Matusadona National Park Overview
Matusadona National Park is situated on the southern shores of Lake Kariba in northern Zimbabwe.
In the late 1950’s, following the establishment of the Kariba Dam wall, the middle Zambezi Valley was flooded and Lake Kariba, one of the world’s greatest man-made lakes, was created. As the waters of Lake Kariba rose, wildlife sought refuge along the islands and southern shores of the Lake, and many of the wild animals rescued from the rising waters of the newly-formed Lake Kariba by conservationist Rupert Fothergill and his teams during the much-publicised Operation Noah in 1958 were released onto the southern shoreline area. In 1963 the area was proclaimed as a Game Reserve before officially becoming Matusadona National Park in 1975.
Taking it’s name from the local Matuzviadonha Hills, the park covers an estimated 1400 km2 of remote flat plains and rugged mountain terrain, protecting a diversity of flora and fauna species, including three distinctive ecological areas. The first is Lake Kariba and its shoreline grasslands, the second is the floor of the Zambezi Valley, with its thick Combretum Jesse thickets and Mopane woodland, and the third is the Escarpment area of Julbernardia and Brachystegia woodlands. The Park lies about 20km across the lake from the town of Kariba, and is bounded by two spectacularly beautiful rivers, the Ume in the west, which meets the lake in a wide estuary, and the Sanyati in the east, with its magnificent, steep sided, rocky gorge.
The creation of the lake caused profound ecological changes. In particular, the availability of grazing on the lakeshore has contributed to an increase in the populations of large mammals in the park, especially those of elephant and buffalo which are regularly seen on the floodplains along the shoreline during the dryer months. The species of grass growing on the shoreline is Panicum repens which grows as long as the lake levels fluctuate bringing nutrients to the shore. This source of grazing has allowed populations of large grazers such as buffalo, waterbuck, common zebra, and impala to thrive, attracting the associated predators.
Today, Matusadona National Park remains an Intensive Protection Zone for the endangered black rhinoceros and elephant, despite steady declines in population numbers over the last 10 years. This park is a treat for visitors wanting to see Africa’s other big mammals including elephant, buffalo, hippo, lion, leopard, cheetah, zebra and various antelope species. Around the shoreline
Around the Matusadona region and the shoreline are some excellent safari lodges and rustic tented camps, offering game drives, birding safaris, walking safaris as well as fishing excursions and boat cruises which explore the lake’s riverine inlets and creeks. This is also a favoured destination for houseboat holidays. If you want to get away from it all and enjoy a wilderness experience which combines the harsh beauty of the African bush with the wide horizons of a vast inland lake, the Matusadona National Park is for you.
When To Travel
Average temperatures in Matusadona National Park vary somewhat and, due to humidity, the temperatures tend to feel hot for about 50% of the year. The hottest months to visit are October, November and December where humidity and wind add to the warmer temperatures which are usually on average in excess of 35°C.
March through to May
Humidity and temperatures combine to make these months feel relatively warm. Average temperature ranges are between 28 – 32°C, and it is unusual for rain to fall during these months. These are the slower months for tourism to this region which makes it ideal for those looking for special deals or slightly lower rates. The lake starts to rise during this time of year and generally fishing is good over these months.
June through to August
The middle-year months are the most comfortable temperature wise and this time of year tends to have no rainfall. Days are warm and evenings are fresh. This is the second busiest season for tourism to the region so availability may be a challenge if not booked in advance and prices are slightly higher. The lake starts to drop during this time of year opening up the grassy floodplains full of nutrients for grazing species to begin congregating along the shoreline.
September through to November
Temperatures tend to range between 32 – 37°C and are warmer, given the humidity and wind. Tourism is the busiest during these months and so availability is more of a challenge and prices are slightly higher. The drier months see an increase of species along the shoreline where there is permanent water and buffalo are especially prominent with herds of up to 300 – 500 strong often congregating along the shoreline.
December through to February
Weather is perfect during this time of year, although can tend to be high on the humidity side. Large storms or downpours can be expected throughout this period although the rain in Zimbabwe tends to come in bursts for a couple hours before clearing up and making way for the sunshine. The rain brings with it regrowth of lush green vegetation and landscape photography is at its best with the contrasting colours of bright green against dark storm clouds and crisp clean light. A number of species drop their young during this period making it a great time of year to see baby impalas, zebras and other grazers. A number of migrating bird species come through the area during this time of year making it a great area to travel to for keen birders.
