island and Devil's Pool — Tongabezi operates the island; the famous swim at the Falls' edge is seasonal, around August to January when the water is low.
The electric dhow
Sunset cruises on the world's first electric dhow — silent and emission-free.
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls, a short excursion away.
Mosi-oa-Tunya
Mosi-oa-Tunya game and rhino viewing, with bungee, gorge swing and microlight options.
The Tujatane School
The Tujatane Trust School, lodge-funded, with 240 local students.
Getting There
Location & transfers
By air
To Livingstone
A transfer from Livingstone Airport.
On the river
The Zambezi
On a bend of the Zambezi, upstream of Victoria Falls.
Guest Reviews
What Our Clients Say
★★★★★
“The most extraordinary place I have ever stayed. Nothing prepares you for the depth of the silence, the beauty of the reef, or the sheer generosity of the experience.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“We’ve stayed here three times now. The house reef has no equal. The stargazing was, genuinely, one of the most moving experiences of my adult life.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“I had stayed at Four Seasons, One&Only and Velaa before visiting Tongabezi Lodge. They are all magnificent. But this is different in a way that is hard to articulate.”
✓ Verified via feefo
Good to Know
Good to know
Board basis
- All-inclusive — game drives, bush walks and river cruises included.
Devil's Pool
- Devil's Pool, the swim at the very edge of Victoria Falls, is seasonal — around August to January, when the Zambezi is low enough to be safe; Tongabezi operates Livingstone Island, where it is reached.
Made for couples
- An ultra-romantic riverside lodge for couples and honeymooners, with the Tangala house and childminders for families.
Getting there
- A short transfer from Livingstone Airport, on a Zambezi bend upstream of the Falls.
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Adults
2
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Budget & accommodation
Budget per person (flights + hotel)
£4,500
£500£50,000+
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Flights
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