Lake Kariba Zimbabwe Tourist Resort

Kariba is a town located in Zimbabwe whose growth and establishment has been centred about two key things; hydro electricity generation and tourism.

Hydro Electricity

In the 1950s the governments of Zimbabwe and Zambia constructed a dam wall across the Zambezi River which because one of the biggest suppliers of hydro-electricity to the two countries. Kariba dam as it became to be known was automatically situated at the boarder of Zimbabwe and Zambia. This became a community built around hydro plant maintenance.

Tourism

Lake Kariba is a major tourist attraction in Zimbabwe. It is a man-made island covering about 280 square km. Apart from being the largest inland Lake in Zimbabwe and the third on the African continent, this massive water body is home to many fish species that attract fishing enthusiasts from many parts of the world each year. The Lake is popular with tiger fish and what is known as Kariba kapenta. The Zambezi River which forms into the Kariba water body flows past the Victoria Falls before Kariba Dam and proceeds to the Indian Ocean in Mozambique. A very vibrant fish industry has developed around the Lake.

The Lake is equally claimed by both countries i.e Zambia and Zimbabwe. This is also the case with the Victoria Falls. One key attraction in the town is the dam wall. The dam wall stretches across the Zambezi River from a magnificent breath taking height connecting the two friendly nations. Places to stay in Kariba will include a wide range of lodges and houseboats owned by private tour and hospitality operators.

Kariba is popular with wedding couples as a honeymoon destination. Things to do for visitors to the  town will include sport fishing, water sports and sunset cruise amongst other things. Visitors coming through the Zimbabwe side will have an easy opportunity to cross into Zambia on foot. The recent problems in Zimbabwe have naturally caused the Zambian side of things to be more attractive. However, with stabilisation in Zimbabwe hope for growth has now been rekindled and tourist figures continue to improve.

General Kariba Weather

The area has generally a different weather regime than the rest of Zimbabwe weather. The summers in Zimbabwe are hot. Around the lake the summers are extremely hot and very humid with rains falling constantly.

On the Zimbabwe side a full local government is in charge of the small but promising town. The town council manages the tourist resort through infrastructural development and maintenance. National government supported by-laws govern the town.

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