Getting There
Due to its remote location, Matusadona is primarily only accessible by air charter or boat from Kariba. There are a number of smaller landing strips which the air charters land at, depending on which camp you are travelling to, and there are boat transfers conducted from Kariba town.
It has relatively poor accessibility by road and an extremely harsh internal network of roads keep the crowds and traffic low. The roads are closed in the rainy season.
Species
Wildlife
Animal species that are found in abundance include elephant and buffalo. Other common species are those of; night ape, honey badger, civet, small spotted genet, slender mongoose, banded mongoose, spotted hyena, wild cat, lion, leopard, yellow spotted dassie, black rhinoceros, zebra, warthog, common duiker, grysbok, klipspringer, waterbuck, bushbuck, scrub hare, porcupine, vervet monkey, chacma baboon, side-striped jackal, hippopotamus, roan antelope, kudu and bush squirrel. Some of the more elusive species include; clawless otter, white-tailed mongoose, reedbuck, sable antelope, eland, civet, rusty spotted genet, caracal and bush pig. Animals that are present but only sighted on rare occasions include; wild dog, cheetah, roan and pangolin. Whilst Matusadona and the surrounding shoreline areas once had healthy populations of lions, the density of lions today remains low due to fluctuating lake levels, which impact on grazing, and due to a variety of other environmental and human induced pressures. Leopard populations are said to be healthy throughout the Matusadona.
Birdlife
One of the Matusadona’s most compelling features is its birdlife with an estimated 240 species having been recorded in the park and along the shoreline. Most local raptors are present in good numbers. Most parts of the lakeshore have conspicuous populations of grey herons, goliath herons, great white herons and saddlebill storks. The fish eagle is common along the lakeshore where it makes use of the dead trees as nesting sites and its notorious cries can be heard throughout the day. Plovers, waders and geese are generally abundant and there are notable populations of osprey, woolly-necked storks, open-billed storks, white-winged plovers and red-winged pratincoles. There are several large colonies of darters and reed cormorants within the treelines, and at least one colony of white-breasted cormorants has been sighted. Bee-eater colonies are often found in the sandstone banks and cliffs of the riverines and inlets along the shoreline.
Matusadona National Park is situated on the southern shores of Lake Kariba in northern Zimbabwe.
In the late 1950’s, following the establishment of the Kariba Dam wall, the middle Zambezi Valley was flooded and Lake Kariba, one of the world’s greatest man-made lakes, was created. As the waters of Lake Kariba rose, wildlife sought refuge along the islands and southern shores of the Lake, and many of the wild animals rescued from the rising waters of the newly-formed Lake Kariba by conservationist Rupert Fothergill and his teams during the much-publicised Operation Noah in 1958 were released onto the southern shoreline area. In 1963 the area was proclaimed as a Game Reserve before officially becoming Matusadona National Park in 1975.
Taking it’s name from the local Matuzviadonha Hills, the park covers an estimated 1400 km2 of remote flat plains and rugged mountain terrain, protecting a diversity of flora and fauna species, including three distinctive ecological areas. The first is Lake Kariba and its shoreline grasslands, the second is the floor of the Zambezi Valley, with its thick Combretum Jesse thickets and Mopane woodland, and the third is the Escarpment area of Julbernardia and Brachystegia woodlands. The Park lies about 20km across the lake from the town of Kariba, and is bounded by two spectacularly beautiful rivers, the Ume in the west, which meets the lake in a wide estuary, and the Sanyati in the east, with its magnificent, steep sided, rocky gorge.
The creation of the lake caused profound ecological changes. In particular, the availability of grazing on the lakeshore has contributed to an increase in the populations of large mammals in the park, especially those of elephant and buffalo which are regularly seen on the floodplains along the shoreline during the dryer months. The species of grass growing on the shoreline is Panicum repens which grows as long as the lake levels fluctuate bringing nutrients to the shore. This source of grazing has allowed populations of large grazers such as buffalo, waterbuck, common zebra, and impala to thrive, attracting the associated predators.
