Zimbabwe’s own ‘seaside resort’ dammed at the town of Kariba and one of the world’s largest manmade expanses of water offers stunning scenary and fishing. It’s a laid-back holiday destination for locals and a playground with a wide choice of waterbased activities as fishing and luxurious houseboats. The big-sky sunsets over the lake are legendary.
As the Batoka gorges release the Mighty Zambezi into the Gwembe plains, the river stretches out into slow moving placid fluid of up to 40 km in width and 223km in length. Lake Kariba is the world’s largest man made lake in its water reservoir .
The lake starts in Msuna near Hwange town upto the Kariba dam which was built for the generation of electricity back in 1950. Along the way the lake is a life line to villagers and national parks which enjoy a living out of the abundant waters of the lake. Notable villages such as Deka Drum, Msuna, Mlibizi, Binga, Bumi hills and Kariba town are the hive of water and fishing activities.
Chizarira National Park is a stone throw away from the lake while Charara and Matusadona are the neighbours to the lake. Mana Pools NP on the other side of the dam wall also benefit from the lake. The park is just in the vicinities of the lake shores although 3 to 4 hours drive from Kariba town.
A fish type called the sardine was introduced after the completion of the lake construction to supplement the tiger fish population which have grown into an industry on its own, known locally as matemba or kapenta, the fishing industry is one of the largest income earning along the lake. Tigerfish fishing competition attracts anglers all over the world for a good tigerfish challenge.
Elephants roam in the townships and lodges on their way to the lake for water and up to the mountains for feeding.
This was the administrative hub for the resettlement of the Tonga people forcibly displaced by the creation of the Lake Kariba. It is now a kapanta fishing centre as well as a popular fishing base. It’s a very small town centre and business has been poor in recent years. The only reason to visit this particular spot is for the craft market. Traditional Tonga basket ware, beadwork, drums and carved stools can be found. And last but not least .. the only sandy beach in Zimbabwe can be found in Binga. Lovely to swim and refresh without be aware of crocodiles.
Hot springs are also found on natural fissures that pour out of hot rocks . The smell of this attractive sulfuric spring can be felt miles away.
