OUR BEAUTIFUL

ZIMBABWE

A WORLD OF WONDER

KARIWA (TRAP)
KARIBA

AFRICAS BEST KEPT SECRET

MASSIVE DAM WALL

More than 50 years old designed by the French Engineer and Inventor Andrew Coyne.
Double curvature concrete arch dam, designed to overflow and withstand a major
earthquake, built at confluence of Zambezi and Sanyati Rivers.
Built by Italian Company Impresit from 1995 to 1959, with help from local people from
Southern and Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
Height 128 m, Crest length 617m, width 13 m at top and 24 m at base.
Volume of concrete used 1 032 000 m3, cost 122m Pounds.
Spillway 6 flood gates 9 x 8.8 m one gate churns out 1 574 m3 of water per second.
Equivalent to half the amount of water a person bathes in a month.
When all floodgates are open they bring out more water than Victoria Falls.
Power Stations South Bank 6 x 111 Mw , North Bank 4 x 150 Mw( 1959).
Present day South Bank 6 x 125 Mw, North Bank 4 x 180 Mw.
Site deaths 86 people, 21 from accidents, the rest to disease, heat, fatigue.
4 271 pylons, standing height 35-37 m, covering 1,864 km.
Speed of generators 166.67 rpm, has 214 stress meters in wall that measure stress in 3D.
Power transmitted 330 000 volts.

LAKE KARIBA

Lake Kariba
Length 282 km, width at widest 32 km, average width 18 km.

Produced the cheapest hydro electricity in the world during its time.
Maximum Level of Retention ( MLR) 487.8 m ( above sea level).
Surface area of MRL 5 580 km2 ( same size as Wales).
Average Depth 20m , deepest 120 m , shoreline 2 000km.
Volume of water at MRL 185 billion m3 ( enough to supply Greater London for
300 years).
The 4th largest man made lake in the world.
The 2nd largest lake in Africa after Lake Victoria.
The largest lake in the world at time of construction.
The largest monument in Africa after the Egyptian pyramids.
Has 102 islands on either sides.
Home to numerous animals species both land and water.

Zambezi River The Facts

Kasambabezi( Tonga) those who know wash there.

Zambizi ( Shona) land of zebras.
Original source is a spring in Mwinilunga Zambia
Catchment area covers 1 352 000 km2
Passes through eight countries Angola, Botswana,
Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia
and Zimbabwe.
Flows for 2 650 km from the source to the Indian
Ocean.
Fourth largest river in Africa after the Congo, the
Nile, and the Niger.
Largest river in Africa flowing into the Indian Ocean.
Lake Kariba is located approximately halfway down
the Zambezi River.

The St. Barbara Church

St. Barbara Church The Round Church one of its

kind

Built by the Italians during their spare time.

Designed by Italian Igor Leto.
Each window has a portion of the Lords Prayer in Latin.
It has five marble statues donated by the Italian
Churches from left to right they are St. Carolina of Italy,
St. Joseph of Carpenters, Virgin Mary, St. Barbara of
Underground Works and St. George of England.
Most of the materials used for construction came from
Italy.
It is symbolic of the dam wall, six concrete pillars
represent the 6 flood gates.
7 gates for the 7 days of the week.
Colours red, green and white in the walls represent the
Italian Flag.
The curved dam wall behind the altar is the dam wall
itself.
Below the statue of Virgin Mary are the names of the 86
men who died during construction, only 21 died of
accidents other died of heat, fatigue and malaria

Our Renowned Award Winning Parks and Safari Areas

Our Renowned Award Winning Parks and Safari

Areas

Matusadonha- home of endangered black rhino, cheetah, 2 nd

largest population of lions in Africa, an Intensive Protection
Zone, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, animals from Operation
Noah relocated there.
Mana Pools- only Park you can go without a Guide and still get
to meet the big 5 except the rhino, fishermans paradise, lion
tracking, UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve,
5th Best Park in Africa (Gateway Magazine Sept 2003), has 4
(mana)pools that hold water throughout the year, over 350 bird
species.
Chinhoyi Caves- Chirorodziva (pool of the fallen) , Sleeping Pool
91m deep, its water never reaches above 22 degrees Celcius.
Was used by Chief Chinhoyi to hide from Matebele raids, first
white man to discover the caves was Frederick Selous in 1887.
Lake Kariba Recreational Park- shoreline over 2 000 km grazing
ground for many animals, numerous adrenalin water sports,
home of the Tiger Tournament, unique safari destination, home
to 40 species of fish including the famed tiger fish.

Our Renowned Adrenalin

Sports
Annual May Sailing Regatta.
Zimbabwe Navigational
Exercise.
Kariba Half Marathon.

Kariba Invitation Tiger

Fishing Tournament.

Annual May Sailing Regatta

25 yr old race held in May.
Usually last 1 week, teams sail
from Kariba to Bumi Hills.
Sailors in pairs use catamarans
or tri-marans.
Sail during day berth at night.
Have a fun run in Matusadonha.
Had over 70 entrants in 2009
Kariba is the perfect sailing
venue with winds to challenge
you.
Organised by Sail Safaris, some
proceeds go towards
conservation of black rhinos in
Matusadonha.