Today, Matusadona National Park remains an Intensive Protection Zone for the endangered black rhinoceros and elephant, despite steady declines in population numbers over the last 10 years. This park is a treat for visitors wanting to see Africa’s other big mammals including elephant, buffalo, hippo, lion, leopard, cheetah, zebra and various antelope species. Around the shoreline
Around the Matusadona region and the shoreline are some excellent safari lodges and rustic tented camps, offering game drives, birding safaris, walking safaris as well as fishing excursions and boat cruises which explore the lake’s riverine inlets and creeks. This is also a favoured destination for houseboat holidays. If you want to get away from it all and enjoy a wilderness experience which combines the harsh beauty of the African bush with the wide horizons of a vast inland lake, the Matusadona National Park is for you.
Average temperatures in Matusadona National Park vary somewhat and, due to humidity, the temperatures tend to feel hot for about 50% of the year. The hottest months to visit are October, November and December where humidity and wind add to the warmer temperatures which are usually on average in excess of 35°C.
March through to May
Humidity and temperatures combine to make these months feel relatively warm. Average temperature ranges are between 28 – 32°C, and it is unusual for rain to fall during these months. These are the slower months for tourism to this region which makes it ideal for those looking for special deals or slightly lower rates. The lake starts to rise during this time of year and generally fishing is good over these months.
June through to August
The middle-year months are the most comfortable temperature wise and this time of year tends to have no rainfall. Days are warm and evenings are fresh. This is the second busiest season for tourism to the region so availability may be a challenge if not booked in advance and prices are slightly higher. The lake starts to drop during this time of year opening up the grassy floodplains full of nutrients for grazing species to begin congregating along the shoreline.
September through to November
Temperatures tend to range between 32 – 37°C and are warmer, given the humidity and wind. Tourism is the busiest during these months and so availability is more of a challenge and prices are slightly higher. The drier months see an increase of species along the shoreline where there is permanent water and buffalo are especially prominent with herds of up to 300 – 500 strong often congregating along the shoreline.
December through to February
Weather is perfect during this time of year, although can tend to be high on the humidity side. Large storms or downpours can be expected throughout this period although the rain in Zimbabwe tends to come in bursts for a couple hours before clearing up and making way for the sunshine. The rain brings with it regrowth of lush green vegetation and landscape photography is at its best with the contrasting colours of bright green against dark storm clouds and crisp clean light. A number of species drop their young during this period making it a great time of year to see baby impalas, zebras and other grazers. A number of migrating bird species come through the area during this time of year making it a great area to travel to for keen birders.
Due to its remote location, Matusadona is primarily only accessible by air charter or boat from Kariba. There are a number of smaller landing strips which the air charters land at, depending on which camp you are travelling to, and there are boat transfers conducted from Kariba town.
It has relatively poor accessibility by road and an extremely harsh internal network of roads keep the crowds and traffic low. The roads are closed in the rainy season.
Wildlife
Animal species that are found in abundance include elephant and buffalo. Other common species are those of; night ape, honey badger, civet, small spotted genet, slender mongoose, banded mongoose, spotted hyena, wild cat, lion, leopard, yellow spotted dassie, black rhinoceros, zebra, warthog, common duiker, grysbok, klipspringer, waterbuck, bushbuck, scrub hare, porcupine, vervet monkey, chacma baboon, side-striped jackal, hippopotamus, roan antelope, kudu and bush squirrel. Some of the more elusive species include; clawless otter, white-tailed mongoose, reedbuck, sable antelope, eland, civet, rusty spotted genet, caracal and bush pig. Animals that are present but only sighted on rare occasions include; wild dog, cheetah, roan and pangolin. Whilst Matusadona and the surrounding shoreline areas once had healthy populations of lions, the density of lions today remains low due to fluctuating lake levels, which impact on grazing, and due to a variety of other environmental and human induced pressures. Leopard populations are said to be healthy throughout the Matusadona.
Birdlife
One of the Matusadona’s most compelling features is its birdlife with an estimated 240 species having been recorded in the park and along the shoreline. Most local raptors are present in good numbers. Most parts of the lakeshore have conspicuous populations of grey herons, goliath herons, great white herons and saddlebill storks. The fish eagle is common along the lakeshore where it makes use of the dead trees as nesting sites and its notorious cries can be heard throughout the day. Plovers, waders and geese are generally abundant and there are notable populations of osprey, woolly-necked storks, open-billed storks, white-winged plovers and red-winged pratincoles. There are several large colonies of darters and reed cormorants within the treelines, and at least one colony of white-breasted cormorants has been sighted. Bee-eater colonies are often found in the sandstone banks and cliffs of the riverines and inlets along the shoreline.
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