BIRDING & FISHING TRIPS /DESTINATIONS
At Africa Expectation Safaris we cater to birding and fishing enthusiasts with equal measure. If you're looking for a travel destination that will produce great fishing, in some of the prettiest places in the world, Africa Expectation Fly Fishing Safaris has some of the best destinations to be offered in Africa. From casting for Tigerfish in the waters of the Zambezi to fantastic twitching opportunities on the estuaries of the Wild Coast, our options are exciting and wide-spread! We have the inside edge on where the fish are biting and the birds are chirping.
Numerous fishing choices are offered, such as inshore and fly-fishing tours, extraordinary fly-fishing and offshore tours. No experience necessary, as your capable guides will make fishing easy and pleasurable....
Whether it's the reel screeching take of a Tiger on fly, or a glimpse of the shy Finfoot you after, you will be sure to leave with a smile after a fishing safari with Africa Expectation.
We pride ourselves on professional service, and can tailor make the fishing experience to suit the angler’s requirements.
Fishing in WILDERNESS AREAS: Africa Expectation Fishing is a dedicated team of African fishing travel experts and professional guides. We specialise in utilizing boutique fishing camps in Africa’s most pristine wilderness areas. Based on sound fishery management protocols, community beneficiation projects, and stringent conservation practices, all guests can be assured their visit is contributing to the long term protection of these wild places, and to the beneficiation of the rural communities with whom we work.
Tigers, Upper Zambezi Yellowfish & Birding Lifers at Mutemwa
If the challenge of catching Upper Zambezi yellow’s on fly is something which appeals to your senses, or perhaps a glimpse of the special Schalow’s Turaco amongst other ‘lifers’ – then our western Zambia Exploration Trip should be on your bucket list. Contact us now to find out when the next scheduled tour is running.
Botswana - Catching Nembwe on Fly: Nembwe are a popular target among fly fishermen, providing an exciting and explosive fishing experience comparable to that provided by North American bass.
They often co-occur with tigerfish and represent an alternative quarry for fly fishermen that enjoy a variety of fishing challenges.
As with bass, nembwe are best targeted by fishing in and amongst woody structure and reed beds, and can be fished for with sinking, intermediate or floating lines.
- Flies are fished slowly and twitched through structure where larger nembwe lie in wait and hunt by ambushing their prey.
- Bulky flies with cone-heads for weight and plenty of intrinsic movement (e.g. zonkers, wooly buggers and leeches) are often most effective at drawing strikes from larger specimens.
- Because nembwe are fished for in dense woody structure, weed guards drastically reduce the number of flies lost on reeds and submerged branches.
- Although a range of fly colours can work, darker natural shades with a touch of flash are often the most effective patterns.
- Because nembwe flies are relatively large and bulky, they are best fished with an 8-10 weight rod, and leaders of around 5 ft of 15-20 lb monofilament are ideal.
- Shooting head lines can be advantageous for accurately firing bulky flies into structurally complex lies.
Fly fishing in SOUTH AFRICA - South Africa has a great variety of fishing including, Trout Fishing, Tiger Fishing, Bass Fishing and then don’t forget about our cold and warm oceans…
Wherever there is water, a fisherman tends to wonder if there are fish waiting to bite. From high up in the Drakensberg Mountains to the estuaries in KwaZulu-Natal, fishing will take you to some amazing dams stocked with trout and crystal clear rivers.
The powerful Tigerfish is an excellent catch also found in the Maputaland area, and fishing in the warm far-eastern reaches of South Africa is a must for real enthusiasts, with Africa Expectation fishing safaris offering many fishing and family holiday options in this area.
6 of the best fly-fishing spots in South Africa
With almost 3 000 kilometres of coastline and an abundance of rivers, streams, lakes and dams, fly-fishers are spoilt for choice. Here are some of our favourite spots to try.
1. Highlands Meander, Mpumalanga
Affectionately known as the country’s trout mecca by avid fly-fishers, this majestic stretch of the Mpumalanga Highlands has an abundance of unspoilt fishing waters and accommodation options to get you closer to your catch. Dullstroom is considered the must-fish location in the area, which was originally stocked from hatcheries in the Cape Winelands in 1916. These trout prefer the winter months and it’s best to take an array of gear, including two- and five-weight rods, sinking and floating line and an assortment of classic wet and dry flies.
2. Rhodes, Eastern Cape
In the southern part of the Drakensberg, the hamlet of Rhodes sits on the border with Lesotho and is surrounded by a wealth of trout-infested water. The scenery is magnificent; you’ll find yourself casting into bubbling streams with open fields on either side, or larger rivers lined with willow trees – it really is fly-fishing Utopia. If you’re going to take just one rod, make it a three-weight and load your reel with floating line. Small to medium-size nymphs work best, fished with a strike indicator.
3. False Bay and Cape Point, Western Cape
To keep eager fly-fishers busy in the summer months the rich oceans off the Cape Peninsula offer some extreme fly-fishing opportunities. Leaving from Hout Bay and Simon’s Town, there are number of charter boats that will get you to feeding shoals of geelbek, yellowtail, snoek (although it’s more of a winter species) and yellowfin tuna. Taking any of these species on fly is a mind-blowing experience, but it’s the yellowfin tuna that’s most rewarding. Fighting this 50-kilo beast for three hours will leave you broken, yet satisfied.
4. Orange River, Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape
There’s nothing quite like standing waist deep in the warm waters of the powerful Orange River, the sun on your back, five-weight in hand, gently plopping a line of bead-head nymphs into your chosen rapid or eddy. Czech-line nymphing is an odd fly rig, but it works wonders on the small- and largemouth yellowfish of the Orange. With three riverfront campsites to choose from, some of the oldest mountains on the planet, a myriad birds, interesting insects and delicate succulents, catching a feisty yellow is really just a bonus.
5. Streams of Du Toitskloof, Western Cape
Only an hour from Cape Town, the six streams which tumble down regal peaks through Du Toitskloof’s rugged valleys hold healthy rainbow and brown trout. Elandspad River is a favourite, but there are a number of beats to choose from on rivers which vary dramatically in size and flow. Don’t bother with anything heavier than a two-weight rod and floating line as this is a dry fly fanatic’s paradise.
6. Jozini Dam, KwaZulu-Natal
Previously called Pongolapoort Dam, this spot has 27 species of fish on offer, but its drawcard is the ferocious tiger fish. Jozini is the continent’s southernmost dam for African tiger fish and populations have grown to the point where it is now one of the most popular fishing destinations in the country. Surrounded by bushveld and game, you’d be excused for thinking you’re on Lake Kariba or the Okavango Delta. Take a nineweight rod and an assortment of surface and deeper water flies.