Ever wanted to visit a resort town but scared it will cost you an arm and a leg? Well, Kariba is one of the places you can visit on a tight budget but equally enjoy the holiday experience. Here is a breakdown of all the expenses you may incur and the activities you may do.
Accommodation
So for the luxury lover, options like Caribbea Bay Resort, Bumi Hills that charge somewhere above $100 a night are there, for the budget holiday marker you can opt for Tamarind Lodges which have accommodation starting from $50 per night and also have self-catering places. For a true jungle mania like me you can go to the Warthogs Bush Camp they have outdoor and tented camps and they start at $30 per night.
Food
For a picky eater like me, I had a very hard time finding decent food in Kariba outlets that are not hotels or lodges. To add insult to injury there are no fast food outlets like Chicken Inn and Chicken Slice. The food is a bit expensive. I remember getting into a recommended small restaurant, I was greeted with a lovely warm smile and I was told chicken and chips is 9RTGS for Lemon and herb, then 8RTGS for Hot flavour. When the food came I was highly disappointed, there was not even the smallest hint of a lemon or a herb anywhere, the chips were so dry I’m so convinced they were from a day or 2 ago. The chicken was tasteless and so grease I still regret and think of the money I spent on that meal considering I bought it for 3 people.
However, The Warthogs Bush Camp has an in-house chef who cooks delicious meals that silenced even me, the harshest food critic. When in Kariba, if you can’t keep the street food down try Warthogs Bush Camp their meals start at $3 a meal all the way to $10.
Activities
These are usually the reason we go to these resort towns to enjoy some of the activities we can’t easily find anywhere.
1. Game Drive
For $25 per person, you can go for a 2-hour game drive in the morning or in the evening in the game drive vehicles. you get to see the beautiful animals that interact with the Kariba people.
2. Boat Cruise
For $25 a person you can go for a 2-hour boat cruise and visit the Kariba islands and see the various species of small animals that live there.
3. Fishing
Before I went to Kariba I didn’t understand the reason why people enjoyed fishing, until I learnt the skill and actually caught the biggest catch of the day. For as little as $5 you can spend the day at The Kariba bream Farm where you can even grill your catch( after buying it) and enjoy it there and there.
4. Touring The Town & Visiting The Dam Wall
It won’t be a holiday if you don’t go to Mahombekombe, Kariba Heights, Nyamhuka, the dam wall and the small town centre. if you are up for some scenic views you can take a road trip and see a lot of scenic views and visit the dam wall for some kodak moments.
5. Nightlife
For the nightlife lovers, there are a few pubs and clubs around Kariba that actually have interesting things for those that really enjoy the good nightlife. There is one place that played good music for the duration of the night I was there the place is inside the Lomagundi Estates. The Warthogs Bush camp is also a 24-hour place that usually has good food, good people and good music for the night lovers. You will be spoilt for choice if you have the energy.