A 6 night drift based tigerfishing experience
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
The inflatable boats for accurate positioning and silent approaches to good water.
2 different camps
A sleep-out fly camp and the Lumbe Pools chalets combination spreads out the accommodation across the drfit.
(Fly camp pictured above)
unique water every day
Our drift system approach means every engler knows the water is not over-fished.
TRIP OVERVIEW
A Typical Day on the Drift Trip
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.
6.30am – 11.00am
Fish for a few hours in the morning followed by a pop up breakfast on a beach or rocky point.
11.00am – 13.00 pm
Continue fishing until a midday stop point.
13.00/15.30 pm
Midday stop for lunch, beach boule, beach golf or a gin tasting etc.
15.30 – 17.00 pm
Afternoon fishing session begins.
17.30/18.00 pm
Meet the boats to go back to camp.
What makes the Wild Barotse Drift trip unique?
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 ->
Itinerary & Travel Logistics
Option 1: Fly to Kasane or Livingstone
Arrival in Kasane
Arrival at Kasane or Liv Airport
Collection + Transfer
Our preferred transfer company will meet you and drive you to the Lumbe Pools Parking bay (opposite Lumbe).
Arrival at the camp
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
Choose the airstrip
Chat to us about which airstrip to use.
Collection + Transfer
Upon arrival at the airstrip. you will be collected by our team and driven to the Lumbe Pools Parking bay
Arrival at the camp
Once at the Parking bay, you will be transferred by boat across the river to camp.
