Musango Safari Camp

AREA & ACTIVITIES

Habitat & Wildlife
Kariba is the largest man-made lake in the world and covers some 5500 sq.kms (about 2100 sq.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. Unfortunately, rhino are now seldom seen, and giraffe are not found north of the escarpment. Eland, sable antelope, and roan antelope occur in the escarpment hills. Crocodiles of impressive size inhabit the water’s edge.

Although the shoreline ecosystems are constantly evolving, a wide variety of water fowl, 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
Whilst there is the option of entering the official Matusadona Park, most of the activities take place on Musango’s extensive private concession area bordering the park. Activities include game drives (by day), guided walking safaris, boating safaris, specialist birding safaris, and fishing. It is also possible to visit a local fishing village for an insight to the ways of the local BaTonga people. Notable discoveries of dinosaur fossils have been made on the concession and guests can visit the fossil sites during their stay, as well as early stone age tool sites.

Seasons
Musango is open all year round, though game viewing is best from June through to October.