The Zambezi: Same Picture, Different Views

The story of Mauya Travel Guide is one of hope, vision, perseverance, and difference. For seven years I have desired to help the tourism industry with a marketing solution that would add to the wonderful solutions available, to promote Zimbabwe and lure visitors.

Learning to fly
Following closely the marketing initiatives made, and learning from already established marketers in the industry, I had hope. This hope became flesh at the end of 2007, after registering the magazine, being one of more than ten failed tourism products, we begun building a team, creating an audience, and writing articles.

New Friendships
After failing ten times, a friend, Lovejoy, approached me and told me of his passion for publishing a different magazine that will be realistic and effective. We brainstormed and gave birth to Mauya Travel Guide, later to publish the first edition.

Mauya Travel Guide is a magazine with a different view, of the same picture, bringing hope and neo vista to Zimbabwe’s cash cow industry – tourism. Mauya is for everyone on this planet, and as in the name, welcomes you to a new way of seeing the beauty of Africa’s Paradise. This is our contribution to Zimbabwe, and Africa.

The Zambezi Edition
I hope you will enjoy this first edition as I enjoyed reading the articles. The story of Zambezi has been captured in an unusual way that causes one to jump into the car and drive up to the great river and drift downstream from Chirundu to the Namibia tip near Victoria Falls.

Life for a people is truly centred on a river, and our river of life is Zambezi. This is the place Mauya Travel Guide has chosen to guide you in this beautiful African Paradise.

Enjoy the journey!

Oscar Manduku

Victoria Fell From Zambezi

Some thousands of years ago, the Zambezi River was cracked under the earth by nature to form four sharp gorges, one of which would be called a wonder of the world. And a wonder it was since its discovery.

Then came Livingstone
In 1856, David Livingstone, a British explorer of renown, was drifting down the Zambezi and came across a majestic piece of nature and named it after his reigning queen at the time – Victoria. This was the beginning of the publicity of the Lower Zambezi River, as the upper parts had been discovered and were used for fishing expeditions. The life around the Zambezi River was never the same ever since, as many visitors came to see this wonder of the world.

The River’s water made the difference
Victoria Falls without the Zambezi is only a dry sharp gorge, and would most probably been called a Grand Canyon as in the United States – a dry series of crack landscape, stretching kilometres. Yet, the Victoria Falls is grand, only because of the fervent and large quantity of moving water drifting at speeds unfathomable, pouring down the great gorge, now known as – VICTORIA FALLS. The Zambezi is known for its fast paced water that rushes through as though there is no life form in the water.

Which is the wonder of the world?
Is Victoria Falls greater than the Zambezi? There is often debate when it comes to the egg and the chicken, about which came first, and even between father and son, of their greatness. In the case of Zambezi River and Victoria Falls, the debate could be endless, yet one should draw up their own conclusions as to which of the two is greater than the other.

No one can deny that the Victoria Falls have attracted more guests and claimed bragging rights across the globe than the Zambezi has. Yet at the same time, without the Zambezi, all these pleasures enjoyed by the Victoria Falls, would not have been a reality.

Perhaps it is a case of Bernie and Clyde relationship, the one cannot to be successful without the other.

Zambezi-conomics for Victoria Falls
Lastly, the Zambezi has been the labourer for the falls in regards to generating money in Victoria Falls. After you visit the falls, usually a three hour visit per day, you then want to do other activities, 80% of which are water based. There is only one place to go – the Zambezi.

The Zambezi has brought in a lot of after sales revenue for companies that use Victoria Falls as the catch marketing product. The river has truly been an ox in regards to revenue for the falls.

This is the brief story of how Victoria Falls came from the Zambezi River.

The River of Life

“…There is a river, whose streams make glad the city of God…” is a true quotation of the Book of Psalms, as the Zambezi River has done for the people of eight countries, in southern Africa. From Tanzania down to Botswana, from Mozambique cross to Angola, the Zambezi has its tributaries running fervently, spilling into dams, lakes, pools, and eventually the Indian Ocean.

Nations Involved: Basin territory
The Zambezi has its sources in Upper Zambia, and runs down the country, going all directions, turning westward, inland, creating one of Zambia’s inland rivers – the Kafue River. The Zambezi extends westward into Angola, with four smaller branches that get into the centre of the country. On the other upper side, the Zambezi three branches. The first one goes into Tanzania, and the second into Malawi, the third into Mozambique, and the fourth down into Zimbabwe. In Malawi, the Zambezi feeds Lake Malawi, a life centre for the Malawian people. In Mozambique, the Zambezi feeds two dams, Cabora Basa being the largest, and a power generating dam.

In Zimbabwe, the Zambezi branches of seven times, with two branches coming from Mozambique on the North eastern side of Zimbabwe. The third branch on the northern side comes right down to Harare, feeding Harare’s major water source – Lake Chivero, though forming other smaller distribution points feeding other dams and pools. Four of Zimbabwe’s branches of the Zambezi are on the western side, which form major rivers that feed the rest of the Zimbabwean provinces.

