Travel Information
Getting here
Spurwing Island is located on Lake Kariba situated just off the shoreline of the Matusadona National Park.
Kariba town can be accessed by both road and air, while boat transfers across the lake offer access to the lodge.
Road
Getting to Kariba by road is a simple scenic journey. If you don’t have your own vehicle you can contact Hersov Tours for your road transfer requirements.
Tel: +263 773 923 500 / 071 2 209 631
Cell: +263 772 224 280
Email Address: hersovtours@gmail.com
Email Address: kangomatendai@gmail.com
Driving From
Harare
365km
The drive from Harare to Kariba should take you roughly 5 hrs. Along the way you will pass through a number of small towns where you are able to refuel or use the restrooms. A great place to break up your journey is just after Chinhoyi at Lions Den Butchery, a one stop shop for biltong as well as takeaway boerewors and steak rolls … and a nice clean restroom!
The Makuti Travel Lodge is your last possible pit stop before Kariba with a restaurant that offers reasonably priced food and a well stocked bar and restrooms.
After Turning left at Makuti – approximately 295 km from Harare. Travel down the meandering escarpment towards Kariba. This stretch should take roughly 40 min and is a prime wildlife area. There is every chance you may encounter wild animals so keep to the speed limits.
Driving From
Zambia
Lusaka, Zambia to Kariba is 186 km – approx. 3 hours
Kariba has a fully functional border post with Zambia at the dam wall which allows only for light vehicles to cross so no need to worry about being backed up in heavy vehicle traffic, The border post is small and relatively hassle free, provided all your paperwork is in order. If you require road transfers from the border post this can also be arranged by Hersov Tours.
Boat Transfers
If requiring boat transfers across to Spurwing this can be booked through Avoca Transfers.
avocabookings@gmail.com
Avoca operates out of the Kariba Breezes Harbour. On entering Kariba the first fueling station on your left is a TOTAL station and from there you will find signage pointing you down to the Harbour for the Transfer.
The transfer boat will depart from mainland for Spurwing at 12 noon. You are required to arrive at the harbour 30min prior. The transfer will then leave from Spurwing at 9.00 am on the day of your departure.
The boat ride from mainland to Spurwing is 20 km’s and will take roughly 40 minutes, depending on the boat and weather. The boat type is dependent on the number of guests on the transfer.
For those of you crossing on your own boats the trip is usually slightly shorter in a small speed boat, be sure to carry your GPS if you are crossing the lake for the first time as on an overcast / hazy days you can get disorientated.
Spurwing Island GPS Coordinates are: 16°43’48.16″S 28°41’28.34″E
Air
Domestic flight routes with Fastjet connect Kariba town with both Victoria Falls (daily) and Harare (4 times a week) Kariba International Airport is located 4 km east of Kariba town and shuttle services to the harbour can be arranged through Hersov tours (see above).
Small private air charters can be arranged either into Kariba Airport or Kanjedza- one of the smaller private airstrips in the park from anywhere in Zimbabwe. Charter companies currently offering flights to the area:
- MackAir
zimres@flymackair.com
+263 (0) 772 742271 - Executive Air
bookings@execair.co.zw
+263 (0) 772 472593 - Giles Raynor
altair@tarazedcharters.com
+263 (0) 279 23012 / +263 (0) 772 515852 - Grand Air
www.grandaircharters.com
+263 (0) 786 170300
From Kanjedza Airstrip it is a 45-minute game drive to the camp. This is done by Spurwing in a game drive vehicle.
Crispy Fresh & HAC Flights to Kariba
With the assistance of Halsted Aviation, Crispy Fresh has attempted to resuscitate flights into Kariba and the various smaller airstrips within the Eastern basin.
Flying in over Lake Kariba is something truly incredible, leaving you with a clear idea of just how vast the lake is and conjuring up magical stories of what lies underneath the depth of blue waters. You will enjoy views of the rugged Matusadona mountain terrain, outcroppings of islands, a sea of white trees jutting out of the glass like water and herds of elephants grazing on the new shoots of green grass on the shorelines.
HAC will fly every Friday from Harare to Kariba and back to Harare on a Monday.
12 seats are available per flight sector. However, several types and sizes of plane are available from a 4 seat Cessna to a 12 seat Caravan. The most cost effective plane will be chosen on the day depending on the seats sold.
All flight bookings will be made through the Crispy Fresh Harare Office.
See details below if you require any further information:
- Crispy Fresh Harare office.
- harare@crispyfresh.co.zw
- +263 (0) 242 754 020/21
- +263 (0) 772 265 600
