Lake Kariba
KARIBA DAM
As a reservoir, Kariba holds some 180 billion tons of water at any time. The Dam was built in the 1950’s for hydro‐electric power generation and was officially opened in 1959.
Operation Noah, a 5‐year wildlife rescue operation, rescued over 6,000 animals, most of which were relocated to the Matusadona National Park whilst the Lake filled up upon completion of the Dam. Besides wildlife, a large number off families were relocated and homed in new towns and villages, now on the shores of the Lake such as Kariba, Binga, Mlibizi and Siavonga. The filling of the Lake between 1958 and 1963 caused more than 20 earthquakes of greater than 5 magnitude on the Richter Scale.The Lake soon became a tourist attraction on both the Zambian and Zimbabwean side of the Lake, frequented by local and international visitors. Kariba has many mooring opportunities both on the main land and on islands and offers romantic spots with idyllic waterfalls in places like the Sanyati Gorge.
The Matusadona National Park is the centrepiece in this beautiful landscape surrounding the lake. Kariba also has the most incredible birdlife to be found, rivalled only by the Okavango Delta in Botswana.Lake Kariba has become a livelihood for majority of population who are making a living either working in the hotel,tourism and the fishing sector which have seen generations of people both Tonga`s and Korekore`who were earlier displaced by the construction of the dam making a meaningful living.
The Kariba Legend
“The BaTonga People lived in the Zambezi Valley for centuries in peaceful seclusion and with little contact with the outside world. They were simple folk who built their houses in kraal along the banks of the great river and believed that their gods looked after them supplying them with water and food.But their idealistic lifestyle was to be blown apart. In the early 1940s a report was made about the possibility of a hydro-electric scheme to supply power for the growing industry that colonialism had brought to the federation of countries that were known as Northern Rhodesia on one side of the river and Southern Rhodesia on the other, now Zambia and Zimbabwe.
“The BaTonga People lived in the Zambezi Valley for centuries in peaceful seclusion and with little contact with the outside world. They were simple folk who built their houses in kraal along the banks of the great river and believed that their gods looked after them supplying them with water and food.But their idealistic lifestyle was to be blown apart. In the early 1940s a report was made about the possibility of a hydro-electric scheme to supply power for the growing industry that colonialism had brought to the federation of countries that were known as Northern Rhodesia on one side of the river and Southern Rhodesia on the other, now Zambia and Zimbabwe.
In 1956, construction on the Kariba Dam project was started.
Heavy earth-moving equipment roared into the valley and tore out thousands of hundred-year-old trees to build roads and settlements to house the workers who poured into the area to build a dam that would harness the powerful river. The BaTonga’s peace and solitude was shattered and they were told to leave their homes and move away from the river to avoid the flood that the dam would cause.
The name Kariba comes from the word Kariva or karinga, meaning trap, which refers to a rock jutting out from the gorge where the dam wall was to be built. It was believed by the BaTonga to be the home of Nyaminyami, the river god, and they believed anyone who ventured near the rock was dragged down to spend eternity under the water.
Heavy earth-moving equipment roared into the valley and tore out thousands of hundred-year-old trees to build roads and settlements to house the workers who poured into the area to build a dam that would harness the powerful river. The BaTonga’s peace and solitude was shattered and they were told to leave their homes and move away from the river to avoid the flood that the dam would cause.
The name Kariba comes from the word Kariva or karinga, meaning trap, which refers to a rock jutting out from the gorge where the dam wall was to be built. It was believed by the BaTonga to be the home of Nyaminyami, the river god, and they believed anyone who ventured near the rock was dragged down to spend eternity under the water.
African Mythology of Nyami Nyami Today
Today minor earth tremors are occasionally felt in and around Kariba – Tonga African mythology believes that this is Nyami Nyami trying to see his wife but he is now cut off from her by the dam wall. When he can’t get through, he turns around with such fury that the whole earth shakes.
Reluctantly they allowed themselves to be resettled higher up the bank, but they believed Nyaminyami would never allow the dam to be built and eventually, when the project failed, they would move back to their homes.
In 1957, when the dam was well on its way to completion, Nyaminyami struck. The worst floods ever known on the Zambezi washed away much of the partly built dam and the heavy equipment, killing many of the workers.
