S P E C I A L F E A T U R E B y A n t W i l l i a m s
S P E C I A L F E A T U R E B y A n t W i l l i a m s
Spurwing Island - Lake Kariba
In 1958 , the Zambezi was tamed as the famed Kariba dam wall was closed , and the waters of the mighty Zambezi began pushing back to form the lake we know today . This process as the basin filled , would push back more than 250km to the west , and to over 40km at its widest . But the flood would leave a couple of well placed islands close to the south bank in the eastern basin , one of which was to be named Spurwing . Today , the island represents a relic of the former valley before the advent of Kariba , and is home to a long established resort which has stood the test of time and is known by the same name .
Sipping my morning tea as the sun rose to touch the Matusadona mountains , I realised I was in fact perched atop a long past mountain peak , a fact confused by the gently lapping water around me . In operation now for more than four decades the island boasts a very well developed infrastructure and appears to run with seamless efficiency . My first visit here was in 1978 as a pre-teen , and though not a regular guest , I have had the pleasure of staying on Spurwing Island frequently over the last two decades . What is significant , is indeed the fact that
it has been operating for so long . The island ’ s infrastructure and systems are so well developed and established it is imbued with a feel of reliability , comfort and security .
Spurwing ’ s location in the Eastern Basin makes it an ideal base from which to operate in that section , or much further west . Only a short run from the Sanyati Gorge too , one could ask for little more .
The tent under thatch rooms with bathroom en-suite situated to look out over the water are simple but well equipped with mosquito nets , fans and hot and cold running water
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