Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe & Zambia
Lake Kariba is the world’s largest man-made lake and reservoir by volume and was built by a well-known French engineer and inventor who has also designed 70 other dams in 14 countries of the world.
The name Kariba comes from the local word Kariva or karinga, meaning “trap”, which refers to a rock that was thrust out of the swirling water at the entrance of the gorge, where the dam wall was to be built.
The Lake lies at 1,300 kilometres (810 mi) upstream from the Indian Ocean, along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It took up to three years for the dam wall to be completed after construction began on the 6th November 1956. It was finished in 1959.
Lake Kariba is well-known for its spectacular and mesmerizing sunsets, wildlife-rich shorelines and incredible fishing opportunities.
The Lake is home to some very fantastic fish species including the famous tiger fish, tilapia bream, catfish and the mighty vundu.