Royal zambezi lodge zambia

‘LUXURIOUS SAFARI LODGE ON THE BANKS OF THE

ZAMBEZI’. WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF TIGERS FISH AND GAME VIEWING ........

THE LODGE: Royal Zambezi Lodge, an intimate family-owned property, is situated on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River on the edge of the unique Lower Zambezi National Park, directly opposite Mana Pools, Zimbabwe. The design of Royal Zambezi Lodge allows nature and the environment to play a leading role in ensuring the relaxed pace and magical experience enjoyed by guests.

The Lodge is an ideal place to stay when combining a visit to Victoria Falls.

It works perfectly for a family safari holiday or fishing trip, yet also as the romantic setting for honeymoon couples. It offers the ultimate in comfort and luxury, with unrivalled game viewing accompanied by professional guides, a luxury spa and world-class lure and fly fishing.

With a classic design of thatched roofs and an open plan reception, dining and lounge area, the Royal Zambezi also offers a relaxing environment for anglers with a touch of luxury. The open veranda gives shade from the midday sun and the hardwood deck terrace extends over the shallow banks of the Lower Zambezi River.

In the evenings, guests can gather at the Sausage Tree Bar for drinks before dinner is served, bragging and story-telling about the day's activities or simply relaxing and taking in the sounds. The Zambian lions can often be heard calling the Zimbabwean lions across the river! The Lower Zambezi National Park is an IBA (Important Bird Area) and therefore of global conservation significance. Over 300 species of birds can be found here. The African fish eagle, Zambia's national bird, is commonly seen and heard.

THE SPA: The Royal Zambezi Bush Spa has been inspired by the natural beauty surrounding the lodge and is Zambia's first and only bush spa. Its minimalist design exudes an air of complete balance, peace and tranquillity offering you the ultimate refuge to restore the mind, body and spirit. It is positioned around the central courtyard where the inviting aroma of burning scented candles fill the air from the two treatment rooms. You are also invited to use the cooling plunge pool and outdoor Jacuzzi with its breathtaking vista across the river the perfect way to while away those lazy afternoons.

Each suite is equipped with all necessary amenities and free wi-fi is available from your rooms. There is very little or no mobile phone coverage, even if you are on roaming.

There is a swimming pool on the main deck, but if you really wanted to splash out - the Presidential Suites have their own private pools and day beds.

Enjoy a delicious breakfast overlooking the Lower Zambezi River, where our team of expert chefs will prepare dishes to order or simply whizz up a healthy smoothie.

Lunch need not interrupt a good day's fishing or game drives. With the option of a gourmet picnic lunch or a full outdoor buffet in the National Park, complete with white linen tableware, the concept of outdoor dining takes on a new dimension.

Dinner is served at private tables under the stars, or by a roaring fire on a cooler night. Alternatively guests may relax in their rooms and have dinner brought to them on their private deck. To celebrate special occasions, guests may enjoy drinks by a camp fire and a candlelit dinner on a deserted island on the Zambezi.

THE FISHING

The Lower Zambezi offers some of the finest fresh water angling experiences in the world. Although it is a year-round activity, the best time to catch tiger fish here is between September and March.

Expert resident guides lead fishing excursions on new, fully-fitted aluminium boats. For guests who are new to fishing or fly-fishing, our guides provide expert instruction and assistance.

The hard-fighting tiger fish, which is renowned for its fierce, acrobatic fight, has earned the reputation of being one of the world’s toughest freshwater fish.

Tigers are caught mainly by fly and lure fishing, but in April when the river is higher and often coloured, the lodge allows bait fishing with circle hooks and fish baits.

Fishing with lures, bait and flies is the norm here but guests can also catch tigers fish and other species with cutbait. Small fish called 'Chessa' or 'Bulldogs' are found in abundance on the banks of the river and will be prepared for use on board.

Rods, tackle and flies are provided although enthusiasts may bring their own gear. All fishing is on a catch and release basis.

Sharptooth Barbel and Vundu Catfish are caught with heavier tackle, cutbait and also using a local soap called Chik as a bait.

Whether you are a conventional lure or fly angler, there are many species here including tiger fish, large tilapia, colourful bream species, catfish and African.

TACKLE TALK

We suggest the following gear for our Zambezi Fishing/Safari trips: RODS AND REELS 2 x Medium-M/Heavy 6’6”-7’6” bait casting or spinning rods with bait casting or spinning reels with capacity of min. 120m of 50-60lb braid. These outfits will handle casting and using medium surface lures like Spooks and subsurface lures like minnowbaits, jerk baits and also for deep-jigging and deep-diving lures in the pools.

1 x Medium or Medium/Light 6’6”-7’6” spinning rod matched spinning reel with capacity for min.120m of 20-30lb braid. This much lighter outfit will give your arms and wrists a rest and will allow you to easily use jigs and smaller minnowbaits.

