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Destination: Okavango River, Botswana.
Season: September to December.
Duration: Minimum 3 nights.
Group Size: 4 pax 2 guides –
6 pax 3 guides
Accommodation: Xaro Safari Lodge.
An exclusive 8 tent lodge located in the Shakawe
region in the Western Pan Handle of the Okavango Delta,
on the main Okavango channel. From the lodge we have
the opportunity to fish the Okavango River as well
as the numerous pristine lagoons situated close by.
Xaro Lodge has 8 luxury spacious en suite meru tents
sleeping 2 guests each. The tents have been specially
designed with glass doors in the front of the tent.
Each "tent" is on leadwood decks and all
have views of the Okavango River.
The Okavango River
The Okavango River spills into the North Western corner
of Botswana, after a long journey through the Caprivi
Strip of Namibia and the catchments area within Angola.
Although the river travels for many hundreds of kilometres
before entering Botswana, the truly remarkable happens
when the rising waters reach the flood plains of the
Okavango delta – the only inland Delta on our
planet. With a marginal elevation difference between
Shakawe, in the north of the pan handle, and Maun, some
400km away, the flooding water creates a seemingly endless
area of lagoons, winding river, oxbow lakes, floodplains
and papyrus. The area is vast and at its largest covers
a staggering 16 000 square kilometres. Considering the
perfect nursery these flood water provide for juvenile
and small species fish, one can hardly comprehend the
volume of potential tigerfish fodder that survive in
this temporary asylum. At its lowest, the area drops
to 9 000 square kilometres. It is the poor misplaced
Pisces from that difference of 7 000 square kilometres
that make the Okavango River an incredible place to
be when the mounting baitfish are finally flushed out
into the main channels, where the tigerfish lie in
wait.
The Fishing
Each year between September and November the waters
receding off the vast Okavango flood plains force
recently spawned bait fish from the security of the
vegetation rich plains into the dog eat dog world
of the main Okavango River. The healthy population
of catfish in the Okavango River zone in on these
helpless bait fish and form massive feeding frenzies,
at times thousands of fish, thrashing in the river
margins as fleeing bait fish scatter along the surface.
These frenzies are commonly referred to as “catfish
runs” and are often termed the freshwater equivalent
of the wildebeest migration. Witnessing the catfish
run is reason enough to get to the Okavango River
over these dates. It is however the tiger fishing
that draws avid sport fisherman from around the globe
to the Okavango River each year. Tiger fish, arguable
the finest fighting freshwater game fish around, feed
with abandon around the catfish run, providing some
of the finest fly and art lure fishing available.
The Tourette Fishing team have over 18 years of combined
experience on these waters and will guide you competently
and professionally over the annual catfish run.
Apart from the tiger fish, species aficionados can
target catfish, Nembwe, thin faced large mouth and
a host of other bream species.
Angling (species and methods): Tiger
fish, numerous bream spp. (incl. nembwe), catfish
and pike. Fly fishing and artificial lures are the
most productive. Your professional guides will tie
flies daily. Comprehensive tackle lists are supplied
on booking or request.
Pick up and drop off point: Maun
or Shakawe
Other activities: Sundowner cruises
and nature walks, overnight fly camping (which we
suggest is best to follow the catfish run for a couple
of nights). The world renowned Moremi Game Reserve
and Tsodilo Hills are close by and definitely worth
visiting. This camp is an ornithologist’s, or
any bird watcher’s, paradise. There are great
opportunities to view rare birds such us the Pels
Fishing Owl, White Backed Night Heron and African
Skimmers amongst many.
The Mobile Approach (optional):
Tourette Fishing has pioneered the mobile approach to
fishing the catfish run. Using Xaro Lodge as our base
we offer our clients the opportunity to follow the runs
and camp comfortably wild on the numerous islands scattered
along the Okavango River.
A typical stay involves clients spending one or two
nights camping wild on deserted islands close to productive
runs. In doing this, we are able to put clients into
good runs, away from the “crowds” that
can sometimes gather around the runs closer to larger
commercial camps. Depending on group preferences and
location of productive runs, more or fewer nights
can be spent fly camping.
Our aluminium boats have been modified to carry comfortable
fly camping equipment with out hampering guests while
fishing. All fly-camping is supervised by registered
Botswana guides thus adding to the overall “wilderness
experience” offered to guests choosing this
unique and productive method of fishing the catfish
run.
For more information on this trip please contact
us. For a customised quote and itinerary for this
or any other African location, please email keith@tourettefishing.com
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