Lake Kariba's waters capture the reflection of iconic painted skies, the blazing sunset colours echoing across the lake. In many places, Kariba's vastness gives the impression of endless oceans, while closer to shore, tree stumps pierce through the lake surface, graveyard evidence of land claimed by water. Around the lake, wildlife is in abundance, along with vast herds of elephants, hippos and other water-wallowing animals. The birdlife is mesmerising, and fishing one of the many activities to be enjoyed on the lake.

One of the four largest man-made lakes in the world, Kariba stretches 220 km by 40 km wide, positioned on Zimbabwe's northern border with Zambia. Lake Kariba was created in the late 1950s by damming the Zambezi River and flooding the land behind the dam. Before the project could begin, 57,000 Batonga people and their villages had to be relocated causing much unhappiness and resentment. Today there are still Tonga people who believe the river god, Nyaminyami, was responsible for the death of 86 workers who perished whilst building the Kariba dam. At the same time, Operation Noah, a massive wildlife rescue project was launched in a bid to relocate the animals affected by the rising waters. The five-year-long programme caught the attention of the world as over 6,000 animals were moved to safety.

Covering approximately 5,500 km of what was once the Zambezi Valley, the lake is studded with islands and flanked by the rugged Matuzviadonha Mountains. The dam's genesis provides an almost biblical history of vengeful gods, displaced people and epic relocation plans.