Zimbabwe and Zambia share a few tourist attractions, most famously the Victoria Falls. They also share Lake Kariba, which is on the Zambezi River and is one of the most under-rated holiday spots on both sides of the border, even though it’s almost within spitting distance of the more popular and well-known Vic Falls. Unlike the Falls, however, Lake Kariba is man-made and not a natural phenomenon. Despite this, it contains plenty of aquatic life with ecosystems so diverse that it’s been likened to an inland sea.
This photo of Victoria Falls

This photo of Zambezi River
The lake is a big game fisherman’s idea of heaven with its sardines and its tiger fish. In fact, tiger fishing is so big on the lake that Zimbabwe hosts an annual tiger fishing competition, which is by invitation only. If big game fishing isn’t your style you can always try your luck at finding some shellfish.

One of the fantastic things about Lake Kariba is the fact that it provides visitors with something of everything. If you like fishing and water sports or relaxing by the water’s edge then you’ll be more than happy. If you like a spot of mountain hiking then you’ll enjoy the Matusadona Mountains. If you like safaris and game drives then a short drive is all it will take to get you to the Matusadona Game Reserve and face to face with the game for which the African continent is justly famous.

If you like safaris and fancy including Lake Kariba in your Zimbabwe tours, then Matusadona Game Reserve is the place for you. It’s one of Zimbabwe’s lesser known and less visited parks, so you’ll have the place pretty much to yourself. Keep an eye out of some black rhino. In the past the country made significant inroads into black rhino conservation efforts and, given the appalling rate of rhino poaching these days, you need to grab any opportunity to see the great beasts with both hands.

If you’re on the other side of the lake then you might want to include some house boating in your Zambia tours. House boating is also, obviously, available on the Zimbabwe side, but you’ll get more peace and quiet in Zambia as it’s less crowded. That doesn’t mean, however, that it is any less desirable.
This photo of Bulawayo

The accommodation available is second to none with plenty of options including private charters for small groups and larger, more spacious and luxurious yachts or boats available that cater to a number of groups at the same time, kind of like a cruise. As a point of interest, Protea Hotels, one of South Africa’s finest hotel groups, has a luxury houseboat on the Zambian site of the lake.

It doesn’t really matter which side of the lake you choose, however, because both provide amazing panoramas of natural African beauty and the technicolour sunsets that are help make holidays to Africa unforgettable.

Sandy writes for a number of different blogs, including those on Zimbabwe tours and on the other side of the border Zambia tours, as well as other African adventures.