Tongabezi Voted 9th Best Resort in Africa

According to a record-breaking 600,000 Condé Nast Readers and Voters, Tongabezi is the 9th best resort in Africa.

We’re also #49 in the world!

We know that people often come to our part of the world for Victoria Falls, for Devil’s Pool and Livingstone Island, for safari and adventure.

We like to think, though, that when you leave your best memories are the little ones: 

• a hippo surfacing near your boat and snuffling
• the nibbly fish that bite your toes when you swim on the edge of Victoria Falls
• Lizzie’s incredible laugh rolling out the open door of the activities centre
• the Tongabezi BLT
• one of our guides teaching you the names of the stars as you sit around a camp fire
• sipping champagne on a private island with your toes in the sand
• the Tongabezi Trust School children singing
• the Tongabezi Trust School children singing

Basically…

We like to think, in the end, that guests might come to Zambia for Victoria Falls but they come back for Tongabezi Moments. That you fall in love with Tongabezi just a little bit more every moment you are with us.

And your votes told us that it’s true. 

Not even 15% of the hotel, resorts, and lodges nominated made it onto the Reader’s Choice Awards. Not only did we make it on, but we’re also in the top 50 resorts in the world.

SO HERE’S THE BIGGEST THANK YOU.

Here’s a thank you from Ronald and JC and Zuwi and Timothy and Henry and Mildred and Felix and Brian and Agnes and… me!

And here’s a congratulations to you, too.

We wouldn’t be where we are without guests like you. Ever since we opened our doors (they were tent flaps at the time) in 1989, we have had the privilege of hosting the most wonderful people.

The Tongabezi Trust School is proof of this since it runs entirely on the generosity of Tongabezi guests. Over 270 vulnerable Zambian children go to school each day, are fed nutritous meals and taught their own potential greatness, because our guests are the kindest in the world.

In fact, we invented a new cocktail for you just yesterday. It’s called the #9. Here are the ingredients, just in case you want to celebrate with us at home.

(Although unless you live in Zambia you may have a little trouble sourcing Sindambe… what a fabulous excuse to return to Tongabezi).

So congratulations to Team Tongabezi; Mr Ben would be so proud of how hard we are working to continue his legacy. But congratulations to our guests too, for supporting the Tongabezi Dream and voting us #9 in Africa and #49 in the world.

Africa is far from a single story, so be sure to check out all of the other gorgeous winners here. You might be inspired for your next adventure.

And do come back soon. x

*Ex SA