TIGERFISH
A thrilling six-day drift through the wild, untouched beauty of Zambia's remote Kabompo River.
The River
A tributary of the mighty Zambezi, the Kabompo River is an often-overlooked gem, recognised as the fifth deepest river in the world. This narrow waterway meanders through rich flood plains and riparian forests, situating itself within one of Africa's untouched wildernesses in the north western province of Zambia. While it boasts its impressive deepest depth of 116 meters, our journey will involve navigating through pools intermixed with shallow rapids and riffle glides ranging from half a meter to six meters deep using Flycraft drift boats as we paddle along first third of the river’s 440 kilometer stretch. Adventurers will have the chance to catch trophy tigerfish, nembwe and catfish as well as spot majestic wildlife, including elephant and the elusive blue duiker, as well as a variety of other antelope species. This untamed paradise is a dream for birdwatchers, offering frequent sightings of the Pels fishing owl, finfoot, Ross's turaco, and more.
The River
The
Adventure
Embark on an unforgettable journey with a scenic drive through rural villages, leading you to Kafunfula Community Camp, located in the heart of the Musele Game Management Area, on the banks of the Kabompo River. After settling in, you'll spend your first night preparing tackle, getting to know the team, and gearing up for your six-day drift down the legendary Kabompo River, known for its trophy Tigerfish.
Each morning begins with the soft melody of bird calls at sunrise, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee over the fire, and a hearty breakfast before heading out onto the Drift boat for the day's first cast. You’ll fish during the early rise, when the river is at its most peaceful, then spend the rest of the day exploring and fishing the winding river as it flows through the untouched wilderness.
As the day winds down, we’ll drift into the next camp where comfortable tents will be set up along the riverbank, complete with stretcher beds and hot water bucket showers for a refreshing end to each day. Evenings are spent around the campfire under a star-filled sky, swapping stories of the day’s adventure, while our chef prepares a delicious meal in the rustic bush kitchen, filling the air with the irresistible scent of a hearty dinner.
On the final day, we’ll make our way back to Kafunfula Community Camp for a restful night before transferring you back to Lusaka, where you’ll either catch your flight home or continue your Zambian safari adventure.
The
Fishing
Hydrocynus Vittitus
With a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth, fiery orange fins and tail, and a sleek silver body adorned with bold black stripes, this stunning fish will hit your fly with the force of a freight train! It will peel line off your reel, burning your fingers if you're not careful. Once hooked, it will launch into a series of breathtaking leaps, trying to throw your fly, giving you a spectacular acrobatics show of silver and hot orange. This ferocious predator dominates the river, where fast water meets slow and visa versa, and will form the majority of your fishing , with a good number of your takes being from fish in double figures!
Tigerfish - Striped Water Dog
Nembwe - Emerald Hubcap
Serrenachromus robustus
A broad, largemouth bream the size of a hubcap that will engulf a large fly with ease and give you a good pull eventually revealing a body and fins of a beautiful bright emerald. This ambush predator can be found sitting deep along mud and reed banks waiting for unsuspecting bait fish with your tiger fly being fair game to its verrucous appetite, making it a worthy bycatch whilst targeting tigerfish.
