Fishing in Namibia

Stretching over 800,000 km² of arid savannah, rugged mountains, and sweeping desert, Namibia does not immediately strike one as a destination for an angling trip. However, it’s home to some of Africa’s most exciting and under-appreciated fisheries. And unlike some other African countries, Namibia can boast of safety, stability, and excellent road infrastructure, allowing anglers to find pristine waters without the crowds. Additional entertainment such as African wildlife viewing tours add variety and quality to your visit. The climate is predictably sunny and dry, and despite the occasional flood, the rivers that do flow — like the Orange, Kunene, and Kavango — retain extraordinary clarity and health, making them ideal for adventurous anglers seeking fish far from civilization. And the Skeleton Coast offers some unique shore fishing opportunities.Learn more about fishing in Namibia from our blog.

The river fishing in Namibia mostly takes place in the Orange and Kavango River basins. The former drains most of South Africa before flowing into the Atlantic Ocean, and carves a vivid green channel through desert and mountains on the way. Depending on seasonal flood cycles, sections of this mighty river offer crystal-clear water anywhere from August to February, ideal for fly and spinning gear. Channels range from 3 to 15 m deep, with powerful currents, rocky banks, and gravel bars—perfect habitat for trophy yellowfish in the tens-of-pounds class. Kavango (Okavango) River threads Namibia’s Caprivi Strip, flowing year-round with depths between 2 and 10 m. Its broad, slow-moving waters near Rundu and Popa Falls support aggressive tigerfish, sharptooth barbel, and nembwe. The current is mild, and most fishing is done by light spinning rigs cast from the cattail-lined shore or shallow-draft boats drifting beneath quiet banks. Saltwater fishing opportunities in Namibia are found along the Skeleton Coast, which spans 400 km of barren shoreline between Walvis Bay and the Angola border. Though ancient desert cliffs loom above, the ocean waters offer depths of just a few meters and cooler temperatures, often fog-shrouded. Access points are linked by gravel roads, and wadable shorelines allow adventurous anglers to fish in terrain unlike anywhere else.

In the Orange River basin, the largemouth yellowfish dominates the trophy scene, regularly exceeding 10 kg and occasionally reaching over 20 kg in remote stretches. Smallmouth yellowfish, that typically only reach 5-8 kg., also offer exciting fishing. The Kavango River hosts African tiger fish, fierce predators reaching 7 kg, along with sharptooth barbel, solid nembwe, and toothy African pike. Along the Skeleton Coast, anglers regularly catch kob (blacktail), steenbras, galjoen, and a variety of coastal sharks.

In the Orange River, drifting trips in inflatable boats or kayaks allow anglers to cover remote pools; trophy yellowfish respond well to large streamer and wet fly patterns, or spinning lures cast into deep runs and drop-offs. Barbel are often pursued at night using heavy bait gear and beefy tackle. On the Kavango River, light spinning gear with soft plastics and small metal lures brings exciting action—tigerfish smash fast-moving baits mid-channel, while nembwe and pike lurk near structure. Drift or wade fishing is standard, with no permits required within the Caprivi region. Along the Skeleton Coast, strong spinning setups and natural baits—such as mullet, hake, and sardines—work well for rockfish and sharks. Soft plastics like paddle-tails are increasingly effective. While the terrain is cold and variable, shore-based anglers find solitude and strong action.