The Potential of the Cahora Bassa Lake

The lake has peculiar characteristics in terms of the irregular distribution of the body of water, heavily cut by tongues of land and recesses, The size of these recesses means that they form genuine bays with a potential to develop the aquatic ecosystem, of great importance for artisanal, semi-industrial and industrial fishing, recreation, tourism and hunting.

Zoning of the lake

The River Zone is represented by the Zumbo basin, where the main rivers flowing into the lake (the Zambezi and the Luangwa) are located. This is a narrow and very mixed zone. The flow is quite rapid, carrying with it most of the organic material, plant and animal detritus (leaves, trunks, vegetation) and inorganic matter, coming from the rivers which enter this zone. The dominant fish of commercial value are tiger fish (Hidrocynus vitatus); African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and chessa (Distichodus shenga).

The transition zone consists of the Messenguezi, Carinde and Mucanha basins. It is broader and deeper than the river zone, and the speed of the current is almost undetectable. When compared to the river zone, the water is less turbid. It is a very unstable zone, which depends heavily on the fluctuations in the level of water in the dam. In this area fish species of great economic importance dominate, such as the Kariba and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis mortimeri and Oreochromis niloticus), tiger fish (Hidrocynus vittatus) and chessa (Distichodus shenga).

The lake zone covers the Magoé, Chicoa and Garganta basins. This is the most extensive area, broader and deeper. The water is held here for longer, and there is a lower concentration of dissolved substances and nutrients. The available nutrients determine the primary production, the development of plankton, and pelagic fish, since here there are better conditions for the penetration of light. In this area. The dominant species are labeo (Cyprinidae cylindrius); Kariba tilapia (Oreochromis mortimeri); mbzio (Mormyrops longirostris) chessa (Distichodus shenga) and kapenta, or Lake Tanganyika sardine (Limnothrissa miodon). The latter is intensively exploited due to its high commercial value.

Natural parks and ecological reserves

The biodiversity includes a vast range of terrestrial and aquatic systems and environments, along the entire length of the Cahora Bassa lake. The main types of woodland are miombo, mukwa and teca, while the bush includes mopane and mahogany. These serve as habitats for a variety of terrestrial and amphibian animals.

Hippopotamus in the Chitave area and Crocodiles on the Manherere islands (Crocodile Farm)

The south bank of the lake has an enormous potential for nature reserves, such as the Bawa region, which includes the Tchuma Tchato (our wealth) project, and the Kafukudzi Camp. On the north bank, near the town of Zumbo, there is the Chawalo Safari complex.

Kafukudzi Camp nas Margens da Albufeira de Cahora Bassa - Bawa