The Lowdown on Siavonga

As we move into the middle of the rains, suddenly most of our favourite places to spend a weekend or a few days away are no longer accessible, either because one would become bogged down in mud or because spending a weekend in the cold rain is no fun. So now the question is where to go when you need a break. To my mind, there is nowhere better than the shores of Lake Kariba.

Siavonga, on the eastern end, is now a short (just over two hours) drive from Lusaka; the road has recently been rebuilt and it is a scenic drive through the Chirundu Escarpment. And because of the rains, the temperatures have dropped so the heat that everyone fears and hates during October and November is no longer relevant.

There is a good selection of hotels at Siavonga, offering a range of services. The top hotels where you can expect comfortable, clean accommodation, reasonable service and wholesome meals are Lake Safari Lodge, Eagles Rest, Lake Kariba Inns and Sandy Beach. Lower down the ladder is Leisure Bay Lodge. There are also a number of guesthouses. For those wishing to camp, Eagles Rest and Sandy Beach have camp sites. All the hotels have swimming pools (some even have more than one) and most have either air conditioning or ceiling fans.

All the hotels, with the exception of Sandy Beach, are located in Siavonga town itself. For Sandy Beach, turn right at the signpost at Kariba Stores and follow the dirt road from there.

It is very difficult to compare the hotels, as they all have their strong points and their weaknesses.

Lake Safari Lodge is built on a hill giving a good view over the lake, all the rooms have air conditioners and they have a good sized pool (and another one under construction.) The surrounding gardens are very pleasant with all the coconut trees as well as indigenous trees. Their dining area is open air, also with a lovely view of the lake. Their business centre has a 24/7 internet connection for those that need to be in contact with the outside world. But the best feature is their air conditioned bar. And the bar is well stocked too with drinks at reasonable prices.

Eagles Rest is probably the oldest hotel in Siavonga and was built during the 60’s. A few years ago, all the rooms were upgraded and now all have their own bathrooms, ceiling fans and a restaurant and pool were added. Their best feature is their beach – a gently sloping beach with easy access to the water for those that want to swim in the lake or who want to indulge in water sports.

Lake Kariba Inns is built high up on one of the hills above Siavonga, overlooking the lake. Some of their rooms are currently being renovated, but once complete they will all have air conditioning and the bathrooms are being modernized. Some of the rooms have lounges and all have DSTv. They have two pools with a third one under construction and also have internet access.

Sandy Beach must have the best beach in Siavonga and as the name implies, it is sandy, not full of pebbles like the other beaches. Their chalets are plain, but very comfortable and more than adequate.

Most of the hotels offer a few different activities – canoeing, sunset cruises on the lake. Lake Safari Lodge has recently brought in a boat on which you can enjoy a meal whilst cruising on the lake. This will be used mainly for groups that pre-book but they will also be offering special excursions such as the one on New Year’s day – a lunch cruise leaving at 1 pm, giving you enough time to recover from the party on New Year’s Eve.

Unfortunately none of them yet offer boats for hire for clients to either go fishing or to do a bit of skiing or wakeboarding. However, do enquire are your hotel, because there are many developments going on and by the time you get there, they could well be offering these. Eagles Rest do offer canoe trips from below the dam wall down to Tamarind Camp. However, these should be pre-booked so do enquire when making your booking.

One can also consider a houseboat on the Lake. There are now two houseboats, one sleeping 6 people and the other sleeping 12.

Visits to the dam wall are also a must; this dam which caused so much controversy but on which we are dependent for the bulk of our electrical power; a dam which at the time of building was the largest manmade lake in the world; the dam which tamed the Zambezi River.

So, take yourself down to Siavonga for a few days of rest and relaxation. Bookings can be made by email through www.siavonga.com

Next month we will bring you details of the other lakeside resort - Sinazongwe