Tabonina Bis

The place itself is really nice, and my room was roomy, clean, and practical, with AC too. I had expected to share a bathroom, but the hotel was so quiet I ended up having it to myself. The staff were kind and helpful. Great value, and I'd recommend it.

I liked how uncrowded and peaceful Taboninas felt during my week there. The gardens were lovely to sit in while having breakfast, and the owner came over to welcome me twice. It's a small, personal place and good value. I'd recommend this Livingstone gem.

We used the two Tabonina properties as a base for our Zambezi rafting crew, and this one had plenty of open space for laying out and sorting our gear. The breakfast was included, generous, and delicious. It was quiet, with a small pool, and the staff at both places were friendly and helpful. Downtown was no more than a ten-minute walk, and we felt safe in Livingstone the whole time.

We booked two nights and left after the first. At least we weren't charged, and, as Laurent reminded us, breakfast was free. The room had spiders all over, even though they have spray and could have treated it before we arrived. The bedroom outlet was hanging out of the wall, which felt dangerous. The doors were noisy and didn't shut properly. In the bathroom, the shower sprayed everywhere, the sink tap was loose and needed both hands, and the toilet cistern was partly open. The shower and toilet windowsills were filthy, and with no other place to put things, we had to use them. The mattresses were extremely thin, so I could feel the base as soon as I lay down, and I'm not a heavy person. The sheets may have been washed, but they were stained. The whole place was old, worn, dirty, and farther from the city center than some people say. Laurent thought we were making too much of it and started arguing with us. He said it was budget accommodation and we shouldn't expect much. We didn't set the price, and I would've paid more for a decent room. Being budget doesn't make it okay for a place to be unsafe, poorly maintained, and filthy.