The Zambezi River also has two other branches that feed Namibia and Botswana. In total, the Zambezi basin covers 1.3 million kilometres.

Dams and Lakes: Water & Power
The Zambezi River has 16 dams and lakes connected to it, two of which generate electricity, and the rest are sources of water for drinking and sanitation. It supplies electricity to six major cities, through the Kariba and Cabora Basa power stations respectively. According to an ICUN research conducted in the year 2000, the Zambezi River can supply 10,000m3 of water per person per year within the basin it covers.

Terrain: Passion of Life
The Zambezi River is one of the few rivers in the world to run through many political territories and terrains. It is visible in the deserts of Namibia and Botswana, in the grasslands of Angola, in the wetlands of Zambia, in the Savannah woodlands of Zimbabwe, and in the marsh lands of Malawi and Mozambique.

The Zambezi is known to being a violent river, with extreme rapids and gorges. It has more than forty gorges, the bulk of them being on the main stem, running between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Fish and Birds, and other animals
According to the ICUN the Zambezi hosts more than 147 species of fish, and the Tiger fish is the second most popular, after the bream. The tiger fish is one of the few species found both above and below the Victoria Falls. Pike is predominant in the upper course of the river, as are yellowfish and barbel. Bream are now common both above and below the falls.

Crocodiles abound in the Zambezi, though they generally avoid stretches of fast-running water. Hippopotamuses are also found in the upper and lower stretches of the Zambezi. Elephants are common over much of the river’s course, particularly in areas such as the Sesheke Plain and near the Luangwa confluence. Game animals include buffalo, eland, sable, roan, kudu, waterbuck, impala, duiker, bushbuck, reedbuck, bushpig, and warthog.

Of the big cats, lions can be found in the Victoria Falls National Park in Zimbabwe and elsewhere along the river’s course; cheetahs, although comparatively rare, can be sighted; and leopards, rarely seen by daylight, are common, both in the plains and the river gorges. Baboons and monkeys abound throughout the region.

Cashing in on the Zambezi
The Zambezi is home to the best fish in southern Africa, with bream, tiger, and kapenta being significant contributors to the economics of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique. Major fishing industries are based in Kariba (Zimbabwe), Kafue (Zambia), Cabora Basa (Mozambique), and Lake Malawi (Malawi & Tanzania).

Communities by the river fish extensively from it, and many people travel from far afield to fish. Some Zambian towns on roads leading to the river levy unofficial 'fish taxes' on people taking Zambezi fish to other parts of the country. As well as fishing for food, game fishing is a significant activity on some parts of the river. Between Mongu and Livingstone, several safari lodges cater for tourists who want to fish for exotic species, and many also catch fish to sell to aquaria.

Tourism Cash Cow
In order to understand the extent to which the Zambezi has a stronghold over the tourism industries of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and even South Africa, just Google the word “Zambezi”. You will get more than 1.3 million hits, being tour and travel operators and resorts offering packages for visitors. The Zambezi is the centre of Zimbabwe and Zambia’s tourism, as the host of four major attractions – Victoria Falls, Mana Pools, Kariba Dam, and the Zambezi itself.

The Zambezi hosts many of the World’s best Lodges, Resorts, and Hotels. The Zambezi also has many national parks, hosting Safaris of vast game and territory. The western areas of Zimbabwe are reserved for game parks and bird sanctuaries.

The river is considered the best Whitewater rafting area, with thousands of rafters engaging the rapids and gorges. Many visit from Europe, North Africa, Asia, and the Americas just to participate in rafting events.

Sunset Along the Zambezi

In the fading twilight hours, take a sunset cruise, for the vast Zambezi River is a place to wonder alone as you gaze at its beauty. The Zambezi River is renowned for its sunsets, as many photographers have graced the long, winding, spectacular river to capture the sunset. Sunsets all over the world are experiences that native people cherish, just as the natives of this great African river enjoy on a daily basis.

The Experience
No trip to Victoria Falls is complete without experiencing the famous Zambezi River sunset by boat. A 2 hour sojourn up the river, starting approximately 3km above the Falls, with the opportunity of seeing elephant swimming to the islands, or the white rhino and giraffe on the Zambian bank. Pods of hippo snort and gape, and crocodiles slither from the sandbanks. Herds of buffalo and antelope may be seen coming down to the river to drink.

The Cruise
The boat is allowed to drift quietly as the sun sets through the Ilala palms lining the bank, and a myriad of waterbirds skim the surface, heading for the islands to roost. The haunting cry of the fish eagle is an ever present reminder that you are in an unspoiled corner of Africa. The cruise includes hotel transfers, a full complimentary bar, and finger snacks. Each cruise also has a qualified guide to answer questions on the flora and fauna, and history of the area.

