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Lake Kariba: a journey to the heart of southern Africa
Lake Kariba: a journey to the heart of southern Africa
An artificial lake like no other
Lake Kariba, on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, covers an area of 5,600 km², making it the fifth-largest man-made lake in the world. Created by the construction of a dam in the 1960s, it is over 220 kilometers long and up to 40 kilometers wide. The lake is home to a remarkable diversity of wildlife.
Lake Kariba's origins lie in the dams that were built on the Zambezi River. These dams provide a significant source of electricity for the two neighboring countries, Zambia and Zimbabwe, covering up to 70% of their needs at peak production times.
At the same time as the dam was being built and the waters were rising, several thousand animals were rescued and relocated to a safe, protected area, Matusadona National Park, south of the lake. This operation, known as “Operation Noah”, saved over 6,000 animals, including large mammals and wild animals such as elephants, crocodiles, hippos, zebras, hyenas, leopards and impalas. Today, these species thrive in this region rich in flora and fauna.
When the dam was built, huge tracts of Mopani forest were submerged by the rising waters, which means that today's flora consists mainly of dried trees emerging from the water.
Lake Kariba, between mysteries and legends
According to legend, Lake Kariba was home to the Zambezi river god, Nyaminyami, whose appearance resembled that of a dragon with the body of a snake and the head of a fish. He provided the lake's inhabitants with the water and food they needed.
In the 1950s, construction of the dam forced the exodus of over 57,000 Tonga. The dam was to be built on the rock where Nyaminyami once stood. According to local beliefs, anyone approaching the site would incur the god's wrath. During construction of the dam, a number of incidents occurred, including flooding and loss of life.
Today, Nyaminyami is still present in people's minds, but is now considered the protector of the lake and its inhabitants.
The Safari-Cruise, an original trip on Lake Kariba?
As tourism is still underdeveloped, there are currently few options for discovering Lake Kariba: lodges, hotels or safaris, with a still limited number of offers. However, for the past few years, CroisiEurope has been offering an exclusive new itinerary including a cruise on board a small luxury boat on Lake Kariba. This exceptional 9-day tour-cruise allows you to immerse yourself in the lake's flora and fauna.
Aboard one of our two boats, the RV African Dream or RV Zimbabwean Dream, with a maximum capacity of 16 passengers, you'll feel as if you're alone in the world in the middle of the lake, where you can admire breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. This private boat will bring you as close as possible to wild animals such as elephants, crocodiles, hippos and, for the lucky ones, lions and other impressive felines.
On this trip to the ends of the earth, you'll also discover Matusadona National Park in a Safari unique in this part of the world, aboard a 4x4 specially designed for Safaris.
