Where are the best places to fish on safari?

Lower Zambezi and Mana Pools are classics for tigerfish on guided boats. In Botswana, the Okavango and Linyanti offer seasonal catch-and-release for bream and catfish, often from camps like Vumbura and DumaTau.

When is the best time to go?

Lower Zambezi typically fishes best from late August to mid November as waters warm and drop. In Botswana, fishing is seasonal and generally strongest outside the January–February closed season.

Is it catch-and-release?

Yes. Leading operators enforce strict catch-and-release on the Zambezi and in Botswana’s concessions, with National Park rules prohibiting netting or killing inside protected areas.

Do I need experience or my own tackle?

No experience is required. Camps provide boats, guides and basic tackle; some request guests bring fly gear. We arrange tuition and private guiding.

Can we combine fishing with wildlife viewing?

Absolutely. Dawn or late afternoon sessions pair well with game drives, boating and canoeing, with elephants, hippos and prolific birdlife along the river margins.

Fishing Safaris

Family fishing experience by boat at Vumbura Plains in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

Fishing safaris slow the rhythm and heighten the thrill. Cast for hard-fighting tigerfish on Zambia and Zimbabwe’s Zambezi from Lolebezi or Nyamatusi, work Okavango channels near Nxabega for bream and catfish, and spend quiet afternoons at Pamushana’s Malilangwe dam, where glassy waters hold tilapia and golden sunsets over baobab hills.

Plan Your Journey

Guest spin-fishing at golden hour on the Zambezi River from a small boat - Time + Tide Zambia

Lines on Legendary Waters

Dawn on the Lower Zambezi, Chiawa’s guide sets you drifting past winterthorn as a tiger smashes your fly. By afternoon, Old Mondoro’s eddies hold promise beneath kingfisher calls. Another day, Thorntree River Lodge launches below Victoria Falls, while Jacana’s mokoro paths lead to quiet Okavango lagoons for relaxed spin sessions.

QUICK FACTS
Tigerfish action
Bream & catfish
Fly & spin
Guided boats
Catch & release

Sunset boat cruise with catch-and-release fishing in the Okavango Delta near Nxabega, Botswana

Shore casting in turquoise shallows with palmâ€‘lined beach at Miavana, Madagascar - tropical island fishing

Half-underwater shot of bonefish cruising crystal-clear lagoon at Miavana, Madagascar - saltwater fly fishing

Experiences & Highlights

Fishing safaris bring quiet hours on Africa’s great rivers and floodplains with expert guides, safe boats and a strong conservation ethos. On the Lower Zambezi, Chiawa Camp and Old Mondoro set the standard with catch and release sessions for tigerfish, tilapia and bream, often paired with gentle drifts for wildlife viewing at sunset. Upstream, Chongwe Camp and Chongwe Suites add a relaxed base near wooded banks where elephants come to drink. In Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools, Nyamatusi Camp and Ruckomechi combine productive channels with open views, while Chikwenya positions you close to seasonal eddies that hold active fish.

In Botswana, DumaTau and Vumbura Plains offer seasonal fishing when water levels are right, with guides reading currents and positioning carefully among papyrus and lagoons. Days are flexible, with early or late outings to match conditions, plus time for game drives or walks. Tackle is provided, tuition is patient, and cold drinks and shore lunches turn each session into an easy, rewarding part of a wider safari.