
Roberta Katunga
WHILE fishing may be considered an expensive and elite sport by many, Mayfair Dam in Mbalabala offers one with an opportunity to carry their rod and bait on a weekend or holiday for an unforgettable expedition.
Talk of having the expedition of your lifetime, fishing in a serene river with huge boulders that unfortunately one cannot swim in as the dam is crocodile infested, but however, filled with big, dark bass fish — Mayfair is the perfect hideout for those who want an affordable place to go for fishing.
Over the last weekend, my friends and I set out on a fishing expedition approximately 95km from Bulawayo to Mayfair Dam in Mbalabala.
Our preparations for the trip included buying rubber worms from a fishing shop in Bradfield which are used for bass fishing and ensuring that our rods were in order.
We set out for the journey at 7am so that we could get there by 8am as that is the best time to begin fishing.
We drove 60km to Mbalabala and turned on the 20km peg before Filabusi and then drove about 15km more to get to the dam. Boats are optional and because we wanted to fish from the boat, we had one.
There are clear road signs that lead to the dam. For one to plan this expedition, they need at least $30 per person.
Mayfair is not just a fishing spot but also provides aquatic wildlife viewing like crocodiles and birds.
We took a break from the water activities in the afternoon and cooled off at the braai spots. For those who would rather not make a fire and all the hustles involved with braaing, be sure to carry a picnic basket.
Entry into the dam is $3 per person while a car is $5 and for those with boats, an additional $5 is needed.




