S
p e c i a l
By
Ant
F
e a t u r e
Williams
Casa Msika - Chicamba Dam,
Mozambique
J
ust 40km on the other side of the
Machipanda border post (Mutare) in
Zimbabwe, is the well known Casa
Msika resort on the banks of Chicamba
Dam. Having started out in the 1980s as
a crocodile farm, Casa Msika has a long
history of development, which today in
a stable Mozambique, makes it a prime
destination - not only for fishermen, but for
the whole family.
Undeniably, Chicamba Dam’s fame has
been buoyed by its reputation as one of the
best bass fishing dams in Africa. Speculation
that this water may well produce the next
world record bass could elevate it to the best
dam in the world. Indeed, during our visit,
Dr. Neil Deacon was conducting some age
analysis of the Florida strain bass to help
determine growth patterns and verify this
potential (see his article on Page 13), but the
number of 5kg+ fish Chicamba has produced
point to it being unique regardless.
Aside from the bass, some very
noteworthy carp have been caught in the dam
while other species such as catfish, various
bream (Oreochromis niloticus, Oreochromis
mossambicus and Tilapia rendalli), two
types of yellowfish (Barbus) and the redeyed labeo or mudfish (Labeo cylindricus)
are common. Chicamba’s shoreline is vast
and varied and thoroughly exploring its
potential would take months, if not years.
The structure includes standing timber, rivers
and gullies, granite boulders and koppies,
and grassy shorelines, with plenty of aquatic
weed too.
If equipped for it though, carp bank
fishing has immense potential and will
produce big fish for those enthusiasts.
Chicamba is located in the Manica
province of Mozambique not far from
the town of Chimoio, and is an important
supplier of hydro electricity in the region.
Built on the Revué river (the major tributary
of the Buzi river), it was completed in 1968,
filling through the 70s. It has a surface area
Seen with the Chicamba dam stretching away in the distance, giraffe are among the
species re-introduced to the game park
P a g e 12
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when full of 160 square kilometres (roughly
five times the size of Lake Muturikwe - Kyle
- in Zimbabwe) and a capacity of around two
billion cubic metres - quite a piece of water.
With credentials like this, there is little
doubt Casa Msika is a fisherman’s paradise.
But it is so much more, and in recent years,
the owners and management have been
working to orientate the infrastructure
towards families. Casa Msika is located on
a 470ha peninsula which juts in the dam
between the Messika and Revué rivers. A full
game fence encloses the property and over
the last couple of years, giraffe, wildebeest,
kudu, impala, duiker, bushbuck and even
porcupine have been re-introduced, while
the area is naturally a birder’s paradise.
Guests are free to walk various marked trails
through the woodland or over the kopjes,
or take a sunset game drive. The terrace
restaurant with bar and swimming pool is
open all day providing snacks and meals.
Sundowner cruises, boat hire and al fresco
bush dinners are all activities also provided
by Casa Msika.
Casa Msika offers a wide variety of
accommodation to suit every pocket. A
lawned campsite beneath the trees with
central ablution block will cater up to 80
people, while more conventional brick under
thatch lodges will cater to 120 guests. Rooms
consist of single/double rooms, chalets for
couples and family groups, and even dormV o l . 24 # 4