The Experience of Linda Kaye, from San Antonio, Texas USA
“The highlight of this cruise was the Sunset view and therefore the name - SUNSET CRUISE. We were not disappointed, for words and photographs can not adequately describe the spectacular view we experienced. Another pleasant experience was the interesting conservation we had with our tour guide. He was gave us so much information about the river that it seemed that we were getting a geography lesson, but in the most enjoyable environment.

As the sun set on the horizon and the light of day faded into the night, our stay in Zimbabwe was also drawing to a close, for the next day we would return to South Africa. Soon our travels to this part of the world will also conclude, but will not be soon forgotten.”

The Animals refreshing
As the sun sets, animals of all manner – lions, monkeys, warthogs, elephants, and leopards come to the river to refresh themselves and cool off by taking baths in the mana pools. The Zambezi River sunsets are times of refreshing and even hunting for animals like the lion. The activity in the animal kingdom is all at the disposal of the cruise visitors.

Rafting Along the Zambezi River

The Zambezi, more than any other river, evokes the mystery and excitement of Africa. Few rivers remain as pristine or as little explored. For centuries, elephants have stamped tracks deep in the sandy beaches and hippopotami wallowed in its calmer reaches. Native boats-men have long fashioned canoes from trees that grow along the banks of the upper river, but their path downstream has been inhibited. Going downstream has been craved and been a glorious pleasure of many locals and visitors of this great African river.

The Experience
The Zambezi River rafting descent is a world-class adventure. There are dozen of adrenaline-pumping rapids and miles of calmer water to reflect on the beauty of the remote canyons. There are rafts that disturb baboons that bark in alarm as rafters drift by, elusive klipspringers bound over the boulders and fish eagles gliding overhead. The rafting experience of the Zambezi River has draw millions over people over the 29th century, from across the world as novice and expert rafters took the raging waves of the majestic river.

Rafting since Livingstone
Since David Livingstone named Victoria Falls after his Queen, millions of people have come from all over the world to witness the spectacle, a mile long curtain of water that stretches across the glistening basalt rock, erupts into spray, and then thunders into the canyons below.

The walls of basalt rock that capture the mighty Zambezi form one of the great river corridors of the world; this is the domain of the Nyaminyami, the River God of the Tonga people and is now the highway for rafts.

At Victoria Falls the Zambezi River plummets into a gorge which separates the placid river above the Falls and the turbulent rapids below. The gorge is over 100 meters deep at the Falls and increases to over 200 meters by the end of a full day raft trip. Despite this rugged terrain, the gorges below the Falls are thick with vegetation and incredibly spectacular. The gorge is also the home of many rare birds such as the Black Eagle and the Taita Falcon.

Gorges & Valleys
Rafting in the Zambezi give one the opportunity to view beautiful gorges and life buzzing valleys of the river. The Songwe gorges, home to the threatened Taita falcons, are spectacular. Sheer rock walls arise hundreds of meters above the river and the roar of the rapids resound up the narrow canyons. Vertical walls give way to a wider valley at times and white sandy beaches dazzle in the sunshine.

The Upper Moemba rapids are one of the most spectacular on the river and with so many of these rapids it has a perfect platform for photographs and rafters can stand within meters of the action. In this part of the river, the Zambezi disappears to a roar not unlike a jet engine and a cloud of spray. Rafts slide over the lip of the drop and into several huge crashing waves that appear to swallow them completely. The entire Zambezi at this point is squeezed into a narrow cataract.

Enter Ghostrider
After passing Chibonga Falls, downstream are the towering waves of Ghostrider, the biggest commercially run roller coaster wave train in the World. In the original exploratory trip on the Zambezi one of the rafters opted not to run the rapid and pushed his empty boat off into the current. The sight of the empty raft successfully running the rapid in the twilight (after two others had flipped), inspired him to name the rapid Ghostrider. It has been a legendary rafting area since then.

Lower Moemba Falls
The Victoria Falls to Lower Moemba Falls section of the Zambezi begins from the base of Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe/Zambia border. The closest major towns are Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe) and Livingstone (Zambia), both just a few miles from the put-in. This section is classified as a high volume pool drop river. The river comprises of very large rapids followed by sections of flat or slow moving water. Although it has few exposed rocks on most rapids, sheer river volume, heat, waves and hydraulics present distinct challenges in themselves.

The rapids in this section of the Zambezi are usually referred to by numbers (1 through 25) rather than names. The section above Number 1 at the base of Victoria Falls is often referred to as the "Minus Rapids". The river is variously classified as Grade IV/V++(4/5++) depending on rapid and season (due to varying water levels). This level of river has been described as "extremely difficult, long and violent rapids, steep gradients, big drops and pressure areas." The river drops approximately 400 feet over the 25km distance often covered in a one-day trip. The river flows through a gorge with steep sides necessitating a 750-foot climb to the top of the gorge at either rapid 13 or rapid 25 when taking out. A number of rafting companies offer trips on the Zambezi from the Zimbabwe and Zambian sides of the river. There are also 'jet-boat' trips run from a number of points on the river that drive up certain rapids.

