Changa Camp is the only permanent camp in Matusadona National Park. The camp owns a private concession, with exclusive access to nearly five kilometers of Lake Kariba’s shoreline!

With only six double tents and two family tents, Changa Camp is a personal and intimate affair, located right on the shores of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe. Each room offers a private veranda, outdoor bath and shower.

The main area plays host to the dining room and some lounge corners. A stairway leads down onto a lower deck with a fire pit and further on to the wide beach of glittering white sand and the swimming pool, the perfect spot to sit and relax whilst enjoying a refreshing drink. Food is served on a communal table in the dining area or under a canopy of trees on the deck, or at the sandy beach in front of camp.

The swimming pool is a wonderfully shaded haven equipped with sun loungers and private seating areas. Because Changa is set on the shores of Lake Kariba, it enjoys cooling breezes all day from the prevailing wind that comes across the water into camp.

Matusadona National Park consists of about 338,000 acres of unspoiled and unfenced wilderness. Rugged mountains, springs and streams, Miomba woodlands and Mopane scrublands, pristine riverine vegetation, crystal clear lake water and grass flanked shoreline all combine to create a unique habitat for animals.

Access is by plane into Fothergill Island airfield. The duration of the flights is approximately an hour and a half from either Harare or Victoria Falls. Guests are picked up at the airstrip and driven to camp by vehicle in about 20 minutes. If the water level of the lake is high, then the boat must also be used.

Elephants frequent the shoreline as do numerous species of antelope. Although not plentiful in numbers, some predators, including lion, leopard, hyena and cheetah can be found around camp. A few very endangered black rhino are present as well. Hippos and crocodiles are abundant. The birdlife is prolific with in excess of 350 species having been identified in the park.

Game drives in open 4x4 vehicles, bush walks, fishing, excursions by boat on Lake Kariba. Ask for fishing rods if you want to try your luck with tiger fish (catch & release).

On the other side of the bay, the Sanyati River forms the boundary of the park. The camp organizes excursions into the Sanyati Gorge where, with a bit of luck, you can see elephants descending or climbing up the steep slopes to the river. The excursion comes at extra costs (Gorge Fees).

In 1954, a decision was made to dam the Zambezi River at Kariba Gorge. It was to create an expanse of water 223km long and 40km wide, making it by far the largest man-made lake in the world. The village 'Kariba' at the eastern end of the dam was created during the many years of construction.

Operation Noah, an historic animal rescue exercise launched soon after the completion of the dam wall and resultant flooding, took five years and rescured some 6'000 animals which were relocated to Matusadona National Park. The operation was led by Rupert Fothergill.

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