Tiger Country
Shackletons is the ideal venue for fly, spin and lure anglers of all levels to fish in a pristine habitat for Africa’s most spectacular and sought-after game fish – the fearless tiger fish.
A very special floodplain for prime tiger fishing on the Zambezi
‘Tiger Country’, formally known as the Eastern Caprivi Floodplain (also known as the Southern Barotse Floodplain), is a small part of the upper Zambezi River that stretches approximately 100 km from Katima Mulilo to Impalila Island (where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe all meet).
Shackletons Tiger Fishing Lodge is located half-way between these two points, right in the heart of Tiger Country.
This very special part of the upper Zambezi is called Tiger Country because of the floodplains. The river rises for 6 months of the year (December to May) and recedes from June to November. These annual floods rejuvenate the river system around Shackletons. The river restocks itself with everything from crustaceans to insects, and the bream go to the floodplains to feed and breed.
The annual variation in water level is up to 8 metres in Caprivi, with an annual average of 5 metres. The water level usually rises sharply in January, with one or more peaks in February to April, before a decline in May/June.
Floodplains 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.
The tiger fish stay in the upper Zambezi River all year around; they do not go into the floodplains. The upper Zambezi tiger fish have to adapt their feeding habits according to ever-changing river levels, water clarity, water temperature, and food sources. Accordingly, Shackletons changes its preferred tiger fishing methods and tackle throughout the year.
Shackletons does not get flooded itself (unlike some other lodges) mainly because the lodge is located in the Matoya Channel (a small oxbow river off the main Zambezi River).
Floodplains 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 river.
The tiger fish stay in the upper Zambezi River all year around; they do not go into the floodplains. The upper Zambezi tiger fish have to adapt their feeding habits according to ever-changing river levels, water clarity, water temperature, and food sources. Accordingly, Shackletons changes its preferred tiger fishing methods and tackle throughout the year.
Shackletons does not get flooded itself (unlike some other lodges) mainly because the lodge is located in the Matoya Channel (a small oxbow river off the main Zambezi River).
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