In honour of Valentines Month we are offering a Promo whereby if you enquire and confirm a booking with a deposit between 1 – 14 February, your loved one will get 𝟱𝟬% 𝗢𝗙𝗙! 🥂
TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY:
– Bookings must be a minimum of 𝟯 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦!
– Promo will end midnight 14 February
– Travel period: Anytime in 2024
– Bookings will be subject to availability
40km of the Upper Zambezi starting at the base of the Sioma Falls is fished off specialist drift craft with 2 anglers per guided craft, fishing tackle and a well-stocked cool box! Anglers should come into contact with double figure tigerfish on a regular basis on fly and lure. Splitting the trip across 2 camp locations ensures the water is always rested and because you are drifting, each day brings new water.
The inflatable boats for accurate positioning and silent approaches to good water.
A sleep-out fly camp and the Lumbe Pools chalets combination spreads out the accommodation across the drfit.
(Fly camp pictured above)
Our drift system approach means every engler knows the water is not over-fished.
The drift trip will start with 2 or 3 nights in a ‘sleep-out’ camp followed by 3/4 nights at Lumbe Pools camp. Each day you will either drift down river, or you willl be transported by boat to where the boats are stationed and waiting for you. There are 5 unique and separate beats per fishing day.
Fish for a few hours in the morning followed by a pop up breakfast on a beach or rocky point.
Continue fishing until a midday stop point.
Midday stop for lunch, beach boule, beach golf or a gin tasting etc.
Afternoon fishing session begins.
Meet the boats to go back to camp.
Unlike most camps on the Zambezi, we fish our stretch of water on a rotated beat basis. We have found this is to be an IMPERATIVE fishing management style to ensure consistent results and protect the fishery. Accordingly, we have 5 full day beats that we aim to fish once during your trip with each piece of water able to sustain 4 drift boats or 2 motor boats at a time.
These beats are loosely defined as the following:
Immediately below the Ngonye Falls and 4 massive pools and rapids that follow. This water is only fishable with the drift boats and access from pool to pool will require quick manual portages over the rocks. This is an incredible piece of water as the full power of the Zambezi surges through these narrow necks and big pools.
This runs from the last Falls rapid to just above the bridge with one major rapid in between. Although wider and slightly slower, this piece of the river is only fished with motor boats up to the big rapid so again, the drift boats are critical in getting access to the big fish that are found here above this rapid. The big rapid can be shot but guests are advised to portage.
The river is still quite narrow with clearly defined rocky points and islands. Slightly slower flowing, this piece of water produces our biggest fish of the season most years.
The river is now wide and slow flowing. Rock points mix with sandy bays and reed lined fringes. There is less clear structure to target here and more sub-surface drop offs and structure needs to be found to bring about results.
Much like the day before, the river is slow and wide with more vegetation and sub surface structure. Towards the end of this day, shallow rapid and riffle systems appear which can provide a lot of action at the end of the trip
Scroll left or right see photos from the 2023 season ->
Option 1: Fly to Kasane or Livingstone
Arrival at Kasane or Liv Airport
Our preferred transfer company will meet you and drive you to the Lumbe Pools Parking bay (opposite Lumbe).
3. Staff management will meet you and transfer you by boat across the river to Lumbe.
*Travel time from Kasane: 2 hrs & from Liv: 4hrs*
Option 2: Fly via Private Charter
Chat to us about which airstrip to use.
Upon arrival at the airstrip. you will be collected by our team and driven to the Lumbe Pools Parking bay
Once at the Parking bay, you will be transferred by boat across the river to camp.
Liuwa Plain National Park offers a distinctive safari experience, with its vast plains, remarkable wildlife migrations, and ongoing conservation efforts – it’s a destination for those who appreciate the unspoiled beauty of a remote wilderness area and the chance to witness the natural world in its authentic state. Combine this with the sandy “beaches” of Lumbe Pools and your chance to catch a tigerfish on the mighty Zambezi and you have yourself a trip second to none!
See an example of your travel route below:
This is a proposed route if coming from Katima Mulilo (Namibia) or Kasane (Botswana).
1. Kasane – Lumbe Pools
Approximate drive time: 2.5 hours
2. Lumbe Pools for 4 or 5 nights
At this time of the year, suitable activities will be fishing, swimming, snorkeling and visits to Sioma Falls.
