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A Kariba houseboat allows you to explore the beautiful and game-rich banks of Lake Kariba and the Matusadona National Park. Moving to different moorings each night allows for a rich and varied wildlife experience.

Houseboats come in all shapes and sizes and are selected according to the number in your party.  Your adventure can begin either at Kariba, one of the lodges in Matusadona or at Bumi Hills Safari Lodge on the lakeshore.

There is a wide selection of boat to choose from but what they all have in common is a captain, chef and deckhand, all of whom ensure that all you have to do is to relax and enjoy one of the most unique safari experiences in Africa.  Being provided with an outboard tender also enables you to zoom off into the shallows to watch a particularly good concentration of game drinking at the lake shore, or alternatively even try your hand at fishing for tiger fish or tilapia.

We would also recommend taking our private guiding option as this will allow you to do walking safaris on the shoreline and perhaps track one of the Big 5.

at a glance

Style

Cabin.

A typical sized houseboat would have 2 double cabins, 2 twin cabins, 2 bathrooms each with shower, toilet and handbasin, fully fitted kitchen,

There would also be a Wood Braai, Large Top Deck, with bar, Open Air Dining Area on Top Deck, Splash Pool and SunDeck, Swimming Cage, 2 Pontoon Tender boats,

3 Crew (Captain, Chef and Deckhand).

Rooms

2-8

Open Season

Open all year round

Safari Experience

Taking a houseboat is almost the perfect mobile safari.

A 3 or 4 night coastal voyage along the Kariba shoreline offers a permanent opportunity for game viewing, particularly in the dry season when the animals come to the lake for water.

Having a tender boat and a private guide also enables you to get much closer to game than is normally possible and you are almost guaranteed to be the only people at a sighting.

Your chef will ensure that you have 3 good meals a day and a well stocked bar is essential.

Lake Kariba sunsets are unbeatable and having a sundowner on deck, watching elephants bathing in the lake is one of the finest safari experiences in Africa.

Lake Kariba is also home to the famous Tiger Fish, so if fishing is something you are passionate about or would like to give a go then the exhilaration of landing a ‘Tiger’ is not easily forgotten.

Wildlife & Birdlife

The Matusadona National Park is one of the last Big 5 wilderness areas and a refuge for both the black and white rhino.

One of the features of a trip here is to try and track them with a professional guide.

In addition there are good sized lion prides and leopard sightings.

The lake is also home to a large hippo and crocodile population.

There is an amazing array of birds, including kingfishers, cormorants, storks, herons and the ubiquitous fish eagle – the sound of Kariba.

Added Extras

Private chef and guide

Tender boat

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