Kariba, Zimbabwe
Encyclopedia
Kariba is a town in Mashonaland West
province
, Zimbabwe
, located close to the Kariba Dam
at the northwestern end of Lake Kariba
, near the Zambia
n border. According to the 1992 Population Census, the town had a population of 20,736.
Located in the Zambezi Valley, Kariba is hot all year round.
Kariba town is the center of the tourist
industry for the Lake Kariba region. Kariba town provides accommodation in various hotels and lodges. There are two casino
s in the town and several restaurants. Many of the attractions in Kariba for the tourist are water-based. Fishing, game-viewing, and house-boating are the most popular activities. A visit to the Kariba Dam
wall is also impressive. In 2006 only three of the hotels were open. They were Carribea Bay, The Cutty Sark
, and the Zambezi Valley Motel in Nyamhunga.
The town was established to house workers who were constructing the dam in the mid to late 1950s. It was the childhood home of the local cult leader Emmanuel Sadiki, who preached in southern Zambia
during the late 1980s. The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority
ZESA employs workers in the hydroelectric power station. Kapenta fishing
is also an important industry, though it has been affected by fuel shortages.
Kariba has three main suburbs: Mahombekombe, the older poorer lakeshore high density suburb, Nyamhunga the newer high density suburb, and Kariba Heights, the wealthier inland suburb and home to the Operation Noah
monument. Kariba Heights as the name suggests is located on hills and the views of Lake Kariba
from the Heights are fantastic.
The town has a crocodile farm and an airport
, for flights to Victoria Falls
and Harare
.
Mashonaland West
Mashonaland West is a province of Zimbabwe. It has an area of 57,441 km² and a population of approximately 1.2 million . Chinhoyi is the capital of the province.Mashonaland West is divided into 6 districts:* Chegutu* Hurungwe* Kadoma* Kariba...
province
Provinces of Zimbabwe
|Zimbabwe is divided into 8 provinces and 2 cities with provincial status:-See also:*Districts of Zimbabwe*Municipalities of Zimbabwe*List of provincial governors of Zimbabwe*ISO 3166-2:ZW-External links:*...
, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
, located close to the Kariba Dam
Kariba Dam
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, standing tall and long.- Construction :...
at the northwestern end of Lake Kariba
Lake Kariba
Lake Kariba is the world's largest artificial lake and reservoir. It lies 1300 kilometers upstream from the Indian Ocean, along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe...
, near the Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
n border. According to the 1992 Population Census, the town had a population of 20,736.
Located in the Zambezi Valley, Kariba is hot all year round.
Kariba town is the center of the tourist
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
industry for the Lake Kariba region. Kariba town provides accommodation in various hotels and lodges. There are two casino
Casino
In modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
s in the town and several restaurants. Many of the attractions in Kariba for the tourist are water-based. Fishing, game-viewing, and house-boating are the most popular activities. A visit to the Kariba Dam
Kariba Dam
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, standing tall and long.- Construction :...
wall is also impressive. In 2006 only three of the hotels were open. They were Carribea Bay, The Cutty Sark
Cutty Sark
The Cutty Sark is a clipper ship. Built in 1869, she served as a merchant vessel , and then as a training ship until being put on public display in 1954...
, and the Zambezi Valley Motel in Nyamhunga.
The town was established to house workers who were constructing the dam in the mid to late 1950s. It was the childhood home of the local cult leader Emmanuel Sadiki, who preached in southern Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
during the late 1980s. The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority
Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority
Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, officially called ZESA Holdings LTD., is a state-owned company whose task is to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity in Zimbabwe...
ZESA employs workers in the hydroelectric power station. Kapenta fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
is also an important industry, though it has been affected by fuel shortages.
Kariba has three main suburbs: Mahombekombe, the older poorer lakeshore high density suburb, Nyamhunga the newer high density suburb, and Kariba Heights, the wealthier inland suburb and home to the Operation Noah
Operation Noah (Kariba)
Operation Noah was a wildlife rescue operation in Rhodesia lasting from 1958 to 1964, caused by the creation of Lake Kariba on the Zambezi by the Kariba Dam. In the late 1950s, Rhodesia became home to the world’s largest man-made dam - a hydroelectric power station built across the Zambezi...
monument. Kariba Heights as the name suggests is located on hills and the views of Lake Kariba
Lake Kariba
Lake Kariba is the world's largest artificial lake and reservoir. It lies 1300 kilometers upstream from the Indian Ocean, along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe...
from the Heights are fantastic.
The town has a crocodile farm and an airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
, for flights to Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls
The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya is a waterfall located in southern Africa on the Zambezi River between the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe.-Introduction:...
and Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
.