Rapid Names along the Lower Moemba
The rapids on this section of the Zambezi are often referred to by the following names.

Number 1 - The Boiling Pot
Number 2 - Between Two Worlds
Number 3 - Rapid Number 3
Number 4 - Morning Glory
Number 5 - Stairway to Heaven
Number 6 - Devils Toilet Bowl
Number 7 - Gullivers Travels
Number 8 - The Midnight Diner
Number 9 - Commercial Suicide or just 'Number 9' due to its infamy as a very difficult rapid. Rafting companies portage this rapid.
Number 10 - Rapid Number 10
Number 11 - Overland Engine Eater
Number 12 - Rapid Number 12/12B
Number 13 - The Mother - Normal take out point for most day long kayaking trips
Number 14 - The Wrestling Hole
Number 15 - The Washing Machine
Number 16-17 - Referred to by Number
Number 18 - Oblivion
Number 19-25 Referred to by Number - Normal take out point for most day long raft trips
Open Season
Narrows
Chimamba Falls
Upper Moemba Falls - Normal take out point for most multi-day raft/kayak groups from *Livingstone/Victoria Falls
Moemba Falls

Mana Pools

The Name
The name "Mana'' means “four” in the local Shona language. This applies to the four large pools inland from the Zambezi River. These pools are the remnant ox-bow lakes that the Zambezi River carved out thousands of years ago as it changed its course northwards. Hippopotamus, crocodiles and a wide variety of aquatic birds are associated with the pools.

The Pools
''Long Pool'', is the largest of the four pools, extending some six kilometres in a west-east direction. This pool has a large population of hippo and crocodiles and is a favourite for the large herds of elephant that come out of the dense forest areas in the south to drink.

As one moves northwards towards the Zambezi River from the forests on the Karoo sediments, the vegetation changes to open Faidherbia albida woodlands on the old river terraces. This vegetation gives a unique look to the area and a surreal light filters through the trees giving Mana Pools its distinctive cathedral-like atmosphere.

Walking with the animals
On the old river terraces, tourists can walk unaccompanied by guides in the open Albida woodland because visibility is good and there is little danger of coming across dangerous animals unexpectedly. This privilege of walking alone in an area with dangerous wildlife is unique in Zimbabwe. Elephant, eland, buffalo, impala, waterbuck, baboons, monkeys, zebra, warthog and hippo are some of the larger herbivores to be seen regularly on the river terraces as they come out to eat the fallen Albida fruit. Lions, leopards, spotted hyenabhg and cheetah are present in the area, but their secretive nature makes them more difficult to see. Despite this, it is not often that the visitor leaves Mana Pools without seeing at least one of these large carnivores.

Mana Pools is 2,196 square kilometres in extent but is part of the 10,500 square kilometre Parks and Wildlife Estate that runs from the Kariba Dam in the west to the Mozambique border in the east. This large area is without physical boundaries and the wildlife is free to move throughout the area - even northwards across the Zambezi River into Zambia, where there are also large wilderness areas set aside for wildlife conservation.

Activities at the Pools
The first thing is Camping which is available around the National Park at developed, minimum development and exclusive sites. Canoeing on the Zambezi is a favourite activity in Mana Pools and affords an unparalleled opportunity to experience the river. Guided Walks are available for visitors, which they can hire qualified armed Parks staff to take them for game viewing on foot.
Other activities include Lion Tracking, and fishing. Visitors can fish in the Zambezi River and experience the excitement of hooking large fish for the pot. Half of the joy is experiencing the quiet, solitude and beauty of the unspoiled bush around you.

The most popular activities are Game Drives; usually most rewarding in the early morning and late afternoon. Long Pool is often worth visiting soon after sunrise.

Getting to the Pools
Mana Pools is a truly remote park. Situated in the extreme north of Zimbabwe on the Zambezi River, Mana is far from any major town or human settlement. Drive along the main Harare/ Chirundu tarred road and at the bottom of the Zambezi Escarpment, branch off the tarred road onto a dirt road that will take you 70 kilometres into unspoiled bush to Nyamepi Camp. There are a number of game-viewing roads that run along the Zambezi River and further inland from which you can view the wide variety of wildlife. Visitors can get a free entry permit into the Nyamautsi wilderness area and Kanga Pan where vehicle entry is limited to 2 per day.

Lower Zambezi

Valley of Gold
The Zambezi Valley has been known outside of Africa for thousands of years. Legends suggest that the kingdoms of Hiram, Solomon and Sheba were enriched by the gold and ivory of Ophir - supposedly part of present day Zimbabwe. The Zambezi was one of the gateways to the ancient treasure trove. More recent history records some of the explorations of hunters, missionaries and slave traders along this part of the Zambezi River.

