Information
Tangala House is a luxurious family home on the banks of the Zambezi river. The intermittent home of Ben and Vanessa Parker, the owners of Tongabezi, it lies close to Tongabezi and 15km upstream of Victoria Falls. Designed with a family in mind, the house comes with a 13m private swimming pool and its own gym. Tangala has four bedrooms, three with en-suite bathrooms and raised king-sized beds. Stylishly designed and furnished, the house has featured in House and Garden in the UK and comes with a vehicle and boat, a chef, waiters and private guide – all courtesy of Tongabezi.
Tangala House is available to book over the Christmas and Easter Holidays, plus June, July and August. Other dates throughout the year are available on request only. There is a minimum stay of 3 nights for safari holidays and a minimum occupancy of four people.
Rooms
Ideal for a Zambia family safari, Tangala House sleeps up to six and has a children’s playroom and a spacious kitchen-dining room. The rooms are enclosed, with large glass fitted windows to keep out the insects and allow guests to enjoy magnificent views across the Zambezi. The living room has a large sofa and two armchairs and leads onto a ‘snuggery’ with satellite TV, video, Hi Fi and Jetmaster fireplace. Most of the rooms have very high thatch ceilings and the passages feature 3-4m high Moroccan arches, with 1m thick walls.
Services & Amenities
- Boat and Vehicle – Guests have full control over their itinerary with their own boat and vehicle
- Relax & Play – Open plan central deck for games, relaxation and conversation
- Aircon – All rooms are fully air-conditioned
- TV – Satellite TV, video and Hifi
- Private Dining – Opt to have your lunch or dinner served by candlelight on your deck
- Swimming Pool – Large pool and gardens overlooking the Zambezi river
- Laundry – Our same-day laundry service is complimentary
Facilities
The swimming pool is 13mx4.5m, with an additional shallow area for children and bench seating. In front of the house a grass lawn leads to 250m of private river frontage. There are no neighbours either side and Tangala also features another added bonus: two gorgeous and people-friendly dogs, Luna and Tafika. The veranda easily seats ten and is open thatch with steps onto the lawn, towards the swimming pool and the terrace, which has an eight-seat railway sleeper picnic table.
Activities
ACTIVITIES
In keeping with our individual approach to hospitality, there is no set itinerary so you are free to do as much or as little as you wish. You can book every inclusive excursion at a time that fits perfectly with your idea of the ideal holiday. External activities will depend on availability.
- INCLUSIVE
A wide range of activities are on offer during your stay at Tongabezi. Marvel at the mighty Victoria Falls, take an early morning game drive around the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, drift down the Zambezi River on a sunset boat cruise, or indulge in a romantic sampan dinner floating out on the river.
Please note that all park and museum entrance fees are extra.
Inclusive Activities
‘All inclusive’ is not only about food, drinks and a sumptuous bedroom at Tongabezi – Tangala House… We also offer our guests a range of complementary activities. In keeping with our famed individual approach to hospitality there is no set itinerary, so you are free to book every excursion at a time that fits perfectly with your idea of the ideal holiday.
Please note that all park and museum entrance fees are extra.
Victoria Falls
Did you know the famous Victoria Falls are locally known as ‘the Smoke that Thunders’?
Recognized as a World Heritage site with a width of 1,708 metres (5,604ft) and a height of 108 metres (354ft) the spectacular cascade is considered the largest body of falling water on earth and is among the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
David Livingstone, the Scottish missionary and explorer, is believed to have been the first European to discover the falls. He named them Victoria Falls in honour of his Queen. In turn Queen Victoria named the island from where Livingstone first viewed the falls Livingstone Island. It is the only accessible land in the middle of the falls.
Livingstone Island
Victoria Falls is one of the world’s natural wonders and among the most spectacular sights in all of Africa, and the best vantage point from which to witness it is Livingstone Island. David Livingstone first glimpsed the Mosi-oa-Tunya (Smoke that Thunders) after being canoed across to this very island. Tongabezi offers five trips a day to Livingstone Island. A twin-engine boat will take you on a thrilling journey through the fast-moving channels of the Zambezi.
On the island you will be given a guided tour, learning about its history from ancient times when it served as a sacrificial site to the present day and its World Heritage status.
Devil’s Pool
Here’s an infinity pool like no other! One of the most astounding natural pools to be found anywhere, Devil’s Pool has a reputation for attracting thrill-seekers from the far corners of the earth. It offers daring swimmers the chance to experience the ultimate delight: peering over the brim of the largest curtain of falling water in the world. What is less well known is how effortless this life-changing adventure is. Just a short swim from Livingstone Island, Devil’s Pool is thrilling but completely safe. Guided tours to Livingstone Island have a 100% safety record and our guides will be with you at all times to offer a hand, share fun facts, or simply take photographic evidence to bring home to the family.
Devil’s Pool is open during the drier months of the year, usually between mid August and mid January, when the Zambezi water levels are low enough for swimmers to take the plunge.
White Water Rafting Zambezi River
Considered one of the best stretches of commercially run river in the world, Batoka Gorge provides one of the most intense sensory thrills imaginable. Its twenty three whitewater rapids and striking scenery deep within the sheer black cliffs afford the adrenaline junkie a wild roller-coaster ride along a route carved over millenia by the Great Zambezi.
The rapids are run in large rubber rafts launched from just below the Falls. You can do a half day trip, full day or two day. When the river is high, from March to July, only the last 13 rapids can be attempted. As the water subsides, from June to February, all 23 are navigable. If you are keen for the ultimate thrill then a multi-day trip along the Zambezi is it!
After a full day of white water rafting the Zambezi, you’ll set up camp in the Batoka Gorge and listen to the wildlife, gaze into the campfire and down a few cold drinks before you settle in for the night. Rise to a big breakfast, and the crazy adventure starts again! Perfect for a group (4+ persons) travelling together. Overnight camps are on sandy beaches on the River’s edge, deep within the Gorge.
