Two of Africa’s greatest adventures – a Big Five safari and a world-class fishing trip – can be woven into a single journey. In Southern Africa, rivers and reserves sit side by side, offering the chance to track lions at dawn and cast for tigerfish at dusk. This guide takes you across the region, showing how to pair iconic wildlife safaris with unforgettable angling, country by country.

Botswana & Zambia: Tigers and Nembwe in Wild Waters

For purists seeking raw, untamed Africa, Botswana and Zambia deliver. These countries are defined by rivers, floodplains, and remote reserves where fishing and safari truly blend into one.

Safari: In Botswana, the Okavango Delta is a wonder of the natural world – an inland delta where channels and lagoons attract elephants, buffalo, lions, and some of the highest densities of wildlife in Africa. Safaris here feel exclusive, with few vehicles and a strong sense of wilderness. The Chobe River further north is another magnet for wildlife, famous for its massive elephant herds and riverbank game viewing.

Across the border in Zambia, the Lower Zambezi National Park offers an equally thrilling safari. Wildlife concentrates along the river during the dry season, so game drives are punctuated by elephant crossings, lion sightings, and prolific birdlife. Zambia also pioneered the walking safari, which adds intensity to encounters with big game.

Fishing: These same waterways double as premier fishing grounds. The star is the tigerfish, a ferocious predator with razor teeth and a reputation for explosive strikes. In the Zambezi, Chobe, and Okavango systems, tigerfish reach impressive sizes, often leaping clear of the water when hooked.
Alongside tigers, anglers target nembwe, a type of bream prized for its power and its brilliant green-gold coloration. Nembwe lurk in the slower waters and reed-lined margins, making them a challenging quarry on lighter tackle.

The best time for both safari and fishing here is the dry season from May to October. As waters recede, fish concentrate and become aggressive, while wildlife crowds the riverbanks. By September and October, the action can be frenetic – tigerfish hammering shoals of baitfish in the channels while elephants wade in the shallows nearby. It’s a region where the line between safari and fishing almost disappears.

Zimbabwe: From Lion Prides to Kariba Giants

Zimbabwe has long been a classic safari destination, with parks like Hwange and Mana Pools offering some of Africa’s most rewarding game viewing. Hwange is renowned for its vast elephant herds and predator densities, while Mana Pools, set along the Zambezi, is famous for walking and canoe safaris in a beautiful floodplain landscape.

Fishing here is equally compelling. Lake Kariba, one of the world’s largest man-made lakes, is legendary for its tigerfish. Each October, anglers gather for the Kariba International Tigerfish Tournament, chasing fish that regularly top 10 kilograms. Casting a lure into Kariba’s blue waters with a chance of connecting to one of these lightning-fast predators is unforgettable. Kariba also holds the enormous vundu catfish, a heavyweight of Africa’s rivers. Growing up to 50 kilograms, vundu test even the strongest tackle. They’re less glamorous than tigers but make for thrilling battles, especially on heavy spinning gear.

For safari travelers, Zimbabwe’s parks and lakes offer contrasts: Hwange’s open savannah, Mana’s riverine wilderness, and Kariba’s inland sea. Together, they provide the chance to watch wild dogs on the hunt in the morning and fight a vundu by evening. The prime time mirrors its neighbors – dry season from June to October – when both fishing and wildlife reach their peak.

Namibia: Desert Safaris and Coastal Surf

Namibia is a land of extremes, where safaris take you across stark deserts and fishing opportunities range from rivers to wild surf.
On safari, Etosha National Park dominates. Its immense salt pan creates a unique backdrop for wildlife photography, and during the dry season animals crowd the waterholes – lions, elephants, giraffe, and black rhino among them. In the northwest, desert-adapted elephants and lions roam the rugged landscapes of Damaraland and Kaokoland, adding rare and unusual sightings to a safari portfolio.

In the far northeast, Namibia’s Caprivi Strip (now called the Zambezi Region) feels like another country altogether. Here, lush floodplains and rivers provide both excellent game viewing and superb fishing. Tigerfish are again the highlight, but anglers also find bream species and catfish. The best time is the winter dry season (May to October), when both game and fish are concentrated.

