June is a busy month this winter – African leaders have launched a US$ 550 million fund to remove obstacles to doing business in the world’s poorest continent and our close neighbours are facing another controversial election…

Tongabezi has also successfully conquered a couple of its own tribulations and laid claim to an important vote. We now have a state of the art generator to bridge power gaps in camp and we have also been elected as the winner in a very prestigious international tourism event (more about that later)

In our Kitchen

Hello,

Sadly I’m spending my last few days in the Tongabezi kitchen before I head off to Kenya to take up some exciting training with the chefs at Governors camp.
We have completed all our winter menus on time so delicious risottos, polenta and lentil dhal all take their place, not to mention our most scrumptious chocolate molten cake and the old favorite sticky toffee pudding (I’m sorry, as yummy as it might be I drew the line at banoffee pie, it will have to wait for the kids party).
Most of the training in the last 3 months has been focusing on consistency where we look at the ingredients used in each and every dish and balance the flavours correctly to get it just right.
At last we have all our wonderful new picnic baskets hand made with coloured wire and our new strong bright cool boxes for the food, we are serving the dishes in wooden makoros and have special dishes for the picnics which work well and suit the logistics of traveling to different islands.
There has been excellent feedback about our new picnics, one guest mentioned the food at the picnic was some of the best they have ever had and another guest commented that the food was on par with any top London restaurant.
The chefs have all been very busy updating there repertoire and are preparing for a busy season ahead.
Until I return from the wilds of the Masai Mara best wishes and happy cooking.

Craig
 

Recipe:

Tongabezi Muesli Rusks

400g of Bran Flakes
1kg of Self Raising Flour
1 tsp of bicarbonate of soda
200g sultanas
100g desiccated coconut
500g butter melted
500g sour milk
500g sugar
200g muesli


1 Mix all your ingredients together very well
2 Pack into a deep baking tray
3 Bake at 180 for 25-30 minutes until golden brown
4 Remove from the oven and cool
5 Cut into large square’s and dry in a warmer or low oven for up to 6 hours.
6 Store in an airtight container.

Enjoy.

…. Our COMMENT CORNER.

Thank you letters is a tradition that will never get old…

We would like to thank our wonderful agents Louise & Alex for taking the time to forward the following!

Dear Richard,

I just wanted to write to say a HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who looked after us during our honeymoon.

We absolutely loved Tongabezi and enjoyed every moment of our stay there.  The tree house was superb (except for the ants) and we loved Sindabezi. The Falls were looking beautiful and we had a fabulous helicopter ride.  I think the food is really fantastic - the lunches were just amazing!  I so wish we were still there.

So thank you to everyone and I can really see why are clients are always so happy to stay with you.  I will keep sending lots of people your way!

Thanks so much again

All the best

Alex

And…

FEATURING THE NUT HOUSE

There is no such thing as an easy build! And when the new building lives in Africa and the owner insists that everything is JUST SO … the project gains in perfection what it occasionally looses in momentum.
Finally however the long wait is at an end and our gorgeous cliff top house has been completed.

By all reports it seems we have succeeded in creating a monster! Most of the Nuthouse guests arrive, disappear into the lovely stone coloured walls … and are never seen again until they leave Zambia!

From the cozy fire to the personal living and dining areas this house is sheltered from the elements – but the very large glass doors open up the front for magnificent vistas over the private plunge pool and over the distant curves of the Zambezi. I suppose it isn’t really all that difficult to imagine why couples would opt to stay in for all their meals?

This house was truly built around the elements of Zambia… the sunset and sunrise are both given a special welcome into the central room and the colours and textures of Africa can be found throughout the house.

It has been a long wait … but certainly well worth every moment of anticipation.
 

Tongabezi IN CYBERSPACE

THE OSCARS OF THE TRAVELLING INDUSTRY

Now don’t let anyone tell you I can’t keep a secret. - I knew this as we were sending out the last Tonga Tales … and now I can officially tell you:

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Please note that the prestigious Responsible Travel Awards have opened their nominations process for the 2008 awards so do let all your guests/clients know and ask them to nominate you! Nominations will then be short listed and then judged by a panel of experts. For more information please see http://www.responsibletourismawards.com.

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Want to find out why Travel lists threaten to shoot anyone who visits Tongabezi??

http://www.travel-lists.co.uk/lk2secret.html

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Livingstone Island

Interesting how ladies can simply enjoy themselves
But gentlemen have to show off a bit!

And

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Tongabezi is STILL the # 1 in popularity for Livingstone hotels on Tripadvisor


 

LUNAR RAINBOWS IN JUNE

The next lunar rainbow viewing will be on the 18th June 2008. Join us at eight in the evening on the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th of June 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 click here

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

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