Nowadays this part of the valley holds very different treasures for modern adventurers! Beyond Kariba Gorge, the Zambezi River flows through a wide and game-rich floodplain hemmed in by towering escarpments in both Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Pools & Parks
The shoreline in Zimbabwe has protected safari areas and Mana Pools National Park, a World Heritage Site renowned for its population of elephant, buffalo, lions, leopard, large antelope species and smaller mammals.

Similarly the shoreline in Zambia has private conservancy areas, game management areas and the relatively unexplored Lower Zambezi National Park. This region is heavily populated by hippos and crocodiles - it's also renowned as a birder's paradise with over 300 species having been recorded and is favoured by sports fishermen in search of the famous Tiger Fish.

Safaris
The lower Zambezi the real destination for serious safari enthusiasts! The prime pursuits are canoe safaris and traditional walking safaris using lodges and tented camps as base.

Lodge Reviw: A' Zambezi Lodge

The Mercure A’Zambezi is a laid-back river lodge on the banks of the Zambezi River, a few kilometres from the Victoria Falls. It is easily reached by tarmac road and falls within the Victoria Falls district’s confines. The distance from the lodge to the airport is roughly 25km and the town centre is a mere 4km away.
Building

The lodge was built in 1973 and has since flourished as a popular holiday destination. A’Zambezi offers many activities and is superb for families with young children. On-site facilities include table tennis, darts, boats for hire and a children’s playground. They also have a large swimming pool with a pool for children to cool off after a hot day. The hotel’s close proximity to the nearby activities makes it the ideal value-for-money destination and perfect for a memorable fun-filled getaway.

Location
The lodge is located next to the Zambezi National Park and it’s possible to spot some hippos, crocodiles or game coming in for a drink from the rooms. And if you’d like to see even more of these beasts, the nearby crocodile farm and various game parks offer good close-up views. The lodge operates a courtesy bus running to town and back every hour, with various drop-off points within walking distance of the gate to the falls. This is great if you plan on doing a bit of curio shopping or simply wish to spend your morning at the magnificent Victoria Falls and surrounding rain forest (make sure to pack a good raincoat though – as it can get extremely wet!).

Rooms & Facilities
The lodge rooms are spacious and really comfortable. The emphasis is on making guests feel at home – and it shows. Many of the rooms provide good views over the river, and offer air-conditioned comfort with a wide variety of room types and even two suites for extra space and ease. A great plus point is the many nearby facilities and tons of activities to take part in. Of these the adrenalin ones stand out – white water rafting, bungee jumping, gorge swinging and abseiling, while the more relaxed ones include elephant back safaris, game watching, river cruises and nature trails.

A’Zambezi is an informal family-friendly hotel with an ethnic feel to it. The atmosphere is welcoming and the service friendly. If you’re after a good-value-for-money get-away, close to the action – this is the place for you.

Dinning
There are a couple of dining venues at A’Zambezi. Firstly there’s the Amulonga Restaurant, a thatched building that offers a good fusion of ethnic and classic dishes. Amulonga means ‘by the river’ and, as it overlooks the Zambezi, suits this open-air restaurant perfectly. Meals are served either from the buffet table or from a la carte menus and are enjoyed al fresco. They also offer light meals and snacks during the course of the day.
The second, the Kuzhe, offers great bush dinners under the stars with the sound of the African night in the background. In the evenings their meals are accompanied by an interesting traditional song and dance performance.

Sunset Cruises
The hotel also offers sunset cruises on the Zambezi that include a light meal. A’Zambezi has three bars – the Safari poolside bar, the Cocktail Bar and the Zambezi Bar that offer a good selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to refresh you after an exciting day in the Vic Falls surrounds.

Kariba Out of Zambezi

The Kariba Dam, a dam cut out of the grand master Zambezi River, is a true spectacle and one of the lime lights of the great river. It was created out of the large Kariba George, a site never to miss as you move down the river. Kariba Dam is a hydroelectric dam in the Kariba Gorge of the Zambezi river basin between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Construction of the Dam
The concrete arch dam across the Zambezi River at Kariba Gorge, on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe was completed in 1959; the structure is 420ft (128m) high with a crest 1,899ft (579 m) in length and a volume of 1,032,000 cubic m. The dam creates Lake Kariba, and it supplies some 6,700,000,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, generated by Kariba North Bank and South Bank companies (Zambia and Zimbabwe, respectively).

The double curvature concrete arch dam was constructed between 1955 and 1959 by Impresit of Italy at a cost of $135,000,000 for the first stage with only the Kariba South power cavern. Final construction and the addition of the Kariba North Power cavern by Mitchell Construction were not completed until 1977 due to largely political problems for a total cost of $480,000,000. Some 86 men lost their lives during construction.