Namibia also shines on its coast. The Skeleton Coast and beaches near Swakopmund are famous for rock and surf fishing, where anglers cast baits for kob and steenbras, sometimes from dune-lined shores that stretch into infinity. Meob Bay and the Kunene River mouth are other hotspots where kob, galjoen, and bronze whaler sharks can be hooked from the surf. These coastal fisheries are dramatic – fighting a giant fish while the desert looms behind you is a scene found nowhere else.

Namibia’s combination of desert wildlife and coastal angling makes it unique. Few places allow you to watch a black rhino on the Etosha pan one day, then battle a kob from the surf the next.

South Africa: Malaria-Free Safaris and Coastal Fishing

South Africa is one of the easiest places to plan a combined trip thanks to its infrastructure, diversity, and accessibility. The Eastern Cape stands out for travelers seeking both adventure and convenience.

On land, the Eastern Cape is home to malaria-free Big Five reserves where you can see lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, and leopard against a backdrop of rolling hills and acacia woodland. These parks are well suited to families and first-timers, with comfortable lodges and excellent guiding. Unlike Kruger, which lies in a malaria zone, these reserves give peace of mind while still delivering top-tier game viewing. Herds of elephant often gather around waterholes, and sightings of black and white rhino are a highlight of the region.

When it comes to fishing, the Great Fish River provides a freshwater option. Here, the prized yellowfish – Southern Africa’s answer to the trout – offers superb sport on fly or light tackle. Strong fighters with golden flanks, yellowfish thrive in the clear runs and pools of this river system. For many anglers, landing a trophy yellowfish is just as exciting as ticking off a leopard sighting. South Africa’s long coastline adds yet another dimension. The Eastern Cape’s beaches and rocky points are ideal for rock and surf fishing, where anglers cast baits for kob, musslecracker, leerfish, and steenbras. Standing barefoot on a wild beach, rod bent against the headshakes of a large kob, with dolphins surfing waves in the distance, you’ll feel the wilderness every bit as much as you did on safari. The region’s mix of bushveld and coast makes it a perfect introduction to the Big Five & Big Fish experience.

Mozambique: Bush and Beach Adventure

Mozambique brings the ocean firmly into the mix. While its safari parks are still developing after years of recovery, its coastline is a saltwater paradise.

The jewel is the Bazaruto Archipelago, a cluster of islands off the southern coast surrounded by rich fishing grounds. Here, anglers pursue marlin, sailfish, giant trevally, wahoo, dorado, and tuna. The area is world-famous for marlin, with blue and black marlin topping 500 pounds during peak season. October to January is prime time for billfish, though May through November also offers excellent conditions with calmer seas.

Many travelers pair a Mozambique fishing trip with a Kruger National Park safari in neighboring South Africa. After a week of tracking lions, rhino, and buffalo in the bushveld, a short flight drops you on white-sand beaches where your days are spent trolling offshore, casting to GTs on the reef, or fly fishing in the shallows. It’s the quintessential bush-and-beach itinerary, with Big Five sightings on land and big game battles at sea. Fishing here is as wild and rich as anywhere in the Indian Ocean, making it an irresistible complement to a Southern African safari.

A Journey for Both Anglers and Wildlife Lovers

Southern Africa is uniquely positioned to offer both iconic safaris and unforgettable fishing in one trip. Whether it’s watching elephants cross the Chobe before chasing tigerfish in its waters, sighting rhinos in the Eastern Cape before casting for yellowfish, or combining a Kruger safari with Mozambique’s marlin grounds, the possibilities are endless.

By planning carefully around the dry season – generally May to October for safaris and overlapping fishing peaks – you can experience the best of both worlds in a single journey.

For anglers who dream of Africa but don’t want to miss its legendary wildlife, or safari enthusiasts who also long for the thrill of a fish on the line, this is the perfect combination. A Big Five safari and a Big Fish expedition are both bucket-list adventures in their own right – together, they create the trip of a lifetime.