TONGABEZI PUTS ON THE DOG WITH NEWLY-BUILT, SUPER-DELUXE CHALET ON THE ZAMBEZI RIVER

LIVINGSTONE, Zambia- Tongabezi, an eco-luxe safari lodge on the Zambezi River upstream of Victoria Falls, announces a brand-new luxury chalet, with the working name “Dog House,” slated to open in early June of this year. Aside from luxurious appointments, the new chalet is luxuriously large – 3,875 square feet!

(Sadly, the former Dog House suffered a fire last year and was razed. The quirky name resulted from a portion of its proceeds helping to save the Wild Dog, one of Africa’s most endangered species).  

Beautifully sited on the Zambezi River, the “Dog House” comprises two very large bedrooms, a dining/living area between the bedrooms, a double-sided fireplace and a small, infinity plunge pool edging the river.  Because the bedrooms are raised nine feet, they appear to be floating over the water. Rooms are air conditioned, but guests who prefer the open air can pull back the glass sliding doors.  The “Dog House” can be used as a two-bedroom suite or, by closing off one bedroom, as a one-bedroom suite.  Like all the houses at Tongabezi, the new chalet comes with a valet.

Tongabezi’s managing director Ben Parker and his designer Christie Halsted came up with the concept for the new House. It is being built by Schlomo Hanoni and his team (the same team that rebuilt sister property Sindabezi in 2010).  “Building beside a river is no mean feat,” says Parker, “because at certain times of the year, the river rises.  It’s a constant battle to get the infrastructure into the ground, before it’s flooded out.”  As one consultant to Tongabezi put it when the builder succeeded in getting ahead of a rising river, “Zambezi – 0; Tongabezi – 1”.

In keeping with Tongabezi’s “green” ethos, the timber is supplied from sustainable forests in the Copper belt near Ndola.

Still and sparkling water is bottled through the Vivreau system (saving 20,000 plastic bottles and 2,000 tin cans every year). All water used is run through a purification plant and used for irrigation.

All-inclusive rates are $620 per person per night in low season, $720 per person per night in high season. Inclusions:  accommodations, meals, drinks and house wine, laundry service and most activities. Exclusions:  international airfare; premium-brand drinks, sparkling wine, liqueurs.

For reservations contact:  reservations@tongabezi.com; or visit:  www.tongabezi.com

A VALENTINE’S DAY PACKAGE FOR THOSE ROMANTICS WHO CRAVE BEING CATERED TO

Tongabezi Lodge, located a stone’s throw from Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, is offering a Valentine’s Day package designed to keep Cupid busy.  Guests booking now for a Valentine’s getaway between February 8 and February 20, will receive a free upgrade to a Tongabezi house or to a private Honeymoon Chalet on beautiful Sindabezi Island. A personal valet attends each.  Rates start at: US$510 and include accommodations, meals, drinks, house wine, and inclusive activities.

Designed for romance, Tongabezi is one of the most magical and atmospheric spots in Southern Africa. Service is pampered and personalized.  Couples can dine on gourmet food when and where they please: over a candlelit dinner on a floating sampan, with courses delivered via canoe; on a fully-catered castaway white sand beach; or by taking over an entire floor of an open-air Lookout on the Zambezi River.  And to totally luxuriate, lovebirds can opt for a soothing massage.

The forested island of Sindabezi has been called one of the best remote places to stay in the world. The private island has just five open-sided thatched cottages, allowing guests to soak up the sights and sounds of the African bush and the beautiful Zambezi River. To further up the romance ante, there are elevated star-gazing decks for viewing the intense sparkle of an unpolluted African night sky.  Cottages feature closeable fronts, minimal solar lighting and ultra-comfortable teak beds with fine bedding.  All this and Heaven, too.

Contact reservations@tongabezi.com to qualify for this special Valentine’s Day offer.

LIVE ALOFT IN TONGABEZI’S NEWLY REBUILT ECO-LUXE TREE HOUSE

LIVINGSTONE, Zambia- Tongabezi Lodge, a romantic, five-star eco-friendly lodge on the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls, has rebuilt its renowned Tree House. Constructed around the branches of a riverine Ebony tree, the elevated Tree House spreads out over a sustainable pine deck offering spectacular views of the Zambezi River, the river after which Zambia is named. Part of the house is suspended over the water, giving the sensation of floating.

“We think this is the perfect hideaway for honeymooners or privacy-seekers,” says managing director Ben Parker. The secluded sanctuary, set against a basalt rock bed, lies at the end of a hidden path that winds along the cliff face. A whimsical sign “Maybe Later” serves as the door and advises visitors the Tree House is closed, come back later.

The king-sized bed with an air conditioned canopy is swathed in filmy mosquito netting. A perfectly–positioned, claw-footed bath affords views of the river while bathing, and beauty not viewed directly, can easily be imagined – the Anatolian carpets, Asian chests and West African artwork all evoke dreams of the exotic. The extensive space can be used for private dining and lounging.

A whole host of activities are included in the rates: canoeing on the Zambezi, an Island lunch, a candlelit dinner on a floating Sampan, a visit to Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park; sunrise and sunset boating; visiting Victoria Falls, guided bush walks, tour of the Livingstone Museum; fishing, game drives and shopping at the local market to buy wonderful bracelets, fabrics or artifacts. (Please note: park and museum entrance fees are extra.)

Fully-inclusive rates from $620 (depending on exchange rate) per person per night. For more information contact: www.tongabezi.com