Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LAKE CAHORA BASSA
Lake Cahora Bassa, created by the dam, stretches for 270km westwards to the confluence of the Zambezi and
Luangwa rivers on the Zambian border, and has the potential to generate more than 3500 megawatts of energy -
enough to illuminate the entire region. En route, it partially covers the thundering Cahora Bassa rapids, which
blocked David Livingstone's Zambezi River expedition in the late 1850s when he attempted to find a direct route
into the interior.
Zumbo
Remote Zumbo's history dates back to at least 1715, when the Portuguese established a
gold-trading fair at the eastern edge of the Luangwa River at its confluence with the Zam-
bezi. The settlement grew rapidly and by the mid-18th century was one of the most pros-
perous European cities in Southern Africa, with numerous Portuguese trading houses.
This boom was short-lived, and by 1765, Zumbo's wealth began to decline. The difficult
overland journey along the Zambezi from Tete, shifting trade patterns, the town's fragile
economic foundation and drought were all factors. By the mid-19th century, Zumbo had
been all but abandoned and today it is little more than an oversized village.
About 15km downstream of Zumbo is Chawalo Camp (www.cmsafaris.com), a rustic
fishing lodge that needs to be booked as part of a multinight package based out of
Luwangwa (Zambia).
The easiest access to Zumbo from Tete is via Zimbabwe or Zambia. On the Mozambic-
an side, you can reliably get as far as Fingoé (north of the lake, and at the midway point
between Songo and Zumbo) via public transport. From Fingoé to Zumbo, there's no pub-
lic transport, but the road is passable with a 4WD. There is also a cargo barge known as
the
Kuza
, which sails roughly every two weeks between Zumbo and Songo, taking any-
where from four to eight days for the journey.
ZAMBEZI RIVER
The mighty Zambezi tumbles into Mozambique at Zumbo in western Tete province and flows about 1000km
through the country before spilling into the sea near Chinde, south of Quelimane.