For fly fishermen, 7-9 wt fly rods should be matched with good, smooth drag system reels and loaded with a tropical, fast-sinking 200-300 grain, a tropical intermediate and a tropical floating fly lines, all with at least 100m of 30lb backing. Leaders are 1.5m-2m of 20-30lb straight nylon tied to a short piano wire trace and directly to the fly line. We advise a good pair of stripping gloves unless you want another lifeline burnt into your palm!! *Always bring spare line and a multi-tool.

VUNDU CATFISH RIGS Simple rigs with a heavier Tiger Fish baitcasting set-up or a more traditional a heavier Cat Fish rod and reel, matched with 80-100lb braided line, a 4-6 oz egg sinker, 1.5m of 80lb mono rubbing leader attached to a strong swivel at one end and a 8/0 - 12/0 circle hook on the other are all that is needed. This rig will also serve for Arapaima but with a large float no lead.

The hook is baited with either a whole small fish or fish cutbait and lobbed out into a deep hole. You do not need to strike when using circle hook rigs as the Cat will hook itself when running with the bait, with a 100% hook up rate in the corner of the mouth. Just raise the rod slowly, tighten the line and not striking for a good hook set!

LURES FOR TIGER FISH AND OTHER ZAMBEZI PREDATORS 5-6 x medium and saltwater Spooks and other small-medium cigar-shaped stick baits can used with a walk-the-dog, side to side, swishing action that ‘sways’ the lure like a snake across the water. This is a lure to be used when big Tigers are being really aggressive crashing on the surface. Change out the hooks with a 3/0 single wide-gap hook in the middle and a 6/0 one on a swivel and extra split ring on the back for better hook-ups.

2-3 x small Poppers can also work well and if used properly, they catch a good number of big fish. They should spit and gurgle and spray water in front, or pop. The best we have found is the Skitter Pop or the Chug Bug skimmed along the surface or quickly popped.

6-8 x small Minnow baits and crank baits will always work well in most situations and our choices are shallow running 4-6” Rapala X Raps, X Rap Sub Walk, Rattle Traps, Cotton Cordell Redfins and Yozuri Crystal minnows and Tobimarus.

4-5 x deeper diving lures like the small-medium Tail Dancers and X Raps can be cast out and worked in the deeper pools and drop-offs. Great lures for bigger fish in the depths, like below cascades and rapides.

4-5 x 16-22g Effzett single and double Copper Spoons and other bright spoons will sometimes catch more fish than plastic lures and flies. Work areas thoroughly with these lures at various depths until you find where they are. Great prospecting lures for all sizes of fish.

5-10 x ½ - 5/8oz bucktail jigs. Red/Black, Orange/Black, Firetiger and Red/Yellow are the best colours. These are works like a jerkbait, ripped and not jigged vertically up or down. Cast to all likely structure and fast water channels and sand bars and also to the margins for Nembwe and other predators. *Sometimes it’s worth changing out hooks to singles at it can improve hook-up rates. Tiger fish has such bony mouths and singles can often catch more fish.

FLIES Normally anglers will use 7-9 Wt fly rods with interchangeable reels of floating, intermediate and fast-sinking, 20-30lb straight mono leader, a thin 6” wire leader and a shiny streamer fly. Tigers are everywhere in the system but love fast water, cascades, ends of rapids etc. and the glides below. Cast to rocks and structure and fast strip your fly back to the boat.

Tigers are angler-friendly in that they will not head straight for structure when hooked, but instead make blistering runs and jump all over the river in a real acrobatic show. Nembwe, tilapia, bream and sharptooth cats will attack smaller flies and lures also in many of the same situations you will find tigers in.

Fly patterns for Tigers and other Zambezi predators, in general, are either tied in 3-5” long-profile streamer flies with lots of flash in Deceiver, Clousers and other streamer patterns, with and without weighted eyes or even popper-type surface flies that provide plenty of noise and action on the surface Usually a fast strip is used on streamer flies and a series of gentle, constant ‘spits’ for surface flies. Don’t waste too much time on too elaborate fly patterns as they will get destroyed quickly, especially by smaller fish!! Go simple!

WILDLIFE AND SAFARIS Royal Zambezi Lodge is situated only five minutes drive away from the Lower Zambezi National Park, and in a Game Management Area (GMA).

Our qualified and enthusiastic guides have over 50 years of experience guiding in the Lower Zambezi Valley. The river is an ideal place to view both wildlife and birdlife - the riverine ecosystem hosts spectacular birdlife.

Clients can opt for open vehicle drives, night drives, walking safaris or boat trips for game-viewing or photographic safaris.

The Lower Zambezi National Park covers an area of 4092 square km. Most of the game however is concentrated along the valley floor due to the escarpment along the northern end acting as a physical barrier to most of the park’s animal species. The park is home to large herds of elephant and healthy populations of lion, leopard, side-striped jackal, hyena, hippo, buffalo, zebra, waterbuck, and many other antelope. Less common but a very special treat are the African wild dog and aardvark.

