Welcome to the April 2008 issue of Tonga Tales

 

APRIL’S FOOL

April is my favourite month for fooling around in Zambia ! Everything is VERY green, the Falls are VERY full and the temperatures are VERY civilized. Although we have had an extremely wet rainy season it looks like the water levels will not be quite as high as they were last year – Tongabezi Lodge and Sindabezi Island have been designed to be as much a part of Africa as possible
… so we are breathing a sigh of relief! We are very excited about completing the Nut house this month (following the inevitable delays due to weather!) and have also been dreaming up new flavours and activities to ease our guests into autumn.

 

IN OUR KITCHEN
 
LATEST comment?
Food was excellent – some original ideas, well presented and exquisitely prepared –
 
The gardens are looking wonderful, lots of colour around for Easter with the beautiful new geraniums and hibiscus lining the walkways.
There are also the new sprinkler systems (thanks to Ronny!) which are keeping everything watered and fresh.
In the kitchen this month we are getting lots of fresh limes, aubergines, lemongrass ,sweet potato leaves and fresh basil and soon we hope to have our new lettuce  beds in full production.
Who knows there is now even talk of starting an orchard
 
(which has led to a LOT of talk about how we will convince the monkeys that it is good manners to share – and of course that good manners themselves are something to covet!!)
 
This month in the kitchen we are in love with hot and spicy Atchars, we are making a different one each day from Tomato to Pumpkin and a devilish Mango - so expect things to be spiced up!
 
Our new lamb fillets have proven hugely popular and following on the good manners/ sharing trend herewith our:

Tonga BBQ Sauce

Serves 6

Tomato Cocktail x 12 tbs
Small bunch chopped spring onion
Cognac x 12 tbs
Olive Oil x 12 tbs
Small Bunch chopped basil
Small pinch chopped Chilli
Garlic x 1 clove
Finely diced red pepper x 0.5
Garam Masala x 2 tsp

Saute the Spring onion and Garlic in Olive oil
Add the masala and cook out for 1 minute
Add the remaining ingredients and simmer slowly for 15 minutes.

This sauce is so easy to make and works really well with any BBQ meats especially lamb.

~ A Craig Higgins recipe
 

 

…. OUR COMMENT CORNER.

This month we impressed a single traveller!
(no, no, not ONLY one…. Simply one traveling alone!)

I haven't forgotten you and hope you have not forgotten me. I am the English lady who was traveling alone and taking a break from volunteering in Malawi. We had a long chat as I was about to leave and I said I would send my comments to you.
I am forwarding this message to you as it is the message I sent to my friends on arrival at Tongabezi; it sums up how I felt at the time.
In short I thought Tongabezi was magic and I would love to come back. Most of all I loved the peace and tranquility of it all, being so close to that majestic river I felt at one with nature - especially from the vantage point of the Bird House. I just loved living outdoors but with all the comforts of indoors.
The accommodation was superb, your staff were wonderful as was the food and service. It was fantastic to have such personalised service and to be able to do what I wanted when I wanted.
I enjoyed every minute of my stay and will be encouraging others to visit your little corner of paradise.
I don't think your brochure does justice to Tongabezi; you have to experience it to appreciate it.
Keep up the good work

Love, B
 

 

FEATURING TUJATANE

The Tongabezi Trust school can be cited as a perfect example of the results that can be expected when old fashioned hard work and good intentions are used to inspire charity.

Vanessa Parker is one of those people you would hate if you could bear it! She elegantly manages a large family – her house Tangala (also part of the Tongabezi portfolio) – and her dream: A self funding starting point for education, opportunity and ultimately change. Also known as Tujatane.

Growing from the first pre-school class of 15 kids it now proudly schools 120 + children, offers 7 grades of classes and has also attained charity status in the U.K. Visitors are impressed with five classrooms, a library, computer room, store rooms, offices and an amphitheatre where the kids perform national award winning poetry and dancing.

Vanessa continues to donate her time to Tujatane – from overseeing exams to running around town for cement and making sure every donation is accounted for and spent productively she remains the central pivot for this truly remarkable and worthwhile charity.

Should this story inspire you to donate second hand items or even sponsor a child please visit the Tujatane website http://www.tujatane.com/ or contact Vanessa at Vanessa@tongabezi.com


NEW AT TONGA!!!

The hippo community continues to expand in front of the lodge and we have carefully considered our odds and decided that we much prefer respecting our neighbours to getting into a territory tussle with them!

As often happens when you face a challenge the outcome is surprisingly positive. Our new canoe trips now start from Chundu Island and continue down stream, through the islands and channels opposite Tonga and the River club and then finish just below the main island where walks and drinks are on offer.

All canoe trips will be accompanied by a banana boat for safety. Guests will finally be transferred to Tongabezi by motorized boat.


Tongabezi IN CYBERSPACE
 
Exciting news:
 
We have once again been included on the World Travel Award Nominee shortlist
 
http://www.worldtravelawards.com/vote
 
Tongabezi is the # 1 in popularity for Livingstone hotels on Tripadvisor
 
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g298089-d472565-Reviews-Tongabezi_Lodge-Livingstone.html


Special in APRIL (& May)!

Visit Zambia during our Emerald season

April & May special

Three nights in a Cottage at Tongabezi lodge
Flight to Sausage Tree via Lusaka
Four nights Sausage Tree
Return flight via Lusaka to Livingstone

US$ 3640 per person sharing

or

Three nights in a House at Tongabezi lodge
Flight to Sausage Tree via Lusaka
Four nights Sausage Tree
Return flight via Lusaka to Livingstone

US$ 3865 per person sharing


Conditions
Cost based on 2 guests traveling together
All flights excluding departure tax but including fuel surcharge

Tongabezi
Including Meals, Beverages, House wine, laundry service and levies
Activities: Boat trips on the Zambezi, Guided canoeing excursion, Lunch on local island with guided walk, Fishing, Victoria Falls visit, Game Drives (Park fees are extra), Walk in the gorge below the Falls, Cultural museum visit (Entrance fee US$ 5.00 per person extra and subject to change) Local village visit, Mountain bike trail to the local village, Shopping trip in Livingstone town.

Extra: Tipping, Park fees, Premium wine, Champagne, Sparkling wines and Liqueurs

Sausage tree
Including Meals, Beverages, Accommodation, Laundry, Park Fees, Internal Park Transfer, Butler
Activities: Game Drives (day & night), Canoeing, Walking Safaris, Boat Trips, Fishing & Birding.

Extra: Tipping, Champagne, External Park Transfer, Shop

Bookings can only be confirmed within 14 days of travel and are subject to availability.


LUNAR RAINBOWS IN APRIL

The next  lunar rainbow  viewing will be on the  20th April 2008. Join us at eight in the evening on the 19th, 20th and 21nd of April for a trip including wines, soft drinks, beers and spirits served at The Falls
 
For all the Lunar rainbow dates for 2008 and 2009 please have a look at our website:
 
http://www.tongabezi.com/information_sheets.php
 

 

 

TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Hopefully these lines will offer better communication links with Tongabezi.
Please note these are in use with immediate effect.

Lodge +260 213 327450   •   Fax +260 213 327483

Direct Reservations number +260 979 312766   •   UK Number 0871 4081258


SKYPE username is “Tongabezi”.
HIGH RS IMAGES
High Res images can be downloaded from our website by going to
the following link - http://www.tongabezi.co.za/hires/
CHECKING ON-LINE AVAILABILITY
 www.tongabezi.resrequest.com