I am planning a month long photo / Tiger fishing safari for 06 in the Caprivi area. I would also like to visit border areas of Angola, Zambia and Botswana. September or October is the only time I can go. Does anybody know what the fishing like in September? How hot is it in sept.? I really want to photograph buffalo on this trip, are there national parks you would recommend.

Robert,

This is not exactly what you inquired about BUT
John DuPlooy in Zambia offers a five day tiger fishing trip for $1750 per person on the Zambesi. I have fished the same area of the Zambesi myself and found the whole thing an incredible adventure.

The fishing was great and Sept. was when we were there. We caught quite a few tigers and most were 8-12 lb. Vundu, silver barbelles(sp) and Cornish jack were also on the menu. Very challenging fishing. We saw loads of buff, crocs, hippo plus elephant, waterbuck, bushbuck, baboon, wild dogs and lion. The Mopata Gorge was incredible.

I highly recommend this.

Mark

I've always wondered why fishing costs just as much as plains game hunting. Seems like fishing ought to be cheaper.

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
I've always wondered why fishing costs just as much as plains game hunting. Seems like fishing ought to be cheaper.

Don't you know, we are all rich Americans that need to be trimmed of cash to enjoy some simple hunting and fishing.

Robert,

I have been going there every year for the last few years, also in September October. The fishing is excellent that time of the year. The river (Zambezi) is usually at its lowest. My dad caught the largest Tiger in the last four years at the lodge we stayed at, 8kg (a real monster)! The weather is quite hot but not uncomfortably hot. It also falls outside of the malaria season.

We normally stay at a lodge called Kalizo Lodge. It's not five star, but neither is Africa. The people are friendly, and the prices are the best. It's about 40km from Katima Mulilo on the Zambezi.

The breem are also one of the best freshwater fish to eat (Nembwe, Three Spot, Humpback, Thinface, Pink Happy etc.)

Chobe National Park is probably the best park in the area with everything to see. The bird life is plentifull at Kalizo with the African Fisheagle calls, Kingfishers and Carmine Bee eaters a site to see. You won't go home emptyhanded if it's fish and birds you're after.

Let me know and I'll put you in contact with the guys there. They are very helpfull. Drop me a mail if you need any other info.

Wazza

Robert,

I'd think that with a whole month to play around with in the area, you could spend time in both Mahango, Bwabwata, Mudumu and Mamili Nat. Parks which are on the Caprivi Strip. And a few days trip into Botswana (you get a visa on the border) to visit the Okovango would be no problem either. Although I have understood that a lot of these areas were depleted of game a couple of decades ago, things are supposedly picking up, and game is more plentiful now.

Since you're planning on staying in this area for so long, have you considered renting a 4x4 with a rooftop tent? It'll give you the possibility to go pretty much where ever you want, when you want, yet you can still stay at lodges here and there for the fishing etc when you wish of course. Just a suggestion!

I can't comment on the exact area you're going, but I was in the Okavango last Sept. The weather was beautiful - very cool at night (50F-ish) , very warm (90F-ish) in the afternoons.

The reason the costs are the same for fishing and hunting is that the support staff is the same size for both!

DAve

Robert,
I've spent time in the Mamili National Park in Septembe/October elephant hunting. It is a magic area but mosquitoes and tsetse share it with you, especially close to the Linyanti (small) River that forms the boundry of the Caprivi and Botswana there where the Mamili sits.

The fishing we did was primarily for barbel.

Mamili can be tough to get around in as it is mostly a flood plain and, depending on how much water has come down from Angola and when, you may have to ford channels with two-three feet of water in them. Must have long cables on winches and know what you are doing there. Is a Ranger station on the north end of the Mamili, but not well-equipped. We went through the village of Malengalenga to enter the park and then pushed along tracks until we found the park road system... But what a spectacular area.
Regards, Tim

500grain

I agree the daily fees are comparable to plains game hunting but of course there are no trophy fees for fish so the overall cost is quite reasonable. The area lodges in Alaska where I lived routinely charged thousands per week. I promise you for $1750 you are gettng an amazing experience that is well worth the money.

Regards,

Mark

Robert,

The temps on the Zambesi were in the mid 90's in Sept. It was getting hotter while we were there and they said Oct. is routinely over a 100.

Mark

We had such a wonderful time with the outfitter we used last April, I am sure we will use him on the Caprivi trip. Dirk and his wife Rita have many years experience in the Caprivi region. Drik had a big game concession and Rita was born and raised in the Caprive. I am looking into renting rooftop tent 4X4 or , it depends on how larger are group is, and how much it will cost to stay in lodges.
I really appreciate all the tips.