Lake Kariba is a place of incredible beauty that is a nature lover’s dream. Houseboats are a great way to experience the lake, as you get to wake up at new places every day enjoying the wildlife and the calming scenery. If you decide on staying on land, you might find yourself waking up greeting elephants, crocodiles and hippos at the shoreline. The lake was created in 1960, when the dam was built across the Zambezi between Zambia and Zimbabwe and is said to be the World Bank’s most successful project. A trip to the border allows you to take a walk on the Dam Wall, with the view of Zambia on one side and Zimbabwe on the other. Kariba can be reached via a scenic route about 4-5 hours’ drive from Harare or overnight ferry from Victoria Falls.
Lake Kariba and the Dam Wall.
It is 300 km long and occupies an area of 5000 square kilometres. The dam is 128 metres tall and holds 185 cubic kilometres of water at capacity. A walk by the lake’s beach feeling the sand will be food for the soul. The 36.6 metre high wall has a width of 24 metres to meet the pressure of approximately 10 million litres of water passing through the spillway each second. It is something interesting to see, whilst learning of tragedies associated with the construction of the dam and bridge. The lake provides electric power to Zimbabwe and Zambia, generating approximately 6,400 GWh (23,000 TJ) annually.
The interesting story of the NyamiNyami (the River god): Kariba comes from the Shona name “Kariva” meaning trap, bringing in the interesting story of the “NyamiNyami”. The NyamiNyami is said to have been the river god and the local tribal people believed the building of the dam wall would anger it, and as a result it would destroy the wall with floods. One of the legends told by the local Tonga people who were displaced by the building of the dam is that the male NyamiNyami had gone to the other side when the dam wall was constructed & thus separated from the female NyamiNyami, something that would anger me if I were separated from my wife as well. In 1957 and 1958 the floods occurred destroying the access bridge and parts of the main wall, killing multiple people in the process, however, in 1960 the dam wall was opened. The stories of the NyamiNyami are very intriguing and will leave you confused as you look at the large sheet of water wondering if the snake is still alive.
WHY VISIT
Fishing: The large sheet of fresh water is home to many fish species. Tiger fish, Bream, Catfish, Barbel, Labeo, Jack, mighty Vundu are some of the species inhabiting the Lake. The mighty Vundu can attain the size of a fully grown man and, therefore, worth seeing with your own eyes if you are so lucky. The tiger fish can grow to over 14 kgs because of the abundance of the kapenta fish, giving unparalleled fishing opportunities to fishing enthusiasts who like a challenge. Kariba offers you many fishing spots to explore and learn new fishing tricks, including the Sanyati Gorge that has steep cliffs rising for 13 km and spectacular views of the elephants and antelope grazing along the waterline. Fish boats are available for only $30 any time of the day and the fishing equipment can be hired for $5-$10.
Crocodile Viewing: You will get to learn about the behaviour, diet, habitat and breeding at the Crocodile farm. It is more of an educational activity. It is very dangerous to enter the farm and you can watch the crocodiles over a fence. The fee charged is $5 per person.
Kariba Town Tour and Mahombekombe Tour: The first residential area of Kariba was Mahombekombe, built for men who constructed the dam wall in the mid to late 1950s. You can also visit the St Barbara chapel situated in the Kariba heights. The chapel was dedicated to the 86 men who died constructing the dam wall and power station. Our guides will definitely take you to the Kariba Heights Viewpoint where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the lake and the various islands. The tour will set you back $10 per person.
Sunset river cruise and sailing: Lake Kariba is truly a playground for houseboat holidays and sailors. A cruise at Lake Kariba is something you will not get anywhere else in Zimbabwe – fish eagles aplenty & if you are fortunate enough, you will see it gracefully clasp a fish or two with its claws. The cruise is filled with majestic views of wildlife and beauty of the Zambezi River. You can book a standard house boat from Cutty Sark for $550 for 7 people and spend the night in the sea. A morning and afternoon cruise will give more opportunities to see elephants as they come to drink water at the shorelines. The sunsets in Kariba are a sight to behold.
Game drives and wildlife viewing: The game drive in the Charara Safari Area will allow you to view animals in a wildlife corridor where hippos, leopards, lions, buffalos and elephants roam free within the vast mopane woodlands without any artificial boundaries like fences. It is also a hunting area for hunters with a licence.
Matusadona
A National Park declared an Intensive Protection Zone and home to relocated Rhinos. The Park lies on the shores of Lake Kariba, surrounded by rugged mountains safeguarding flora and fauna. Spectacular views can be expected during sunset on the lake, with the mountains providing a beautiful backdrop. The creation of the lake provided good conditions for the wildlife in Matusadona. The best time to visit is during the dry season when the buffalos visit the grasslands to eat. The lions are usually right behind the buffalos. The lions of Matusadona according to local legends played a part in the naming of the area – it turns out that natives would often soil themselves whenever they encountered a lion and the name literally means, ‘dripping faeces’ from the fright. This is just one story and our Tiritose Sustainable Travel guides will be on hand to tell you more and you can draw your own conclusions on which of the versions is more believable.
Home to the Big Five: including inhabiting the largest density of lions in Zimbabwe. You can still see the extinct black rhino, leopard for the really lucky few, buffalo and of course elephant.
Birding: There are over 400 bird species in the park, which makes it the best travelling place for birding, and photography buffs.
How to get there: Matusadona is accessible by air, landing on the 800m landing strip (Category II); by boat either from the neighbouring Bumi Hills or from Kariba. This unbridled adventure is also accessible by road via Karoi, however, not during the rainy season, and enquiries regarding the state of the road should be made before travelling.
THE ISLANDS IN KARIBA
Kariba has several islands such as Maaze Island, Mashape Island, Chete Island, Sekula, Sampa Karuma, Fothergill, Spurwing, Snake Island, Antelope Island, Bed Island and Chikanka. You have so much to see.
Maaze Island: The island has beautiful sandy beaches and wonderful wildlife. It can be accessed from the Kariba Bush Club on the Zambian side. It is 5 km from the Kariba Bush Club and a pontoon can be used to see the raw beauty of the Lake, with the occasional hippo looking on.
Chete Island: It is the largest island on the lake and a must visit through the Zambian National Parks office. There are many hippos and crocodiles that surround the shore and you definitely need a guided walk to the centre of the island that will take 3-hours. It is not directly accessible from Zimbabwe by water.
Spurwing Island: the perfect place for a peaceful getaway for animal lovers, lovers, friends and fisherman.
THE WEATHER AND BEST TIME TO VISIT
Kariba is hot! I can’t say it enough times, the area is very hot. The hottest months are between September and April, where temperatures average above 35 °C or 95 °F. You will definitely need sunscreen, a hat and sufficient water. The dry season is the best time to visit (June to October) because the floodplains will be attracting animals and the temperatures will be cooler as that is the winter season in Zimbabwe. Mosquitos can also be a challenge because of the high humidity levels and this means you should always pack your mosquito repellent.
WHERE TO STAY
Kariba & Matusadona have so much to offer, from sunset river cruises, sailing, game viewing, to luxury accommodation and many islands to see. Book your tour with Tiritose Sustainable Travel for the best experiences.
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