Bumi Hills Safari Lodge

AREA & ACTIVITIES

Habitat & Wildlife
Kariba is the largest man-made lake in the world and covers some 5,500 square kilometres (about 2,100 square miles). It is around 220 kms long, and around 40 kms at its widest. Built in the late 1950s to harness hydropower for both Northern and Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe and Zambia), the dam wall straddles a gorge of the Zambezi River between Kariba (Zimbabwe) and Siavongo (Zambia). The dam wall is impressive, particularly when the gates are open.

The formation of the lake has a chequered history. During its formation, Rupert Fothergill, a local senior game ranger, initiated his ‘Operation Noah’, saving thousands of animals from the rising waters. Many local people, particularly the Batonka, were also displaced and forced to live elsewhere. However, hydro power was produced and a flourishing fishing industry also gathered momentum. Even today, the twinkling lights of the many Kapenta rigs can be seen at night as they gather in their haul.

Covering a large proportion of the southern shoreline, the Matusadona National Park was established as a non-hunting reserve in 1963 and proclaimed a National Park in 1975. The Park is largely inaccessible and extends over the upland area above the lake. Vegetation varies from grassland on the upper reaches to woodland (often destroyed by elephant) on the lower slopes leading to the foreshore. This habitat variation provides for a wide variety of animal and bird life. Larger mammal species include elephant, lion, leopard, zebra, waterbuck, buffalo, hippo, kudu and impala. The area was a stronghold for black rhino but unfortunately today few are now seldom seen. However, in 2019 Matusadona National Park was the first of Zimbabwe’s protected areas to be taken under the management of African Parks with a number of species reintroductions planned, alongside effective management. A variety of wildlife can be found in the park and the private concessions bordering it, including lion, elephant and waterbuck. Giraffe are not found north of the escarpment and eland, sable antelope, and roan antelope occur in the escarpment hills. Crocodiles of impressive size inhabit the water’s edge along with plenty of hippo.

Although the shoreline ecosystems are constantly evolving, a wide variety of waterfowl, herons, storks, waders, plovers, jacanas, the African finfoot and others inhabit the region. The haunting cry of the fish eagle often echoes across the waters. Other raptors include the bateleur, black eagle, harrier hawk (gymnogene), and a variety of falcons, hawks and owls. Additional general species include kingfishers (grey-hooded, malachite, brown-hooded, giant and pied), bee-eaters (carmine, little) as well as orioles, starlings, barbets and shrikes.

Activities
Activities include game drives (by day and by night), guided walking safaris, boat cruises and fishing on the lake as well as cultural excursions. Or simply relax by the pool or enjoy a spa treatment.

Seasons
Bumi Hills Safari Lodge is open year round, but game viewing is best from June through to October and rain is experienced from November to March.