Lake Kariba, Africa’s largest man-made lake, offers unforgettable holidays with stunning scenery between Zimbabwe and Zambia. It is a haven for wildlife, relaxation and adventure. Visitors can enjoy some exceptional safari lodges along the lake shore, houseboat cruises, fishing, wildlife safaris into Matusadona, and birdwatching along its shores. The lake is home to hippos, crocodiles, and vibrant aquatic life. Sunsets over the water are spectacular. Lake Kariba promises a unique and memorable getaway.
This comprehensive Voyage2Africa Lake Kariba accommodation and travel guide contains all you need to know on the best lodges, house boats, fishing and wildlife safaris on Lake Kariba Zimbabwe. A holiday at Lake Kariba is not just about boating trips and catching tiger fish – feast your eyes on the beautiful, unspoilt landscapes and the diverse wildlife.
Lake Kariba Zimbabwe is among the world’s four largest man-made lakes and the second largest in Africa, with an amazing 2,000 km of shoreline and an outstanding variety of estuaries that lead from the surrounding bush. Choose to stay on either land or water, on a houseboat or in one of the many fine lodges along the shore.
Game viewing on Kariba – embark on day and night game drives in the Matusadona National Park, boasting the highest number of lions per square kilometer of any reserve on the African continent.
Water sports – spend your time on the water under the warm sun on Lake Kariba and enjoying some water based fun. A sunset over Kariba is one of the best in Africa.
Fishing – hooking a ferocious tiger fish in these waters is an unparalleled thrill – this spirited game fish puts up an impressive fight, making for a memorable days fishing.
Local tours – explore the stunning Kariba Dam wall, browse craft stalls, visit unique shops, and tour a historical chapel built to honor workers who lost their lives in dam construction.
Just west of the Kariba Dam wall is the Matusadona National Park, boasting an entirely unique ecological diversity along the Lake shores, the Zambezi Valley floor, and the woodland escarpment. During Operation Noah, some of the more than 6 000 different rescued wildlife species found refuge in this area, and by 1963, Matusadona National Park officially became a game reserve.
Buffalo, kudu, waterbuck, zebra and impala come to graze the lush grasses which means that diverse predators (lion, cheetah and leopard, plus crocs) all follow this source of food. Relocated black rhinos are conserved in the Intensive Protection Zone of the park.
Before the dam and lake were filled between 1958 and 1963, the Zambezi River Valley was one of the best biodiversity hotspots ever known. Rupert Fothergill was the then Rhodesia’s chief game ranger who rescued the Kariba wildlife from the rising floodwaters in a critical rescue endeavour called Operation Noah. It took Fothergill and his dedicated team more than 5 hard years to rescue these poor animals, until 1964. All in all, they rescued more than 6 000 animals of different species, tiny and huge, most of which stayed in Matusadona National Park.