Many people visit Kariba briefly as a stopping off point prior to setting out from one of its four main harbours on boats across the lake either to stay in the safari and fishing camps on the southern shore mainland, in the Matusadona National Park or on the islands, or spend a few tranquil days fishing, game – viewing, birding, sunbathing or simply relaxing on board a houseboat.

The name ‘Kariba’ is thought to be a corruption of a local word ‘Kariva’ which means “little trap”. It is believed when those who wished to construct the dam wall wanted to explain the nature of the project to the locals, they emphasised that they wanted to build a little water trap – Kariva. However, the complex pronunciation of the ‘v’ in Kariva saw the Western constructors produce a sound much like a ‘b’ hence the creation of the word Kariba.