Specialized in walking safaris in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Tanzania

Lake Kariba is an artificial lake that covers 280 square kilometers of the Zambezi valley. This huge project produces hydroelecticity for use in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The building of the dam took some doing and price. The resident Batonka (Tonga) people who had lived in these woods for centuries were to be displaced by the dam in the 1950s. They appealed to the Zambezi River God, the fish-headed, serpent-tailed Nyaminyami to protect them and their land.

On Christmas Eve 1955 began a chain of climactic events that would see the drowning of the original town, the swamping of the dam’s foundations and breaching of the main coffer dam, the collapse of the suspension bridge across the Zambezi and the death of 86 strong construction workers. On that followed an intensive heat and drought which considerably slowed down the building of the dam.

In 1957, unexpectedly bad weather with heavy storms damaged the foundation again and claimed its victims. The culmination came a few months later - a flood, the size of which is only seen once in a thousand years, swept many workers into the wet concrete of the unfinished wall. Many people lost their lifes and not all of the bodies were recovered.

Against these odds, the dam was completed in december 1958 but problems continued to arise. The spread of weed across the Kariba lake and caused years of drought which diminished the hydroelectric capacity to insufficient levels. The Batonka people still believe that this is all caused by the rivergod. Because Nyaminami's displeasure and anger is not yet spent.

Another notable achievement at the time of the dam’s construction was Operation Noah. Rupert Fothergill, after whom Fothergill Island in Matusadona National Park is named, led one of the biggest wildlife rescue missions since Noah and his Ark. His team tracked, captured and relocated up to five thousand animals including lions and rhinos to save them from the rising waters.

Kariba is a singular example of the co-habitation of man and animal. It is now a very popular resort lake with an airport, harbour, lakeside hotels and lodges, huge houseboats, marinas, water-sports and fishing. Over 25000 huge Nile crocodiles inhabit the lake as do many hippos and it is not uncommon to stumble into a herd of elephants on the lakeshore or while walking through the bush. The stick out branches of the Mopane trees in the lake are the silent witnesses of what once was a dry valley.....