The Lower Zambezi National Park is an IBA (Important Bird Area) and therefore of global conservation significance. Over 300 species of birds can be found here. The African fish eagle, Zambia's national bird, is commonly seen and heard.

One of the most memorable sights to be seen in the Lower Zambezi valley is that of elephants swimming across the enormous Zambezi River. This, along with buffalo and waterbuck "island hopping", can all be viewed from the comfort of the lodge. As the lodge is unfenced it is not uncommon for game to wander through, in particular elephants are often found meandering their way down to the water, halting occasionally to help themselves to the leaves on the sausage trees.

Hippos are everywhere in these waters, along with resident crocodiles.

Hippos and Antelope are often seen from the deck of your accommodation and lions are never far away. This part of the National Park is a hot spot for the elusive leopard. Bird life on the river is spectacular and best seen on the early morning excursions.

CLOTHES We recommend clients follow the list of items below to keep it simple and as lightweight as possible. Laundry is done daily, so only one or two changes of clothes are needed at camp. Clothes here in general are shorts or long pants, a shirt, a fleece in cooler weather and a hat!! One change of clothes can be used for travelling.

For travelling: 1 x pair lightweight shoes, socks, underwear, light jacket, 1 x light shirt and long cargo pants with pockets for documents, money, passport etc. This outfit can also serve as fishing clothes to save on additional weight.

For fishing and safari: 1 x wide brimmed hat or fishing cap with neck cape, 2 x lightweight shorts or long pants (zip-off’s are a good idea and can also be used as travel pants), 2 x lightweight, long or short-sleeved shirts with pockets (can also be used as travel shirt), 1 x pair of either CROCS, sandals or similar comfortable boat shoes, 1 x fleece, 1 x lightweight rain suit/jacket and 2 x pairs of polarised sunglasses (in case you lose one pair), 1 x pair light safari/trekking shoes.

OTHER RECOMMENDED GEAR It gets hot out there in the full sun, often over 90áľ’C, so come well protected with good-quality sun-block with at least 50-75 SPF. Lip cream is essential.

We fish in areas that have mosquito and other insect activity, so bring a high DEET content insect repellent just in case.

Bring any personal medications and allow for headaches, stomach upsets, fevers, infections, allergies etc. And also personal toiletries, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, shaving gear etc. A small amount of talcum powder is a good asset in the jungle for those hidden, sweaty areas!

Reading books/magazines/Kindle, pen and paper for notes.

Small torch/headlight and spare batteries Camera(s), interchangeable lenses, batteries etc.

Binoculars Multi-tool

TRANSFERS, SCHEDULES AND COSTS Day 1: Flights usually arrive into the airstrip at approx. 2pm and from here it is a 10-minute drive to the lodge. Arrive and you are met by lodge manager who will give you an introduction to the lodge and show you to your rooms. You can opt to relax for the rest of the day, or head straight out onto the water with your private guide and boat.

Day 2 Onwards: Fishing every day, starting from 5.30/6am each morning. Arrange times with your private guides throughout the day and choose which parts of the river you wish to fish. Activities are included in your stay and you can choose at any time to have a break from fishing and join a game drive, go canoeing or take your boat for a game cruise on the river until sun down.

Final Day: Depart by vehicle to the airstrip where you will board a small plane back to Lusaka.

COSTS: LOW SEASON (December to March): $450 pppn (sharing), family unit $1250 pn.

MID SEASON (April to June): $575 pppn (sharing), family unit $1500 pn.

HIGH SEASON (July-November):$785, £495, 590€ pppn (sharing), family unit $1800 pn. * Our family units are with 2 parents and 2 children. Extra children under 12 yrs old @ $100, £65, 50€ surcharge, children 12 yrs and over are classed as adults. ** All costs above will be increased by Zambian law by 16% VAT (Value Added Tax).

All costs are charged in US dollars and payments made in any other currency will be adjusted at the exchange rate at time of payment.

Included: All meals, house wine, local beer and all non-premium drinks. Basic fishing tackle. Transfers to and from Royal air strip. Two daily activities.

Not included: Park entry fees, Spa treatments, Champagne and all premium drinks, fly fishing ($50 pppd) Royal airport arrival and departure fees ($25 pp), International airfares to and Lusaka Airport and Royal Airstrip, tipping, passports, visas, meals other than in camp, costs associated with medical advice and medications for your trip, lures, fishing tackle etc. *A 50% deposit is required to reserve places when booking. The remaining payment is due 90 days before arrival in Zambia.

PLEASE NOTE: YELLOW FEVER INJECTIONS - RECENTLY IT HAS BECOME A REQUIREMENT FOR PEOPLE ENTERING ZAMBIA TO HAVE A VALID YELLOW FEVER CERTICATE. THIS MUST BE OBTAINED BEFORE DEPARTING FOR ZAMBIA OR YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO BOARD THE PLANE. THE INNOCULATION IS VALID FOR 10 YEARS

www.Africa-Angler.com steve@africa-angler.com USA toll free (9am – 5pm) ET 1 866 920 2814 Europe +44 1832 275 995