The small town of Kariba Heights is carefully situated 600 meters above the lake and primarily services the population who come here for boating, fishing & to enjoy lakeside holidays. Kariba town exists because the Lake exists and the Lake has an interesting history …

Way back in the 1930’s the idea of a hydroelectric scheme on the mighty Zambezi was formed but it was not until 1950 that the work began. New settlements were made for the BaTonga people of the valley though they hated to leave their homes and abandon Nyaminyami, their River God. In 1959 the 128m high concrete dam wall was complete and the plains began to flood. Today Lake Kariba stretches for 290km, is 42kms wide at its widest point and it has an average depth of 18 meters. One of Africa’s most ambitious projects came to life when Queen Elizabeth officially started the generators on May 16th, 1960.

The Zambezi River is Tiger Fish territory; the Tiger is a renowned fighting fish that can reach 15kg in weight. Lake Kariba supports an annual Tiger fishing tournament that is immensely popular and centers around the town of Kariba.

Operation Noah came about just after the dam was completed and the waters began to rise. The aim was to rescue wild animals that became trapped on high ground as the waters rose. By the end of 1959 over 6,000 animals (elephant, antelope, rhino, lion, leopard, zebra, warthog, small birds and even snakes) had been rescued. They were trapped, darted and transported by boat to safety and set free again. Some swam to safety after being herded into the waters; others such as rhino were trussed to rafts and taken to the lake edges.

For game viewing at Lake Kariba head to the Matusadona National Park across the Lake or the Kuburi Wilderness Area just east of the town.

Hwange National Park is Zimbabwe’s biggest game reserve and covers 14,651 sq km (5,656 sq miles) of Kalahari sand country. The Park’s saltpans, acacia scrub and grassy plains support an abundance of game, but this has not always been so.

Hwange came about almost by chance – Hwange was an early African chief who was ousted by the invading Ndebele people and huge areas of his land was taken over for hunting. White settlers arriving in Zimbabwe continued on the hunting practice but with less challenging weapons. As the human population pressures increased, the country’s animals were pushed further and further into the inhospitable western reaches of the country where Hwange lies and finally it was realised the game was worth protecting. Seventy years ago it was proclaimed Wankie National Park and with independence its name was changed to Hwange.

The Park has one of the densest concentrations of wildlife in Africa with great herds of buffalo and elephant and all the “big five” present. Other predominant species include giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, lion, cheetah, Painted Hunting Dog, kudu, hyena, Impala, Roan Antelope, Waterbuck, Tsessebe, Black-backed Jackal and Bat-eared Fox. This is also one of the best places in Africa to see the beautiful and elusive Sable Antelope. In all Hwange is home to over 100 species of mammal and 400 species of birds.

Generally, there are no seasonal animal migrations. The best time to view wildlife is during the dry season, from July to October, when the game concentrates near permanent water. Game viewing is also good during May, June and November and fairly good from December through April. During the rainy season, from January to March, the game is widely dispersed.

Established in 1963 Mana Pools NP is located on Zimbabwe’s northern border, on the banks of the Zambezi River. The area is rich in wildlife and its 2,190 sq kms are recognised as a World Heritage Site.

Mana means ‘four’, in reference to the four large permanent pools formed by the meanderings of the middle Zambezi. These pools were formed as the river’s course slowly drifted northward. Reeds, sandbanks, and huge Mahogany and Acacia trees near the river give way to Ebonies and Baobabs, and finally to dense Mopane woodland towards the Park’s southern boundary.

Mana Pools is ranked as one of Africa’s outstanding wildlife reserves and during the winter months it has the highest concentration of game on the entire continent. Huge herds of elephant and buffalo as well as lion, hyena, kudu, impala, waterbuck, zebra, Painted Hunting Dog, leopard, jackal, the rare Nyala and a huge variety of wildlife are drawn to the permanent waters of the River.

Vegetation diversity and permanent water attracts a bird population that is both varied and abundant and the River is home to the country’s highest concentration of hippo and crocodiles. Sadly however, poaching has denuded what was once the densest population of the endangered Black Rhinoceros in the world

Mana Pools is one of the least developed National Parks in Southern Africa. It was saved from a hydroelectric scheme in the early 80’s, which would have seen it flooded.
For the adventurous traveller, a canoe safari along the Mana shoreline is a great way to get close to nature. Paddling down stream towards Mozambique, passing great herds of game without feeling like an intruder, your guide explains how to dodge territorial hippos and how to deal with the elephants that visit your camp by night.

Mana Pools is also a popular Park for walking safaris and the eastern portion has been designated a wilderness area in which only walking and canoeing are allowed. There are no roads or other signs of man.

The best time to visit the park for wildlife viewing is at the end of the dry season (August to October) when large numbers of elephant, buffalo, waterbuck and impala come to the river to drink and graze along its banks. Game viewing is also very good in June and July. During the rainy season (November to March) much of the game moves off away from the river towards the escarpment.

Matusadona National Park is situated on the southern shore of Lake Kariba and is bounded on the east by the dramatic Sanyati Gorge and to the west by the Umi River. Two thirds of this 1500 km² national park is accessible only on foot. Although Matusadona is a melodic word it actually means “constant dripping of dung” in reference to the huge elephant population that roams the Park and shores of Lake Kariba.

The Lake Kariba shoreline is also home to large concentrations of buffalo, waterbuck, impala and zebra, especially during the dry months from May to October. Elephant bulls are almost always in view close to the water. Rhino are present but elusive in the hills and woodland areas. Lion, leopard, warthog, kudu and bushbuck are endemic. The combination of vegetation diversity and the permanent water ensure an extraordinary variety of bird life.

Matusadona is a great spot for guided game walks and its drowned forests, relics of the flooded dam, provide irresistible sunset photo opportunities.