“WATER LEVELS AT TONGABEZI”

Just a quick update on the water levels at Tongabezi. We have been lucky enough to regain use of all our rooms except cottage 5 which is surrounded by water but giving us the chance to go in and do some further work until the water levels go down further.

The outcome of these high water levels is that the Victoria Falls are looking magnificent and guests are getting nice and wet through the spray. I intend to visit soon so I can get a great picture for next month’s newsletter.

“CONFERENCES and MARKETING TRIPS”
I will be at Indaba with Ben in May on stand DEC 676. If you would like me to come and see you, please contact me honour@tongabezi.com

SKYPE”
SKYPE username is “Tongabezi”.

“HIGH RES IMAGES”
High Res images can be downloaded from our website by going to the following link
http://tongabezi.co.za/hires/

CHECKING ON-LINE AVAILABILITY”
www.tongabezi.resrequest.com

“SANJA CLOETE-JONES”

Following the departure of Nicky Stroebel, we have the pleasure of welcoming Sanja as Sales Manager at Tongabezi.

“I believe passionately in Tongabezi as a concept – The idea was revolutionary and the first of its kind when it all began. 19 Years later it still runs with new ideas that are sensitive to the environment and a positive contribution to the workers and to Zambia.

Before Tonga I have slept under the stars in most of Southern and Eastern Africa and have lived in Zambia since 2001. In the last 16 years I have seen the travel industry from a variety of perspectives – I have run operations and managed camps in the Okavango Delta and Zambia, directed a small air charter company and worked in a major airline. I was a travel writer for two years and still update Fodors for Random House.

My job will be to assist the reservations team to improve sales and hone the product to increase service satisfaction.

I will also be managing Livingstone Air Safaris in which Tongabezi is a shareholder. It is fast becoming the biggest charter company in Southern Zambia. We plan to open a flight school in the middle of the year and we will be expanding the fleet of four aircraft to include at least one 12 seater making Tongabezi and the rest of Zambia even more accessible for our clients.”

“KNOX – HOST MANAGER”
We also have the pleasure of having Knox on our team who will be looking after your guests throughout the day.

“Noel Matoba
Born .26/08/1977
Place of Birth .Luanshya Copperbelt
Tribe.Ngoni
Education.Luanshya Boys High School / Lti College
Qualifications.Public Relations /Studying Marketing ,
Present Job.Tongabezi Host Man
Post job.Guest Relations Officer Royal L/stone (Sun International)
Front Office Manager (Jolly Boys).Valet (Tongabezi)
Hobbies .Swimming, gym ,Making new friends and movies,Drama
Favorite Food, Chicken,
Duties
My role involves keeping all Tongabezi guest entertained and satisfied and I will ensure all their needs within Tongabezi are attended to, I keep them company and make sure they feel at home. I will also make sure their activities are well co-ordinated and they are up to date on what they need to take on every activity so there are no unexpected surprises. I will be around the dining all day where the guests can find me.
Desire
To give every Tonga guest a desire or thirsting for more of Tongabezi”
“KITCHEN STORIES”

Since the arrival of Craig Higgins in our kitchens, he has been busy with our chefs creating all sorts of delicious new ideas for the food at Tongabezi.

“ After a month in the Tonga kitchen things are going very well, we have been playing with lots of new ingredients over the last few weeks and have come up with some exciting new dishes.

There has been a huge focus on kitchen hygiene, food preparation and storage

With over 15 chefs training we have had to start two shifts.

We are now also building a new waiter’s prep room opposite the kitchen where there will be storage for all the crockery and plates and where the waiters will prepare there morning coffee ,tea ,toast and condiments, we hope to have this complete in the next week!
Breakfast has had strong focus with many lessons in light cooking with minimal oils when cooking eggs, bacon, sausages and potatoes

Why not try our special Tonga Eggs Benedict with crumpets, African spinach and hollandaise is a real Sunday treat with a chilled glass of Champagne!

Yesterday we started our new lunch menus with a very different style, we have replaced the casual buffet for a more elegant table service, each table is offered the chilled soup of the day with fresh bread, marinated feta with Olives, garlic and Basil and much much more. We have our new bottled dressings and sweet chilli on each table and a fresh fruit bowl on the bar during the day.

Lunch is then served to each table in large long teakwood African Mocorros purchased from the local marimba market, Zuwi and I did a bit of haggling and ended up with some great bargains!

Lunch is a combination of choices with a fresh daily menu, today beef scallops with African Rub, Goats cheese and roasted vegetable tarts, local sweet potato leaf relish, garden salad, carrot, cucumber and ginger sambal, barlotto beans with lemon and Italian parsley, cherry tomatoes marinated in pesto with purple basil.

Tea
We have started to serve a sweet and savoury daily and will also start a fresh smoothie when our waiter’s room is complete.”

Dinners I will save for next month but all in all a great amount of work has been achieved in Craig’s 1st month back at Tongabezi.

“TUJATANE”

Tongabezi Trust School has begun to build a staff room and science lab. The foundations have been dug and the slab is done. Walls are about to go up. A very exciting expansion for our school.

We have also had two volunteers, Eliza and Lotte, from Travellers Worldwide who have been focussing on our reading scheme and have come up with a great programme which we are starting to implement right away. Children need good reading skills to be able to achieve in any subject. The children have all been assessed by our two volunteers and are now reading books correct for their level. The two girls have also been great in artwork and have got the kids making hot air balloons, paper crowns, and all sorts of other creative items brightening up the classrooms and giving the children hours of fun creating.