There once was a time when Zimbabwe was blessed with every natural asset except one; within its borders were rivers, mountains, deserts and wildlife galore, but being landlocked, the country had no coastline that it could call its own. In 1958, all that changed. With the completion of the Kariba dam, a jewel of an inland sea was created, two hundred kilometers long and forty wide at its widest.

Apart from giving the country much needed hydro-electricity, Lake Kariba now serves as the source of countless pleasures, fishing, water skiing, and sailing among them. The wildlife on the banks is also a sight to behold. Elephant, buffalo, rhino and a host of smaller game are abundant, while the waters of the lake itself support more than forty different species of fish, as well as hippo and crocodiles.

Lake Kariba is studded with islands and surrounded by mountains. Of the forests which fringe the shores the most intriguing is found at the Matusadona National Park. Once on dry land, these thousands of teak trees were half submerged in water as the lake slowly expanded to its present dimensions. Today the skeletal branches of the trees jut into the sky from another world.

At the downstream end by the dam, the town of Kariba is equipped with sophisticated hotels, casinos and restaurants. The summit of the hill above the town offers a spectacular panorama of the lake, the dam wall and the downstream gorge. Here stands the Church of Saint Barbara, built to honor those who lost their lives constructing the dam.

Perhaps the best way to see the lake is to hire a boat for a week, exploring its myriad inlets and islands in complete freedom. All manner of locally built luxury cruisers are available for charter, as well as humbler maritime craft for the casual day tour.

Special thanks to the Zimbabwe Ministry of Enviornment and Tourism for providing this information.

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