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the Degree Confluence Project
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Zimbabwe

43.6 km (27.1 miles) WNW of Nbira (Mashonaland West), Matabeleland North, Zimbabwe
Approx. altitude: 485 m (1591 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 17°N 152°W

Accuracy: 91 m (298 ft)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: West, down the length of the lake. #3: View to the North, Zambian shoreline #4: East, back towards Bumi #5: Garmin #6: Andrew and Stephan #7: Elephants in the Sibilobilo #8: Sunset over the Sibilobilo #9: The route

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  17°S 28°E  

#1: South, Sengwa Basin and Omay Communal lands

(visited by Iain Nish, Andrew Nish and Stephan Van Rooyen)

13-Aug-2006 -- The Confluence is situated in the Sengwa River basin, Lake Kariba. The basin is predominantly shallow and has numerous underwater obstacles in the form of drowned Mopani trees, which make navigation interesting. It is also very exposed to the wind from any direction and is prone to big swells.

Our starting point for the visit was Chalala Harbour on the Bumi shoreline, down the Sibilobilo lagoon, out through the Chunga Gap, past Photo Corner and straight to the Confluence, a distance of about 41 km by boat. We had calm waters which made the trip easy but we had limited time at the Confluence as there was some weather moving in from the East.

I was using my old Magellan GPS which isn't the most accurate and we spent about 15 minutes at the site moving around with the bass motor chasing the elusive zeroes within a 50 x 50 meter area. We did get them briefly at one stage but I wasn't quick enough with the camera. The proximity was confirmed with Stephan's Garmin.

Our depth at the site was 11 meters and the lake is about 6 meters down at the moment, lower than usual at this time of the year. Although the inflows were good, ZESA (Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority) is relying heavily on Kariba HEP as there is a country-wide electricity crisis due to the virtual collapse of the thermal power plant at Hwange. As a result, little of the inflow has been retained.

The Sengwa Basin is surrounded by the Omay Communal Lands and is rich in wildlife, particularly elephant, which can be seen on the Bumi shoreline and the islands en route. The actual Confluence is fairly featureless (a few mopani stumps), however, the route there is very scenic, passing though the islands that make up the outer bank of the Sibilobilo Lagoon.


 All pictures
#1: South, Sengwa Basin and Omay Communal lands
#2: West, down the length of the lake.
#3: View to the North, Zambian shoreline
#4: East, back towards Bumi
#5: Garmin
#6: Andrew and Stephan
#7: Elephants in the Sibilobilo
#8: Sunset over the Sibilobilo
#9: The route
ALL: All pictures on one page
  Notes
In the waters of the Lake Kariba, about 3 km from land.