The Upper Zambezi is at the bottom of some travellers’ itineraries and at the top of others’: if you’re after easy access, lots of other tourists or well-known attractions then you should look elsewhere.

This is the promised land for keen sport fisherman, Tiger Fishing being the main attraction. There are a number of small well run lodges that specialize in fishing trips, but also provide a range of other activities such a boat cruises, nature and birding walks.

The best fishing spots can be found in the so-called “Tiger country” or “Tiger heaven” , which is a small part of the upper Zambezi River that stretches approximately 100km from Katima Mulilo to Impalila Island (where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe meet).

The river rises for 6 months of the year (December – May) to form the floodplains and recedes for the other 6 months of the year (June to November). The annual floods rejuvenate the river system and the river re-stocks itself with everything from crustaceans, to insects, to fish that go to the flood plains to feed and breed.

The flood plains are vast expanses of water that prevent humans from building permanent structures and damaging the environment. This is what makes the upper Zambezi such a pristine part of the mighty Zambezi River and the perfect spot for tiger fishing.
While Tigerfish are the major fishing attraction also excellent catches of nembwe, humpack and thinface largemouth breams, 3 spot bream, pink happies and Upper Zambezi yellowfish have been recorded.

A cultural highlight of the Upper Zambezi area is the Kuomboka Ceremony in Barotseland. During the rainy season when the plain is in flood a ceremony known as the Ku-omboka Ceremony takes place as the local people move to higher grounds to escape the flood waters. It is the premier Traditional Ceremony in Zambia and one of the most spectacular in Africa. This is as close as one could get to a popular tourist event in this area and it is well worth it.

Other points of interest are the Sioma Ngwezi National Park and the Sioma falls.