Lake Chivero

Lake Chivero was created in the 1950s by damming the Manyame to supply Harare with water, and the recreational park around it is the capital's nearest game area: white rhino, zebra, giraffe, wildebeest and antelope range on the southern shore, which can be walked with a ranger, while the northern side is given over to boating and fishing. Rock paintings survive at Bushman Point on the southern side.

Background

Known earlier as Lake McIlwaine, the reservoir took two-and-a-half years to build and opened to the public in 1952, held back by a dam wall 400 metres long. It covers 2632 hectares, is 8 kilometres wide and 27 metres deep at most, with 48 kilometres of shoreline. Besides supplying Harare, its water is used for irrigation and commercial fishing, and the fish include tigerfish, yellowfish, black bream, green-headed bream, common grass carp and Clarias gariepinus. A small island in the reservoir is called Remembrance Island. In 2013 the lake was listed as a Ramsar wetland of international importance.

Source: Wikipedia, "Lake Chivero"

What you'll find

• The white rhino - the population on the southern shore, tracked on foot with rangers.
• The rhino walks - guided approaches to the animals on foot.
• The Bushman Point paintings - rock art on the southern side of the lake.
• The lake - the reservoir that supplies Harare with its water.

When to go

April to October is the dry season and best for game. Weekends bring boating crowds to the northern shore. Algal blooms affect the lake at times.

Things to know

Water quality in the lake has been badly affected by pollution from the city and blooms are common. Facilities on the recreational side are dated. Rhino walks need arranging with the rangers.

Nearby

Harare is northeast, and Chinhoyi is northwest.

Key facts