Some of those killed were white men whose bodies disappeared mysteriously, and after an extensive search failed to find them, Tonga elders were asked to assist as their tribesmen knew the river better than anyone. The elders explained Nyaminyami had caused the disaster and in order to appease his wrath a sacrifice should be made
In 1957, when the dam was well on its way to completion, Nyaminyami struck. The worst floods ever known on the Zambezi washed away much of the partly built dam and the heavy equipment, killing many of the workers.
Some of those killed were white men whose bodies disappeared mysteriously, and after an extensive search failed to find them, Tonga elders were asked to assist as their tribesmen knew the river better than anyone. The elders explained Nyaminyami had caused the disaster and in order to appease his wrath a sacrifice should be made
They weren’t taken seriously, but, in desperation, when relatives of the missing workers were due to arrive to claim the bodies of their loved ones, the search party agreed in the hope that the tribesmen would know where the bodies were likely to have been washed to.
A Black calf was slaughtered and floated on the river. The next morning the calf was gone and the workers’ bodies were in its place. The disappearance of the calf holds no mystery in the crocodile infested river, but the reappearance of the workers’ bodies three days after they had disappeared has never been satisfactorily explained.
After the disaster, flow patterns of the river were studied to ascertain whether there was a likelihood of another flood and it was agreed a flood of comparable intensity would only occur once every thousand years.
A Black calf was slaughtered and floated on the river. The next morning the calf was gone and the workers’ bodies were in its place. The disappearance of the calf holds no mystery in the crocodile infested river, but the reappearance of the workers’ bodies three days after they had disappeared has never been satisfactorily explained.
After the disaster, flow patterns of the river were studied to ascertain whether there was a likelihood of another flood and it was agreed a flood of comparable intensity would only occur once every thousand years.
How to get here:
The Operation Noah Memorial is at the top of Kariba Heights overlooking the lake. Take Heights Drive and park at the Kariba Heights viewpoint.
The very next rainy season, however, brought further floods even worse than the previous year. Nyaminyami had struck again, destroying the coffer dam, the access bridge and parts of the main wall.
The project survived and the great river was eventually controlled. In 1960 the generators were switched on and have been supplying electricity to Zimbabwe and Zambia ever since.
The BaTonga still live on the shores of Lake Kariba, and many still believe one day Nyaminyami will fulfill his promise and they will be able to return to their homes on the banks of the river. They believe Nyaminyami and his wife were separated by the wall across the river, and the frequent earth tremors felt in the area since the wall was built are caused by the spirit trying to reach his wife, and one day he will destroy the dam
Operation Noah
IN THE LATE 1950S, RHODESIA (ZIMBABWE) BECAME HOME TO THE WORLD’S LARGEST MAN-MADE DAM – A HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION BUILT ACROSS THE ZAMBEZI RIVER,ABOUT 400KM FROM VICTORIA FALLS. IT WOULD PROVIDE POWER FOR MOST OF THE COUNTRY, BUT IN THE PROCESS FORM LAKE KARIBA AND FLOOD THE ZAMBEZI VALLEY – HOME TO THOUSANDS OF NATIVE ANIMALS. IN A WILDLIFE RESCUE OPERATION LASTING 5 YEARS, OVER 6000 ANIMALS WERE RESCUED AND RELOCATED TO THE MAINLAND.
The operation was led by Rupert Fothergill. Wildlife was moved from the rising waters and largely relocated to Matusadona National Park .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyami_Nyami
IN THE LATE 1950S, RHODESIA (ZIMBABWE) BECAME HOME TO THE WORLD’S LARGEST MAN-MADE DAM – A HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION BUILT ACROSS THE ZAMBEZI RIVER,ABOUT 400KM FROM VICTORIA FALLS. IT WOULD PROVIDE POWER FOR MOST OF THE COUNTRY, BUT IN THE PROCESS FORM LAKE KARIBA AND FLOOD THE ZAMBEZI VALLEY – HOME TO THOUSANDS OF NATIVE ANIMALS. IN A WILDLIFE RESCUE OPERATION LASTING 5 YEARS, OVER 6000 ANIMALS WERE RESCUED AND RELOCATED TO THE MAINLAND.
The operation was led by Rupert Fothergill. Wildlife was moved from the rising waters and largely relocated to Matusadona National Park .
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyami_Nyami
Kariba Invitation Tiger Fishing Tournament.
Lake Kariba has become the home of international renowned K.I.T.F.T which is hosted at Charara in October every year.The event brings professional and amateur anglers from all over the world who come to battle the ferocious African game fish. |