The Setting
The reservoir was designed during a period when concepts of human rights, social justice and equity in relation to colonial subjects were rudimentary, if at all considered. It was also during the period when environmental management was an emerging discipline, an era where engineers were an awesome community that could harness nature’s energy potential for the development of central southern Africa.

Consequently there was little environmental impact assessment of the proposed reservoir. The relocation of the Tonga people of the Gwembe valley was inadequately planned and little post relocation assistance was given. Several studies now show that the social impacts of forced translocation trauma evolve over an extended period.

The Wildlife
Elephant, buffalo, rhino and a host of smaller game are abundant. The waters of the lake itself support more than forty different species of fish, as well as hippo and crocodiles. There was no Environmental Impact Assessment done for Kariba, prior to development of the dam, so baseline data is not available.

Kariba appears to be one of the few successful examples of introducing non-native species to a lake. A sardine species was introduced that apparently has had only minimal biological impacts.

Consider the greatness
The Zambezi River is a great river that has been cut and split many times over for the benefit of the surrounding people. In the case of Kariba Dam, the Zambezi is now the supplier of Power, Fish, and Pleasure for millions of Zimbabweans and Zambians, as electricity is generated, fish caught and sold, and water lovers throng the dam for pleasure every single day.

Zambezi Tager Fishing

Fly-fishing on the Zambezi river in southern Africa is a relatively undiscovered secret. This magnificent river which stretches some 2600 km from its source in Northern Zambia down to its delta in Mozambique. Along its length Anglers can enjoy some of the finest flyfishing to be found in Africa, if not the world. In addition to this the river presents fishermen with the opportunity to experience some of the most well-protected wilderness areas and natural spectacles in Africa. The two which immediately come to mind, being Victoria Falls and Mana Pools National Park.

Flyfishing is vastly underrated on the Zambezi. The main reason for this being that most anglers still prefer to use the more typical methods of trolling, drift baiting with strips of fillet or live bait on a conventional spinning rod. Having recently returned from a three month safari through most of Southern Africa I can confidently say that the Zambezi holds a lot of promise for the flyfisherman who is prepared to get out there and try their luck.

The main angling species on the Zambezi is unquestionably the impressive Tiger fish; so called because of its vicious teeth, beautiful striped markings and wild temperament. When a Tigerfish hits the fly it can come in any shape or form. Typically, when using a streamer or minnow impersonation the fish will hit like a steam train, leaving the angler in no doubt as to who – or what – has just savaged your bait, and quite often a slack line. They hit so fast, and so hard one cannot afford to lose concentration for half a second as any resistance on the take can easily result in losing your fly and leader. They are very quick and enormously powerful.

The best time of year for the Tiger fish varies enormously depending on which stretch of the river you intend fishing. It truly is a river that will provide good sport angling almost year round. The only exception being in the tropical summer period (December-February) when seasonal flooding of the Zambezi tributaries turns the water a chocolate brown and fish have trouble seeing the surface – let alone any fly or alternative bait.

The Zambezi river in the Caprivi area of Namibia is a relatively narrow, fast flowing river with sandbars, deep drop offs along the bank and good fishable structure all along the river. What makes the Caprivi section worthy of special mention is its seasonal flooding. Being the most northern section of our target area and with no artificial control of water flow upstream of this area allows the river to swell from approximately 250 m wide in the dry season, to a staggering 30 km at the widest point in the Wet season. This incredible flood pushes the water up onto savannah floodplains that allow all of the fish access to a huge feeding and breeding area. Later in the year, usually in late April, May, the river recedes again and millions of fry start a mad scramble to get back into the main river. This obviously provides a paradise for any predatory fish – of which there are plenty. The Tiger fish form efficient, aggressive attack shoals and drive these fry into a huge rolling shoal of food that they herd out away from protective cover. Once the fry are out in the open the tiger go into a frenzied attack pattern knifing through the shoal and snapping at anything that twitches or glitters.

Moving downstream again will take anglers to what locals refer to as The Lower Zambezi Valley. This section of the river is where I have spent the majority of my time and the section of river that is by a long stretch my favourite part of the Zambezi, not least of all just because of its remoteness and lack of civilisation.

There are sections of the Lower Zambezi that are populated and although these areas can produce good fishing I have always made a point of seeking out the most remote and inaccessible areas. These areas have generally been spared the havoc that is wrought upon local fish populations by fishermen with gill nets, drag nets and fish traps. Subsequently they offer some of the finest angling I have found anywhere along the lengths of the Zambezi that I have explored. In addition to great fishing the areas I have fished also provide excellent opportunities to enjoy some of the top wildlife areas of Southern Africa. I have often been driving down to the boats and encountered lion or leopard on the short journey and it is a common occurrence to be fighting a Tiger fish while drifting down past a herd of elephant or buffalo that have come to the river for an afternoon drink or mud wallow!

