WHEN I was growing up, stories of how Lake Kariba was an attractive and popular holiday resort were always told by my friend Nelvine Katsoka each time he visited his uncle in my rural home, Centenary in Mashonaland Central.
BY WINSTONE ANTONIO OWN CORRESPONDENT
I used to ask about the resort which is also described as one of the best freshwater spots in the world as it boasts of the “big five” with some of the greatest concentrations of hippo and crocodile in Africa — as well as magnificent bird watching.
For a long time, I wished to visit this place.
It took me 26 years to get the opportunity to visit the place and it was only due to my profession (journalism) that I finally fulfilled my dream.
Two weeks ago, I joined a group of local journalists for a familiarisation boat cruise at Lake Kariba.
The tour hosted on a 36-passenger luxury flagship of the Dunhu Ramambo houseboat fleet called the Umbozha houseboat was memorable.
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Witnessing and enjoying Kariba’s wild magnificence on a boat cruise as we travelled for about an hour from Andora Harbour to Antelope Island was a sight to behold.
Living on a houseboat where the wildlife is close to your bedroom window was an experience that I had never had before. The Umbozha houseboat which was launched last year was designed to the highest standards of luxury, with solid teak fittings and furniture, crisp white linen and the finest attention to detail.
There is a large, shaded, pool deck about 1,4 metres deep at the front of the boat and a game-viewing top deck next to the captain’s wheelhouse. The cruise liner, driven by Marnie Kloppers, who is also the houseboat manager, accompanied by his assistant Montana, travelled in a convoy with its sister boats Karabezi and Liberty Bell, which were also recently renovated to match international standards.
On board, there are five family suites, which include bunk beds for children, two twin-bedded rooms and two master suites on the upper deck. All the nine lavish rooms’ suites are air-conditioned, with en-suite bathrooms.
Eating was done in an airy lounge-cum-dining room with a bar inside which has a 24inch television set and sound system. We had an opportunity to go for a late evening fishing outing and for someone like me who mainly works with a pen and notebook, I was keen for such a fishing involvement.
The boat driver assisted me on how to go about it, but it I failed to grasp the fishing technique and could not catch even one fish. Our dinner that evening included fish that my fellow scribes had managed to catch earlier in the day.
The Umbozha houseboats are owned by Chengeta Safari Lodge – an exclusive 16-roomed safari hideaway situated on a 7 800-acre wildlife sanctuary near the town of Selous some 80 kilometers south-west of Harare. Some of the Umbozha houseboats include Shikra, Take it Away and Peregrine. The company’s group general manager Chris Chiparaushe said their aim was to promote domestic tourism by offering affordable rates for locals to appreciate houseboat cruises.
“Houseboat cruises are, locally, mainly allied with foreigners, but as Dunhu Ramambo, we want to bridge the gap by offering reasonable rates that would cater for local independent travellers like couples,” Chiparaushe said.“As part of the implementation strategy, we are going to be launching a package for our local market called Peregrine Local 2 nights special, which would be much affordable,” he said. “Dunhu Ramambo and our Umbozha fleet will strive to give you a holiday safari experience like no other you have experienced in Africa upon this thirdlargest man-made lake in the world”.
These were Chiparaushe’s last words as we boarded our shuttle bus back to Harare.
