Covering 2,150 square miles and is approximately 140 miles long by 20 miles wide. It was created by damming the Zambezi River in order to build a hydroelectricity generation utility for the benefit of both Zimbabwe and Zambia in 1959. Kariba is home to numerous species of flora and fauna, and it is a firm destination favourite of both locals and international tourists. The Matusadona National Park is located on the shores of Lake Kariba, where you find Changa Safari Camp.
The Kariba Dam is a double curvature concrete arch dam in the Zambezi river basin between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The dam stands 128 metres (420 ft) tall and 579 metres (1,900 ft) long. If all six flood gates opened, over 91 500 cubic metres (300 000 cubic feet) of water per second would surge into the river below!
It is well worth a visit to see the dam wall, and if you are lucky enough to view an open floodgate, it is truly impressive.
In 1958, Rupert Fothergill was tasked with rescuing the Kariba wildlife from the rising floodwaters following the construction of the Kariba Dam. Over the course of five years, until 1964, he, his team and volunteers worked under the most rigorous conditions using equipment no more sophisticated than ropes, sacks, nets, boxes and dart guns.
The team rescued and relocated over 6,000 animals, from zebra and warthogs to snakes, rhino, elephant, lion and leopard, most of which were taken to the Matusadona National Park. The rescue operation was called ‘Operation Noah’. Fothergill Island is named after Rupert.
Many of Changa’s guests fly in and land at the airstrip on Fothergill, the closest and preferred option for a quick game drive or boat transfer into camp.