When you choose Baines’ River Camp for your fishing expedition, your day on the river begins before sunrise.
The guiding and hospitality teams are up well before you, carefully preparing every detail to ensure you get a seamless experience on the water. Delicious picnic or packed lunches are thoughtfully prepared, and your preferred snacks and beverages are loaded into ice-filled coolers.
When you head out on the water, with everything else taken care of, your only point of focus is landing the fish you came here for.
The ideal start to your excursion is before first light. Our security team will escort you to the main lodge area, where a light continental breakfast and freshly baked morning treats await. For anglers who prefer to head out immediately, each boat is equipped with tea baskets and light snacks to enjoy on the water.
After breakfast, you will meet your guide and make your way down to the jetty to begin your adventure. Baines’ River Camp is located in the Chiawa Eastern GMA, approximately 11 km from Lower Zambezi National Park. Fishing activities are offered both within the GMA and inside the National Park.
As the National Park gate operates from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, early departures are essential to maximise your time on the water due to the greater travel distance. Activities within the GMA offer more flexibility, with fishing opportunities both upstream and downstream from the lodge.
Once on the river, your guide will tailor the day according to your chosen fishing discipline:
Fly Fishing
First and last light offer the best opportunities for explosive top-water action. Calm conditions, clear river margins, and favourable light create the perfect setting for surface strikes.
As the sun rises higher, the focus shifts to structure-based angling, using baitfish imitation patterns around submerged features. Should the wind pick up later in the day, tactics adjust accordingly, moving to deeper runs and drop-offs where fish tend to congregate.
At midday, you may return to the lodge for a well-earned break, or enjoy a picnic on the river.
As temperatures begin to cool, the afternoon session unfolds in reverse order: starting deeper and gradually working back to the surface bite as dusk approaches. The day concludes with a return to camp for a hearty and well-deserved dinner.
Conventional Angling
Conventional angling follows a similar rhythm to Fly Fishing. Early morning and late afternoon provide prime conditions for surface lure action, so the day typically begins and ends focused on top-water presentations.
As the morning progresses, attention shifts to deeper waters and structural features holding concentrations of baitfish, before moving into the deepest sections ahead of the midday break.
After lunch, the pattern reverses, gradually working back through the water column to finish the day targeting surface strikes in the golden light of evening.
Bait Angling
The day begins with securing fresh bait – typically chessa, the primary prey species of Tigerfish. Once sufficient bait has been gathered, you’ll spend the day drifting along the shoreline of the Zambezi, presenting your offerings in promising areas.
As with other disciplines, the pace is relaxed and enjoyable. A mid-morning snack and leisurely picnic lunch are taken at scenic spots along the river, followed by an unhurried afternoon fishing various runs whilst working your way back toward the lodge as the sun sinks below the horizon.
A day on the river with Baines’ is more than a fishing excursion – it is a carefully curated experience, blending expert guidance, pristine wilderness, and warm hospitality into an unforgettable adventure.