Here again the river has changed significantly and in some places is more than 2 km wide. Interspersed with sand and grass islands there are a myriad of channels, drop-offs, river mouths and other structure to fish here. The best times of year here for Tiger fish are more or less parallel with those times of year that work well at Victoria Falls.

Activities Along Zambezi

Independent market research has revealed that nearly 9 out of 10 visitors would like to have stayed longer in Victoria Falls, and most activities they stay for are based in or along the Zambezi River. For most of them it was too late to change their itinerary. Don’t make the same mistake – Zambezi River is not a two night destination. The area has become the premier adventure resort of Africa and a vast range of activities are available to suit every traveller.

Some of the most popular activities are:

Elephant Back Safaris
What better way to explore the magnificent bushveld than from the saddle of an African elephant! Trips are available during the early morning, when a surprise bush breakfast is served, or during the late afternoon, when guests can savour a magical African sunset ~ as well as sundowners and snacks. The safari is led by an armed guide on foot.

The Craft Market
A haven of African treasures is available from Victoria Fall’s open-air curio market - where Zimbabwe’s famous stone and wood carvings are a specialty. Take time to wander through the hustle and bustle of the displays, absorbing the ingenuity of the craftsmen.

Flight of Angels
Take a trip in a helicopter for a spectacular bird’s eye view of the mile wide Victoria Falls, as well as beautiful stretches of the Zambezi River and game in the National Park. Microlight, ultralight and seaplane excursions are also available for the adventurous.
You will truly feel close to nature, as you explore the unspoilt Zambezi River above the falls, in stable two-man canoes with an expert guide. Heighten the experience by enjoying breakfast at sunrise on the banks of the river and then stopping for lunch on one of the islands. An experience not to be missed!

Half Day for Full Day Game Drives
Enjoy a game drive in a rugged 4 x 4 safari vehicle into the Zambezi National Park, home to the elephant, buffalo, hippo, sable and many more. During the full day trip, guests will visit secluded sections of the park and enjoy a buffet luncheon on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River.

Bush Walks
A walk in the Zambezi National Park with a professional guide will open up a world previously only dreamt of. The emphasis of these trips is on ecology and chats about trees, insects, birds, flowers and mammals provide fascinating information. Walking safaris are also taken around the perimeter of the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge’s waterhole.

Zambezi Horse Trails
Horseback rides take place in an area with a high concentration of game and plentiful game viewing opportunities, for both experienced and novice riders.

White Water Rafting
Adventurers travel from all over the world to experience Zimbabwe’s adrenaline-pumping whitewater rafting. Classified as the best water in the world, rafts break their way through rapids graded as high as 5km’s through the deep gorges and spectacular beauty of the mighty Zambezi River. You can challenge this river with either a half day (15 km's) or full day (22 km's) trip.

Zambezi River Cruises
There can be very little to rival the pleasure of cruising down the Zambezi River, with a chilled drink in hand, watching animals and birds frolicking amid fantastic African sunsets. Or having a wonderful breakfast or lunch on board while your guide points out interesting sights along the way. Lunch and sunset champagne cruises are made daily on a stable pontoon boat.

Zambezi Wine Route
This is the ultimate sundowner, taking the route David Livingston must have taken before he came across the mighty Victoria Falls! The silence of the canoes enables one to drift past elephants, hippo and birds almost undetected. Each boat seats two people and is paddled by an experienced and knowledgeable paddler. Visitors need only sit back, relax and take in the scenery, while sipping refreshments and nibbling on snacks.

Crocodile Farm & Nature Sanctuary
Set in plush landscaped gardens on a natural creek, the Zambezi Nature Sanctuary will increase your awareness of the environment surrounding the Victoria Falls. Your fascinating tour will unfold a scaled version of the flora and fauna of this reverie ecosystem and you will see leopard, several cats, carcal and hundreds of crocodiles (from babies you can hold to 15 ft monsters) at close quarters.

Championship Golf Course
The nearby Elephant Hills’ golf course is carved out of the rugged African bush, alongside the Zambezi River, just 3km upstream of the Victoria Falls. It’s an 18-hole Gary Player championship course where you'll share the plush fairways with a variety of wildlife in their natural habitat - including warthog, impala, mongooses, waterbuck, monkeys and baboons. Crocodiles inhabit some of the eight waterhole's and the course is surrounded by an abundance of indigenous trees, including a majestic giant baobab.

Day Trip to the Chobe National Park - Botswana
Spend a day in Botswana’s magnificent Chobe National Park. Here you’ll find the very essence of nature in a 11 700 sq. km. pristine wilderness. The elephant population, estimated at 35 000, is the largest single concentration in Africa within the confines of a single national park. During the harsh dry season the herds migrate and congregate along the perennial Chobe River, running off the Zambezi River, and fertile flood plains. The sight is spectacular - red sunsets, elephant and buffalo in their hundreds.

