As a cultural fusion of Indian and African, Ngolide Lodge (http://www.ngolidelodge.com) and their Golden Leaf restaurant manage to bring a uniquely authentic flavour to Livingstone's menu of accommodation.


My stay at Ngolide was short but sweet. I arrived early in the day--far before typical check-in time--and was happy to find out that the room was ready for me to drop my bags. Walking through the beautifully thatched enclosure I was struck by the pristine central courtyard area that had a vibrant, perfectly manicured lawn complete with fish ponds and flowing fountains. I found that instills a sense of security with a touch of discovery as you duck under the polished wooden beam-supported thatched roof which drops to within 150 cm of the ground.


The room itself was spacious and welcoming with ceilings stretching upward as much as 6 meters. It had all the amenities to wet my appetite for my return later that day when I knew I'd be in need of a big, soft bed, air conditioning, and some quality TV. Even better, though, was it's location in town. I had a lot on my plate that day so being close to town between its two main shopping plazas was ideal.
As it turns out, that night was the first major rain of the rainy season in Livingstone, which starts up in October and November each year. By the time I arrived back from my long day it was dark and pouring! "What a perfect place to be in the rain", I thought. The low-hanging thatching surrounding the courtyard channels the water around the dry walkways so all rooms have the feeling of being out in nature with their own porch enclosures.
The next day I caught up with one of the owners, Hema Nana, a bright spirited, hard working woman who takes great interests in her making her guests feel welcome and in touch with what's happening in Livingstone. She told me that it was Diwali that night and, given her Indian heritage and Hindu traditions, she would be busy practicing for a dance performance at the main celebration being held that weekend. Without hesitation she kindly extended an invitation so I could get a sense for what it was all about. I found out later that her kids would also be performing. Having since attended the Diwali festival, I can say that all the Nana's did a fantastic job

Hema also told me that their restaurant had recently expanded to a location across the main road. I had heard about it before but had never been. "Do you have Butter Chicken and garlic na'an bread?" I asked. "Of course we do!" Hema confirmed. So that was it, I was sold.


I cannot overstate how great an eating experience I had that night at Golden Leaf. It really was the climax of my stay. The "L" shaped porch provided a nice breezy option for soaking in the kitchen's aromas and enjoying the surrounding garden with its fountain.

When the food came out, I could tell it was something special made by chefs who love what they do. Hema later told me that they had flown to India in search of a chef and that's why it was so good. Food aside, they have an extensive wine list and very friendly servers that complete the experience. Simply put, if you love Indian food, or even if you're looking to try for the first time, Golden Leaf is a must.

 

For more information, please check on http://www.livingstonetourism.com.

See you soon!