Mlibizi

Mlibizi is a small fishing village on the southern shore of Lake Kariba, in Binga District at the western end of the lake. Most people come for one of two reasons. The car ferry from Kariba town docks here, so it is where you roll off after a night on the water and head for Victoria Falls or Hwange. The other draw is tigerfish, fished from hired boats. The village grew to house people displaced when Lake Kariba filled between 1958 and 1963.

Getting there

By road, leave the A8 at Cross Roads, 50 km south of Hwange town. It is 28 km of gravel to Kamativi, then 50 km more to the Mlibizi turn-off (the same road carries on to Binga and Chizarira). Kariba Ferries itself warns that the roads here are in poor shape, with extra care needed on the approach from the Binga road, and the tar towards Victoria Falls and Hwange is potholed. Allow 3 hours or more from Victoria Falls. There is an unpaved strip for light aircraft outside the camp.

The ferry from Kariba takes about 22 hours and saves over 1,250 km of driving. It sails roughly weekly, more in high season, but some dates only run if enough cars book. Book early and confirm before you plan the rest of the route.

When to go

The area is open all year. Anglers favour August to October for tigerfish, and the warmer months carry on fishing well into December. January and February are breeding months on the Zambezi, and October to February is hot and humid. July and August bring mild winter days.

What to do

Fishing is the point. Pontoon boats can be hired by the day, and you can run upstream into Devil’s Gorge, where the Zambezi enters the lake between steep walls, and on up the Gwayi River, which joins just above it. Msuna, further upstream, has more fishing lodges. On the ferry itself, Kariba Ferries says game is often seen at the water’s edge around Sibilobilo Lagoon and in the channels near Kota Kota Narrows, so keep binoculars handy.

Good to know

Beds are limited: a few private lodges and self-catering houses, a small hotel, and a lakeside resort with chalets and a campsite next to the ferry terminal. If you are catching the ferry, sleep here the night before rather than doing an early run from Victoria Falls, and be at the harbour an hour before sailing.

On the ferry, vehicle berths have height limits and roof-top tents may need to come off. Pack an overnight bag, because you may not get back to the car. You cannot bring your own drinks.

This is malaria country, so take prophylaxis. Kariba has big numbers of hippo and crocodile, so stay out of the water at the shoreline. The ferry has no card machine and its bar takes cash only.

Last updated 19 October 2026. Sources: Wikipedia, Mlibizi (village on the southern shore of Lake Kariba in Binga District, Matabeleland North, 500 m, fishing resort, Kariba Ferries terminal for cars and passengers, unpaved light aircraft strip outside the camp), Wikipedia, Lake Kariba (filled 1958 to 1963, over 223 km long, Binga and Mlibizi grew to house people displaced by the lake, kapenta from Lake Tanganyika, tigerfish feed on kapenta), Kariba Ferries, home page (car ferry the length of the lake, about 22 hours each way, saves over 1,250 km of driving, three meals and teas included, cash bar, provisional booking), Kariba Ferries, The Voyage (route past Bumi Hills, Sibilobilo Lagoon, Kota Kota Narrows, Chete Gorge, Binga and the Sebungwe Narrows to Mlibizi, game at the water's edge around Sibilobilo Lagoon and Kota Kota Narrows, docks at Mlibizi around 07:00), Kariba Ferries, FAQs (be there an hour before sailing, 15 vehicle berths with height limits, roof-top tents may have to come off, pack an overnight bag, no own drinks on board, roads poor with extra caution on the Binga road approach, roads to Victoria Falls and Hwange tarred but potholed, no card facility, cash bar), Wild Zambezi, Mlibizi, Msuna and Deka (fishing village and harbour, 3+ hours by road from Victoria Falls, few lodges, a small hotel and a lakeside resort with chalets and campsite by the ferry terminal, pontoon boats for hire by the day, Devil's Gorge, Gwayi River joining just above the gorge, Msuna further upstream, early booking essential, sleep in Mlibizi the night before), Zimbabwe Field Guide, Lake Kariba (Mlibizi the ferry terminus, ferry weekly with extra sailings in high season, houseboats and pontoon boats by the day, hippo and crocodile in large numbers, open all year, mild winters with July and August events), ZimParks, Chizarira National Park (leave the A8 at Cross Roads 50 km south of Hwange town, 28 km of gravel to Kamativi, then 50 km to the Mlibizi turn-off and 54 km on to the Binga turn-off), Afrizim, Zambezi and Kariba fishing (tigerfish of 3 to 6 kg common, August to October best, January and February breeding months, October to February hot and humid, malaria area, catch and release encouraged), Aardvark McLeod, In pursuit of African tigers (Kariba good in the warmer months, August to December, tiger fishing competition every October), CDC, Zimbabwe traveller page (malaria in all areas, mainly P. falciparum, prophylaxis recommended).