Matusadona National Park Travel Guide

Before the creation of Lake Kariba, the world's largest man-made lake, Matusadona was inaccessible and, as such, less frequented than other game reserves in Zimbabwe. Lake Kariba made visiting Matusadona National Park easier by boat from the town of Kariba, and the area is experiencing a growth in interest because of the large number and wide variety of wildlife who found refuge there when the lake was being built.

Lake Kariba - A drawcard for game

Lake Kariba created the perfect conditions for wildlife to thrive. New lakeshore grazing opportunities attracted entire herds of elephant, buffalo in their thousands, waterbuck, hippo, zebra and impala while the critically endangered black rhino found sanctuary in Matusadona’s west woodlands.

Matusadona National Park is now home to healthy populations of predators such as crocodile, lion, leopard, spotted genet, side-striped jackal and hyena, and the elusive cheetah has also been spotted. Other common species found in the park include bushbuck, klipspringer, grysbok, roan antelope, kudu, duiker, slender and banded mongoose, warthog, porcupine, bush squirrel, night ape, vervet monkey and chacma baboon.

Lake Kariba had a profound effect on the prevalence of birdlife in Matusadona National Park. 240 species of birds call Matusadona home and the sight of African fish eagles nesting in the dead trees dotting the shoreline is common. Anglers visit the park to fish for Tigerfish, Tilapia bream and the infamous vundu; the largest freshwater fish in southern Africa.

Activities in Matusadona

Visitors to Matusadona National Park can choose from a variety of activities and we have no hesitation in recommending a stay of at least two or three nights. There are open vehicle 4x4 game drives and guided walking safaris over the floodplains and along the shoreline of Lake Kariba where wildlife gather to drink.

Visitors can also go on guided hiking excursions through the woodlands and up the escarpment. Lake Kariba presents a range of water-based activities such as fishing, boating safaris, gorge visits and sunset cruises.

Climate

Depending on the altitude, summer temperatures can fluctuate between 18 to 40°C (64 to 104°F) from September and April. Winter ushers in milder temperatures of between 11 and 27°C (52 to 81°F). In the wet season from around November to March, afternoon showers cause the water level of Lake Kariba to rise. With this, the floodplains disappear, submerging many of the game viewing roads and making them impassable, while driving Matusadona's wildlife into the mopane forests in search of dry land.

Best time to go

From June to October when the humidity has dropped and the floodplains have dried, wildlife emerges once again, making game viewing in Matusadona exceptionally rewarding, whether on foot, by boat or in a safari vehicle. Because the level of the water in Lake Kariba influences the presence and visibility of game and there's no way of predicting when the rains will arrive, the best time to book a safari in Matusadona might change slightly year-on-year. If you let us know when you're thinking of visiting, we'll find out from operators and experts inside the park what your best options would be.

Getting there

By air - Tashinga Camp in the northwest of Matusadona has a small aircraft Category II landing strip.

By boat - Matusadona can be accessed via Lake Kariba by boat from the town of Kariba on a 50-kilometre trip.

We do not recommend self-driving. The roads are extremely rough and, in some instances, inaccessible as well as unnavigable. We advise flying.