Located along the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia, Lake Kariba is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world and Matusadona, the national park that sits on its shores, is a haven for wildlife that few get to experience.
With over 1,800 kilometres of shoreline, Lake Kariba is the largest man-made lake in the world in terms of volume and was formed when the Zambezi River was dammed at Kariba Gorge in the 1950s. The lake hosts a number of fish species, including the magnificent tigerfish, a thrilling catch for avid anglers. It also has one of the highest populations of hippo and crocodile in Africa and an abundance of water birds, including fish eagles and cormorants.Matusadona National Park lies on the southern shores of the lake and, despite offering excellent Big Five game viewing, is one of Zimbabwe’s less-visited parks. Comprised of both sprawling flat plains and rugged mountain landscapes, it boasts impressive concentrations of elephant, lion and buffalo and is known as a sanctuary for endangered black rhino. The birdlife here is exceptional, due largely to the diverse habitats, with over 240 different species recorded within the park. One of the most striking features, though, is neither feathered nor fanged, but rather the forest of drowned trees whose tops rise from the lake’s surface like sentinels standing guard.