3. Lumbe Pools – Liuwa Plain NP
Approximate drive time: 6 hours
4. 4 nights in Liuwa Plain
Accommodation of your choosing
When kids see the Zambezi, their eyes open wide in wonder that a river can be THAT big! It’s such a special experience to share with them and that’s before you even get onto the water! However, most Zambezi lodges and camps are priced in a way that makes family travel very heavy on the pocket and on top of that, they are very often NOT family friendly.
At Lumbe Pools, we intentionally set out to change that and we did so by changing 3 things most other Zambezi camps and lodges don’t do for families.
Children aged 0 – 12 stay FREE! 13 – 19 pay 50% of the adult rate.
We are able to offer beaches and the Lumbe River as safe places to play and swim without the risk of crocodiles and hippos. This is a huge difference because it offers BOTH the magical and wild Zambezi experience and an ‘inland beach’ experience in one destination.
We have thought about family life. That’s why we have a range of activities for all ages and baby sitting to compliment our traditional activities like tiger fishing and pontoon cruises.
*Min 5 night or longer stays and 2 adults paying*
*Children under 12 stay FREE of charge
**Children aged 13 – 18 sharing 50% of adult rate
– Accommodation, meals, teas, coffee,
– Non-bottled water and laundry
– Child minding up to 4 hrs per day
– Guided boat fishing (20l fuel per day) / single day drift boat fishing
– Basic conventional fishing equipment
– Day trips to the Sioma Falls,
– Snorkelling
– Beach breakfasts
– Walking trails.
– Drinks,
– Additional boat fuel,
– Road transfers
(We can book the transfers & flights if needed)
– Child minding over and above 4 hrs per day,
– Fly fishing equipment
– Lost or broken fishing equipment / lures.
"Exceptional! You all are amazing and we loved every minute of our stay! We will definately be back!"
"This is an "Above and beyond" fishing camp experience. We loved our stay and we will be back!"
"Fantastic service and activities! It was a memorable adventure celebrating my dad's 70th! Hospitality 110%."
"What an amazing place! Would definately recomend it to others and would like to come back again in the future."
"The most amazing setting in the heart of africa that will take your breath away."
"An incredible experience made even more memorable by an outstanding team - well done guys. You were awesome."
"Really enjoyed our stay from the camp site to sioma falls and down to the lodge with fishing all the way. World class! "
"This was our first tiger fishing experience for most of us and it has set the standard for all future trips. Thanks for having us in your special part of Africa!"
"Our family of 14 had such a blast! Lots of fishing and eating. The service was excellent. Thank you!"
"A magnificent retreat, exsquisite surroundings and the most wonderful people who have made our stay an exceptional one. Thank you!
"By the end of our trip we had caught 11 monster tiger fish, we caught plenty of laughs, a sunburn and a serious love of the place. Take my word for it, you will love every moment"
"We had such a magnificent stay here at Lumbe. Thoroughly enjoyed the fishing, the varied waters, the natural beauty as well. The staff were exceptional!
"Many thanks to the entire team for treating us like Royalty. Sioma Falls was beautiful, an absoute highlight. Look forward to seeing you all again.
"Lumbe Team, well done we had a fantastic 4 days. The fishing was productive with fish coming into the boat regularly. We would certinaly love to visit again.
"Jan Horn was here and he will be coming back as soon as is possible!!!!!! ;-) "
Not quite ready to enquire with us? That's not a problem, we don't want to rush you! But before you go, why not download this FREE pdf to see what exciting packages we have in store for 2025?
An amazing week! I am looking forward to coming back and seeing how this camp develops over the next few years! This is the start of something truly special on the Zambezi
Thank you for an amazing time! You made me feel so special from the minute I arrived here, I will return and bring my friends and family back to experience this beauty.
What an incredible week! Thanks for the Lumbe team for an amazing few days o the Zambezi. Great fun, great people and great fishing. We will be back!
Thank you to everyone involved for a wonderful few days fishing and enjoying the upper Zambezi. Weather was not on our side but we had some lifetime experiences. I will be back!
To Ilze, Karl and all the wonderful staff - Thank you for a wonderful week of fishing, eating and amazing outings.
