Lake Kariba Holidays

One of the world's largest manmade lakes, Lake Kariba is Lion King-worthy sunsets and gorgeous game-rich shores

When the Kariba Gorge was dammed in the 1950s, the world's largest manmade lake was formed. Today the home of five-star safari lodges and houseboats, Lake Kariba is an undiscovered African Riviera on Zimbabwe's northern border. Remote, vast and exclusive, it's an outstanding natural playground. Here, skies explode with some of the best sunsets in Africa, and thanks to its fertile game-rich shores, there's always an opportunity to go tiger fishing, join a boat safari or try a spot of game viewing in nearby Matusadona National Park.

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Lake Kariba Hotels

Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Lake Kariba

Bumi Hills Safari Lodge

This luxury safari camp sits secluded high in the hills overlooking Lake Kariba

Board the ultimate scenic flight from Bumi Hills Safari Lodge

Flying across the African bush on a light aircraft is always a fantastic experience, but flying into and out of Lake Kariba is an experience you’ll never forget.

Kariba, on Zimbabwe’s northern border, is the world’s largest manmade lake, in terms of volume of water. Seeing it from the air makes you appreciate its vastness – you feel like you’re at the edge of the sea. 
Guests book the flight as a way of travelling from A to B and getting between camps but it’s a very special flight. As you cross the countryside on the Bumi to Mana Pools flight, part of the Zambezi river comes into view. You get plenty of time to appreciate the spectacular landscape beneath you while enjoying views of the rugged Matusadona mountain terrain, the islands and the petrified trees.

Flying times are dependent on whether a Cessna or Caravan is being used but the flight from Somalisa to Bumi is around 1 hour 15 minutes and from Bumi to Mana is around 1 hour and 20 minutes. Sometimes you get a glimpse of the Kariba dam wall – a must for any engineers – with its magnificent concrete arch. The amount of water that pours over is quite phenomenal. The pilot will give commentary especially if they see wildlife as sometimes you can see elephants grazing at the shoreline.\

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