The Cahora Bassa Dam is located in Mozambique, a country that borders South Africa. It is one of the three major dams on the Zambezi river system, the others being the Kariba and the Itezhi-Tezhi, the latter on the Kafue River, a tributary of the Zambezi. The dam was finished in December 1974 after much political debate. This dam is used to convert the Zambezi River power into electricity by turning turbines. That energy is then sent to South African cities, farms, and mines. The Cahora Bassa dam forms Cahora Bassa Lake. The dam is jointly owned by Mozambique and Portugal. From independence till 2007, eighteen percent of the dam and lake was owned by Mozambique and eighty-two percent by Portugal. Portugal sold down its share to 15 percent in 2007. The Cahora Bassa dam is the largest hydroelectric power plant in southern Africa and the most efficient power generating station in Mozambique.

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Getting to Cahorra Bassa:

The nearest airport with scheduled flights is to Tete from where the Tiger Fish lodge will collect you and take to to Cahorra Bassa

Driving 1 600 km from South Africa on tar roads all the way is also possible, the route being through eastern Zimbabwe into Mozambique, and then left off the Tete road.

Activities at Cahorra Bassa Lake

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Tiger Fishing The main reason for visiting Cahorra Bassa is the Tiger fishing. Cahorra Bassa Tiger Fishing Lodge is the ultimate fishing spot for the known fresh water Barracuda. - Africa's ultimate fishing experience.

Tigerfish of 14 kg have been caught in Cahorra Bassa, though half that size should be considered a good specimen. The average Tiger Fish catch in Cahorra Bassa is around 4 - 8Kg. Cahorra Bassa lake also contains various bream species, including Mossambica, Three-spot and Red-breast, plus Catfish and their man-sized cousins the Vundu. The other-worldly Cornish Jack and smaller members of the Bottle-nose family are also present, as are Chessa and Nkupe, both of them small-mouthed, rough-scaled and extremely hard fighting fish.

All species can be caught throughout the year in Cahorra Bassa Lake, though Tiger Fish will be less active between May and July, and strong winds can blow over Cahorra Bassa between mid-July and September.