Lake Kariba

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General Information

Lake Kariba is situated in the southern region of Zamiba and shares its vast expanse of water with its neighbour Zimbabwe.

Kariba is one of Zambia’s most popular tourist attractions and in 1958 it became the world’s largest man-made lake and provides hydroelectricity to both Zimbabwe and Zambia. Lake Kariba supports a thriving commercial fishing industry which helps Zambia’s economy, along with tourism.

At 280kms long and 40kms at its widest, the lake is beautiful and surrounded by striking scenery. Time spent on the lake would be nothing if a visit to the dam wall was not made. There is a display at the entrance of the bridge describing the building of the wall. The wide bridge offers plenty of space for walking on either side. The views of the lake on one side and the sheer drop to the gorge on the other offers breath-taking contrasting views.

The 1967 successful introduction of kapenta (tiny sardine-like fish) to Lake Kariba, have provided another income source to the area. Kapenta are also dried for easy distribution as they are a high protein food supplement for areas where fish are scarce.

Accommodation at Lake Kariba

Siavongo is the main town and resort along Lake Kariba, where most tourists base their stay. There are plenty of accommodation options available for visitors to Kariba, from lodges, hotels to camping.

A popular choice are houseboats which are an ideal way to relax on the water and experience those magnificent sunrises and sunsets.

Please see the accommodation directory for more information.

Activities at Lake Kariba

As with most areas with such a great quantity of water, activities are based on the water, however in this area there are some great activities further inland – fun for the whole family.

Chirundu Fossel Forest - on the road to Lusaka – is a fossil forest with remnants of trees over 150 million years old
Chikanka Island – canoe trips, wildlife walks and views over Zimbabwe
Fishing
Boat hire and charter
Cruises

Please see our activities directory for more information on the activities in the area.

Businesses

Visitors to Lake Kariba can find shops, stalls and souvenirs in the vicinity. The local restaurants are a culinary delight and there is something for every taste. Please go to our business directory for a full list of businesses you can find in the region, or add your own free business listing.

Accommodation | Activities | Restaurants | Business Directory