Lake Kariba was formed when the Kariba Dam was built in 1957-8; it took 5 years to fill. The lake is 240 km long and, at its widest, is 32 km; it is larger than the county of Norfolk in UK or Delaware county in US, covering an area of 5,580 sq km; it holds 180 cu km of water. The water weighs a staggering 200 billion tonnes. It is the weight of all this water that experts feel is contributing to the increase in earth tremors around the lake. Lake Kariba forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The water is used for power generation; it is channeled past huge turbines into the gorge below at the dam wall.

A small fish, kapenta, was introduced into the lake; the kapenta thrived and multiplied. Many companies, large and small, now exploit the kapenta fish which has become a staple protein of many diets in Zambia and Zimbabwe. The boats used for this fishing are barely more than pontoons made out of barrels and a metal frame with a timber deck. The essential equipment is a very large net and some lights. The fishing takes place at night when the moon is not bright. The net is lowered into the water and the floodlights shine down into the net. The fish, attracted by the light, swim into the net. The net is then raised and the fish are collected.

The lake starts at Devil’s gorge near Mlibizi and ends at the dam wall near Kariba Town. Along the lake shore various camps, settlements and lodges have emerged to make use of the lake either for recreation or for commercial activities based on fishing from the lake.

Recreation along the lake shore involves water sports. The lake contains over 40 different species of fish; the most sought after by fishermen being the tigerfish, bream and vundu. The tigerfish is a fish that gives up a good fight; with razor-sharp teeth ideal for the predator fish that it is. The bream is probably the most tasty fish in the lake but nowadays most fish are caught on a catch-and-release basis, so you will have to imagine its taste and just take the photograph. Vundu is a large catfish which can grow up to 50 kg; unfortunately catching these monsters is rare these days with the increase in the commercial fishing.

There are three main resorts on the Zimbabwe side for fishing, cruising and generally enjoying the atmosphere of the lake. Mlibizi and Binga are sleepy villages; they relied largely on domestic tourism when Zimbabweans had holiday homes there. Domestic tourism has mostly died out now but the facilities in the towns still exist for the keen fishermen and lake-lovers. Mlibizi is 240 km from Victoria Falls; Binga 300 km; the road is tar all the way, and signposted, with some beautiful scenery through the hills.

Kariba Town was the town which was originally built for staff during the construction of the dam. Later, it quickly became a holiday destination for Zimbabweans, with holiday homes and houseboats. It is a small town on the edge of the Zambezi Escarpment with elephants and warthogs roaming the streets.

A car ferry takes people and vehicles along the lake from Kariba Town to Mlibizi. The journey takes 22 hours. This is a much better alternative than trying to drive along the road past Matusadona and Chizarira as the road is in a bad state.