Zimbabwe Navigational
One of worlds mostExercise
challenging
flying events, last about a week.
Starts in Harare ends up in Kariba,
pilots follow set courses to 15
checkpoints, to be crossed at
exact times and pre-determined
speeds daily .
No electronic navigations aids are
allowed, only use compass and
maps.
Last years winner and the year
before Colin Horsely is from
Kariba.
Organised by Mashonaland Flying
Club, Air Force and CAAZ.

Kariba Half Marathon

Held in August every year.
A half marathon and a 10 km
fun run.
Highly recommended family
fun, sleep in a houseboat.
Run across the dam wall, enjoy
scenery, endurance test.
Lots of festivities afterwards.
Race from AMC Windosr Garage
to dam wall and back to
Lomagundi Lake Side
Association.
Organised by Go Kariba and
Kariba Running Club and Lake
Harvest.

Kariba Invitation Tiger Fishing

Tournament
Held in October every year.
Started by a group of farmers in
1962.
Recognised by the IGFA and FIPS
Game Fish Associations.
The biggest and best freshwater
fishing contest in the world.
Tiger fish is known for sheer
aggression, pound for pound, one
of the worlds most powerful
species.
Largest number of teams was 333
in 1991.
First prize for heaviest fish is a
brand new Nissan, heaviest fish
caught is 15,50 kg caught by a
woman in 1962.
Organised by National Anglers
Union and the KITF Committee.

Our Rich History and

Heritage

Operation Noah

Nyami Nyami River God

Operation Noah
Operation Noah was headed by Rupert Fothergill a
Ranger from the newly formed Game Department
The largest animal rescue ever done in the world
Attracted media attention, started in 1959 and ended in
1962
As the water rose a spectacular wild life rescue
operation that captured headlines began.
Animals were driven into nets and transported by boats
and canoes of all sorts and sizes.
Animals rescued were released into Matusadonha and
Chete Safari Area.
Animals rescued Impalas 1866, Warthogs 585, Grysboks
345 Bush Bucks 320.
Total animals rescued 4 914.
ZRA, ZESCO and ZESA the public and donors assisted in
the rescue operation.

Nyami Nyami River God

Tonga River God, He has a body of a snake and a head like a
fish.
Called Nyama nyama (meat) mispronounced Nyami nyami by
the first white men to settle in Kariba, locals called him Jeka
wacheka
( cut). The meat tasted like fish according to locals who ate it.
The Tonga were protected by Nyami nyami their ancestral spirit
who fed them from his own meat in times of hunger. after
cutting the meat when Nyami nyami returned to the water his
wounds would heal instantly. They pledged their allegiance by
performing ceremonial dances.
For years Nyami nyami and his wife stayed safely in Kariba. One
season when the Nyami nyamis wife had gone down the valley
to bless and answer peoples prayers, the white man came to
build a wall. It took 5 years to see it through because of Nyami
nyami. He caused some floods and loss of life. It is also believed
that the occasional Earth tremor felt in the lake surroundings is
caused by the Nyami nyami .

Activities in Kariba

Activities
Game drives- morning, noon, evening or all day
drives.
House Boat or Sailing Cruises- sunrise, lunch,
siesta, full day and sunset.
House Boat or Sailing Boat Charters.
Tours Highlights, Cultural Village, Kapenta
Fishing, Lake Navigation , Islands and Farms.
Nyami Nyami Flights over Dam Wall.
Safaris Canoeing, Walking, Hunting, Shopping
Photographic, Star gazing and Fishing.
Mountain Climbing.
Bird Watching.
Hunting.

Our Wonderful People- The Tonga Tribe

The Batonka People

Belong to the Bantu Ethnic group.
Migrated from Central Africa in the 12th century.
Lived in an egalitarian and matrilineal society, in small
independent communities each headed by the
Sikatonga the lineage head and ritual leader.
The Batonka practised subsistence agriculture with
cultivated fields on the flood plain and in nearby hills to
ensure against droughts.
Placed great importance on cattle as symbols of wealth.
Were fearless and remarkable hunters who speared
hippos from canoes and followed buffalo on foot. Fish
were considered less important but were trapped in
reed baskets during floods.
Their mother language is called Chitonga.

Unparalled Amenities
Camp Sites intimate, pristine sites where you
mingle with animals. From Mlibizi to Kanyemba we
have campsites to your satisfaction.
Hotels and Motels unforgettable memories of Kariba
and its surrounds will haunt you forever if you stay
there. We have it all tailor made for your comfort.
Houseboats hotels on water, explore the lake with
family and friends. The gigantic Zambezi Trader to
our dolphin cruisers ready to mesmerise you.
Island and Resorts Tiger Bay, Spurwing Island
paradises on earth.
Lodges excellent views of the lake, beautiful
sunsets, serene environments.
Restaurants sumptuous meals, signature fish dishes
to entice your taste buds, addictive menus.

Kariba

Have you done Kariba yet ?