The Zambezi River

Much has been said, written, and passed from generation to generation, about the Nile River, north east of Africa. There is yet another river that has transformed the lives of eight southern African nations – The Zambezi River, just as Egypt, Ethiopia, down to the Congo, have been transformed by the Nile River. The Zambezi River is the fourth largest river in Africa after the Nile River, Congo River, and the Niger River. The Zambezi is 2,693km long, feeding 16 smaller rivers in Zambia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, and Namibia.

Throughout its course, the Zambezi River winds through numerous cultures, political boundaries and varying climates. In some places, its flow appears as a placid lake, while in others, it is a busy display of tumbling rapids and waterfalls. Eighty percent of more than 42 million people residing in the river's basin depend on agriculture for their livelihood. One-third of the population relies on healthy fisheries for food.

Source
The river rises in a black marshy dambo in north-western Zambia, in undulating miombo woodland, quite dense in parts, about 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level. Eastward of the source, the watershed between the Congo and Zambezi basins is a well-marked belt of high ground, falling abruptly north and south, and running nearly east-west. This distinctly cuts off the basin of the Lualaba (the main branch of the upper Congo) from that of the Zambezi. In the neighbourhood of the source the watershed is not as clearly defined, but the two river systems do not connect.

Exploration
The Zambezi region was known to medieval geographers as the Empire of Monomotapa, and the course of the river, as well as the position of Lakes Ngami and Nyasa, were given broadly accurately in early maps. These were probably constructed from Arab information.

The first European to visit the upper Zambezi was David Livingstone in his exploration from Bechuanaland between 1851 and 1853. Two or three years later he descended the Zambezi to its mouth and in the course of this journey discovered the Victoria Falls. During 1858–60, accompanied by John Kirk, Livingstone ascended the river by the Kongone mouth as far as the Falls, and also traced the course of its tributary the Shire and reached Lake Malawi.

Dams & Lakes
Several dams and reservoirs provide power and employment for the people of the region. Spectacular natural features like Btoka Gorge and Victoria Falls—one of the seven wonders of the world—attract recreational and wildlife enthusiasts from around the globe. Zambezi is the source of the Kariba Dam, and contributes to the Cabora Basa Dam, and Lake Malawi.

Wildlife
While important to local economies and human livelihoods, competing demands among agriculture, power generation, tourism and other land-based activities have taken a toll on the Zambezi's ecological health—especially aquatic life. The river supports large populations of many animals. Hippopotamuses are abundant along most of the calm stretches of the river, and many crocodiles are also present. Monitor lizards are found in many places. Bird life is abundant, with species including heron, pelican, egret and African Fish Eagle present in large numbers.

Riverine woodland also supports many large animals, such as buffalo, zebras, giraffes and elephants. However, below Kariba and Cahora Bassa dams, the cessation of annual flooding has seen the area of this habitat greatly reduced and a corresponding reduction in the populations of the large mammals.

Tourism
Between Mongu and Livingstone, several safari lodges cater for tourists who want to fish for exotic species, and many also catch fish to sell to aquaria. Several parts of the river are also very popular tourist destinations. Victoria Falls receives over 1.5 million visitors annually, while Mana Pools and Lake Kariba also draw substantial tourist numbers.

The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that thunders), part of the Zambezi River, is a waterfall situated in southern Africa between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe. The falls are, by some measures, the largest waterfall in the world, as well as being among the most unusual in form, and having arguably the most diverse and easily seen wildlife of any major waterfall site.

The Kariba Dam is a hydroelectric dam in the Kariba Gorge of the Zambezi river basin between Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is one of the largest dams in the world at 128 m high and 579 m long.

Mana Pools is a wildlife conservation area in Western Zimbabwe constituting a National Park. It is a region of the lower Zambezi River in Zimbabwe where the flood plain turns into a broad expanse of lakes after each rainy season. As the lakes gradually dry up and recede, the region attracts many large animals in search of water, making it one of Africa's most renowned game-viewing regions.

Mana means ‘four’ in Shona, in reference to the four large permanent pools formed by the meanderings of the middle Zambezi. These 2,500 square kilometres of river frontage, islands, sandbanks and pools, flanked by forests of mahogany, wild figs, ebonies and baobabs, is one of the least developed National Parks in Southern Africa.

Fishing & Life
Fish serve as a vital link in the Zambezi River ecosystem, and represent a staple in the diet of millions of people. Fish also fuel local economies throughout the basin. Communities by the river fish extensively from it, and many people travel from far afield to fish. Some Zambian towns on roads leading to the river levy unofficial 'fish taxes' on people taking Zambezi fish to other parts of the country. As well as fishing for food, game fishing is a significant activity on some parts of the river.