Kariba

Situated in the far north of Zimbabwe, close to the Zambian border, Kariba owes its existence to a massive hydroelectric dam with which it shares its name. It's a hot, humid and rather humdrum town, with dwellings sprawling over the hillsides, petering out into miombo woodland. The Kariba Dam was constructed between 1955 and 1958, when the British colonies of Northern and Southern Rhodesia (now Zambia and Zimbabwe) still existed. Damming the Zambezi River inundated a huge area of forest, and led to a loss of habitat for thousands of wild animals. At least 86 workers lost their lives in the building of the dam before the sluice gates were closed in 1958. Today, Kariba is profiting from the tourism brought by the dam, which created the second largest man-made lake in the world. Fishing is also an important industry for the town, which has about 12,000 inhabitants.

Attractions

Kariba's attractions revolve around the dam. The 128 metre high dam wall is best viewed from a look-out point in the town, about 1km uphill from the centre. The vast blue expanse of Lake Kariba is quite a sight – stretching for over 220 km and with a width of up to 40 km. In the upper town you'll find St Barbara's Chapel, built to commemorate those who died building the dam.

You can hire a boat locally to see the lake, with good wildlife viewing opportunities along the shore where fish eagles and elephants can be seen. More upmarket sailing safaris are also possible.

20 km from Kariba town lies one of Zimbabwe's best wildlife experiences – the Kuburi Wilderness Area. Lying on the shores of Lake Kariba, it is home to elephant, zebra, buffalo and other game, and is one of the last places in Africa where you might glimpse a black rhino. Birdwatching is also excellent. There are bush walks, game drives and other activities available, with camping facilities, a museum and a shop also on-site.

Further south lies Matusadona National Park, where the game viewing is superlative. The large populations of game are due in part to “Operation Noah”, when animals were relocated before the valley was flooded to create Lake Kariba. Safaris and accommodation here are more luxurious than you'll find in Kuburi.[http://www.safpar.com Safari Par Excellence] are a reputable safari company with offices in Harare, and can organise trips to both Kuburi Wilderness Area and Matusadona National Park.

Shopping

Kariba does not have much to offer shopaholics. In common with many southern African towns, you won't have to seek out the souvenir sellers – they'll find you! Soapstone sculptures, wooden figures, beads and reed baskets are all on offer. Although export of ivory from Zimbabwe is not illegal, please think twice before buying - the trade in exotic souvenirs is threatening the existence of many endangered species.

Nightlife and Eating Out

Eating and nightlife in Kariba town are pretty limited. A handful of hotels have “tourist class” restaurants and bars, and there's no shortage of local drinking dens. You'll find inexpensive, local food available at roadside stalls throughout the day – don't be put off by appearances, fresh-cooked street food can be far more tasty (and hygienic!) than “western” meals in hotels. If you're self-catering, it's worth knowing that Kariba has a couple of supermarkets.

Tourist Information

There is no tourist information office in Kariba itself, but you can get information from:Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA)

Physical address:1 Union AvenueEranesen Building3rd Floor HarareZimbabwe

Postal address: PO Box CY286Causeway HarareZimbabwe

Telephone: + (263) 4 752 570E-mail: info@ztazim.co.zw Website [http://www.zimbabwetourism.co.zw www.zimbabwetourism.co.zw]

Airport

There is an airstrip some 22km from Kariba, but flights have dwindled in recent years. Your best bet is to fly to the Zimbabwean capital, Harare and travel overland to Kariba from there. BA operates three flights a week to Harare. There are also daily flights from the UK via Johannesburg with BA or South African Airlines, and via Nairobi with Kenya Airways. Zimbabwe has a national carrier, Air Zimbabwe, but their services are, at best, erratic!