In 1958 a dam was built on the Zambezi river, creating Lake Kariba. Sandwiched between Zambia and Zimbabwe, it is a popular vacation spot for locals and tourists alike. We rented a houseboat for three days and two nights, and it was a relaxing way to break up the long drive between the big attractions of Zanzibar and Victoria Falls.
Houseboats come in all sizes and levels of luxury. Ours had 2 decks and could sleep 26 (there were only 16 of us, so we got to spread out). The cabins were open from floor to ceiling, giving panoramic views of the lake. We had a captain and 3 sailors who also cooked our meals, though we supplied the groceries. We had a small plunge pool and a collection of lounge chairs on the upper deck, and when we were in deep water we could also swim in the lake. Part of the package was a pontoon boat we towed behind us and used for game cruises and sunset viewing when the large boat was at anchor.
While Lake Kariba isn’t known as a premier wildlife destination, we did see a lot of animals. Hippos and crocodiles came right up to the boat when we were at anchor in shallow water. We took the pontoon boat out to a low-lying grassy island to see a herd of 30 elephants. And frankly, it was just nice to get off the truck for a bit.
My cabin - open on one wall so I could see falling stars all night. I didn’t even need the mosquito net!
If you go: There are many many houseboats for rent on Lake Kariba - any number of passengers could be accommodated. The fishing is also supposed to be good. I would not suggest anyone come to Africa solely to experience Lake Kariba, but if you’re passing by on a long journey, houseboating is an affordable way to give yourself a break from the road.