THE BEST SELECTION OF LODGES ON THE UPPER, MIDDLE AND LOWER ZAMBEZI

WE CATER FOR ALL FISHING STYLES: SPINNING, TROLLING, BAIT AND FLY!

We completely understand the “being skunked” frustration—no one likes going home empty-handed. I assure that every lodge and guide gives it everything they have on every trip, but sometimes the fish (and maybe the weather) just aren’t happening.

That’s part of the sport, even for the pros they get days when the fish don’t cooperate and then days when it’s nonstop action.

The Zambezi is “home of the tiger fish” and it is our expectation combined with the huge knowledge from countless previous seasons that the fish bite as the autumn waters recede from the floodplains in May, June, July and again when they warm up, September - April.

Having said that we have had some “the fishing was tough” reports in 2025 and I have to draw on the knowledge we have garnered over the many years to figure this out. Last season (2024) the river was low and the expected “tiger frenzy’s” May, June going into July did not really happen.

However, the summer season (2024) (September-April) was excellent with even one lodge offering a limited “money back guarantee” deal if you did not catch a tiger.

Then finally came the rains (late and lots) and the river rose to massive levels and broke the banks to allow for the proliferation of bait fish. Our guides and lodge owners give us daily feedback and the common input is that there is now a massive amount of bait fish in the system.

Tiger “bust ups” are being seen and anglers are throwing spoons, fly’s and lures right into the frenzies only to be rejected. The take out, why eat an imitation when fresh sushi is on the table?!

Let’s talk about netting, the “whipping boy” when sessions are below par; I grew up on the Zambezi and there has been netting since I was a kid, it’s a part of life on The Zambezi and “back in the day” a similar challenging fishing season was blamed on the mosquito nets given away to villagers by Kingsley Holgate.

There is a large section on the Namibian side of the river which is patrolled and illegal nets are confiscated and burnt constantly, even these waters have had some difficult fishing sessions but as the waters warm up my daily reports are very good and the many and big fish, we have been posting are not fiction and can be easily traced to clients currently fishing with us.

Every year I host/guide many trips to the Zambezi and keep up to speed with the trends and how the river is performing. I post these trips on many fishing platforms and in May/June we had a really good 4 lodge back-to-back 3-week session.

Destination Shackleton’s, Kubu and Kwena, Ichingo and Shamwari but we had to mix it up with regard to methods and live bait fishing was definitely one of the go to’s. One client upped his PB 3 times and 4 clients got their first ever tiger!

I write this as a passionate angler and yes while I am in the business of sending many clients to the river armed with “the knowledge”, I personally can’t wait for my year end trips and will post a full report on my return.

This is not written with any intentional “spin” but simply to share my experience of the year with our clients. That’s why you choose TigerFishingZambezi, it’s about the knowledge to go armed with the right gear and strategy.

I would like to give a shout out to all the guides up on the Zambezi River. They listen to your hopes, grumbles, politics, endure your rancid farts and look the other way when you pee off the boat!

Plus they offer you; Drinks, unlimited advice (fishing and marital). They pass your rods, open your bags for that all important 50 Sunblock as you start to turn red. They untie your wind (client) knots, tie on your traces with an unbreakable knot plus they help select your lures and they do all this with pride.

They hear your politics, prejudices, how you think Malema is a chop and inwardly smile when you tell them how much better they are off not living in SA. They are genuinely excited when you catch a great fish and are ready with the cell phone to capture the “grip and grin” moment.

They smile and agree with you when you shout “20lb!!” after the obligatory but gentle “pull down” on the tail to ever so slightly increase the lb’s on the read out. 

On average they work a 10 hour day with no moans and groans and they work hard, very hard. And on top of the constant re-positioning of the boat to get you onto the best drift that your best cast allows for, they answer your “when is the best time to go fishing?” question with a “when you are here!” answer.

I think they are the true heroes of our industry and deserve every cent of that much sought after tip which I know it makes a difference to them and their families.

Guiding on The Zambezi places them high up within their community circles. It is a job that they are incredibly proud of doing and they hit those waters day in and day out.

BRAND AMBASSADORS TO