Charara Safari Area

Charara Safari Area is a roughly 1,700 km² hunting and wildlife area on the eastern shore of Lake Kariba, in Kariba District, Mashonaland West. It stretches along the lakeshore from near Kariba town in the west to the Ruckomechi River in the east, bordering Mana Pools National Park, and is bisected by the Harare–Chirundu highway (the Makuti/Chirundu road). The terrain is mostly mopane woodland along the escarpment and lakeshore. It supports both licensed sport hunting and photographic safaris, with wildlife including elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, black rhino, sable, roan, and other antelope, plus prolific birdlife.

By Plane

The nearest airport is Kariba Airport (KAB), near Kariba town to the west.

By Car / Road

The Harare–Chirundu highway runs through the safari area via Makuti; access from Kariba town is via this road and connecting tracks. A 4WD is recommended for tracks off the tar.

Game drives (4WD) and boat access along the lakeshore.

• Lake Kariba shoreline: Escarpment and lakeshore scenery.

• Wildlife: Elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, black rhino, sable, roan, and other antelope, plus varied birdlife.

• Game drives along the lakeshore and mopane woodland tracks.

• Photographic safaris.

• Licensed sport hunting — Charara is managed partly as a hunting concession.

• Kariba (west) — lakeside town and resort area.
• Mana Pools National Park (east, bordering Charara) — Unesco World Heritage site.
• Matusadona National Park (across the lake, south shore) — shoreline wildlife park.