A Walk on the Wild Side - Custom African Itineraries

We’ve highlighted some of our favorite and most popular African programs, along with some special itineraries that combine multiple experiences or add a safari to the experience.

With wild landscapes and protected habitats stretching far beyond the horizon, hard-fighting fish species of the stuff dreams are made of (or nightmares), and opportunities for life-changing encounters with African wildlife, the boundaries of what’s possible for the traveling fly angler are ever being expanded in Africa.

In many ways the emerging fisheries of Africa offer the greatest remaining frontiers for adventure fly fishing. Through our dedicated partners at African Waters, we’ve steadily been sampling these incredible programs over the past decade and have become intimately familiar with these offerings and how to maximize the experience through wild angling opportunities, safari add-ons and combination trips.

Port Gentil Tarpon Experience, Gabon 

The Port Gentil Tarpon Experience is the newest program from African Waters. Located on the Atlantic Ocean on the central west coast of Gabon, this destination places anglers in traditional flats skiffs to explore the Bay of Nazare for massive tarpon, jack crevalle, African threadfin, Cubera snapper and Guinean barracuda. This operation will be the first of its kind, offering anglers the chance to sight fish to full-size tarpon from Florida Keys style skiffs on the continent of Africa. Guests stay in a seaside hotel in the French-speaking and coastal village of Port Gentil.

Port Gentil Tarpon Experience + Sette Cama

Located in the heart of Loango National Park and one of the world’s most awe-inspiring jungle ecosystems, Sette Cama pits anglers on truly wild African beach, fishing through nightfall for 200lb tarpon, 100lb Cubera snapper, African threadfin and many other creatures that go bump in the night. This incredibly diverse fishery takes advantage of one of the most prolific, untouched and biodiverse saltwater ecosystems on Earth. This is a true big game fly fishing experience, packed with intrigue and wild adventure combining beautiful, adrenaline-packed yet safe interactions with large African fauna. By daylight, guests jump in the skiffs to target marauding schools of longfin jacks and a plethora of hard-fighting and numerous snapper species.

For a truly comprehensive African Experience, the Port Gentil Tarpon Experience combines perfectly with a trip to Sette Cama. Here’s a look at a sample custom itinerary offering the best of these operations.

Sample Custom Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive Libreville International Airport, Gabon 

Day 2: Depart Libreville, arrive Gamba (approximate 1hr, 45-miniute charter flight)

• From Gamba it's a 15-minute drive and 40-minute boat transfer to Sette Cama.
• Orientation, dinner, evening fishing session (time permitting) 

Day 3 – 8: 6 days guided fishing on the Ndogo Lagoon 

Day 9: Depart Sette Cama, arrive Port Gentil, Gabon 

Day 10 – 13: 3 days guided fishing at the Port Gentil Tarpon Experience

Day 14: Depart Port Gentil, departLibreville for home

Sette Cama, Gabon + Loango National Park Safari 

Along with offering one of the most incredible saltwater fly fishing experiences on Earth, Sette Cama offers the perfect launch point for one of the most dynamic and incredible jungle African safari itineraries possible today. From game drives, safari trekking on foot, wild chimpanzee and western lowland gorilla interactions, mind-blowing birding, and near daily viewing of elephants, there is not another program like this found anywhere in Africa.  

Sample Custom Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive Libreville International Airport, Gabon 

Day 2: Depart Libreville, arrive Gamba (approximate 1hr, 45-miniute charter flight) 

• From Gamba it's a 15-minute drive and 40-minute boat transfer to Sette Cama.
• Orientation, dinner, evening fishing session (time permitting) 

Day 3 – 8: 6 days guided fishing on the Ndogo Lagoon 

Day 9: Depart Sette Cama, arrive Sounga Lagoon (15-minute boat transfer) 

• Embark on a 16km hike through Loango National Park (easy, flat trail) 
• Embark on a boat-based bird and game viewing on the Rembo Bongo river 
• Arrive at the Akaka Forrest Camp and overnight 

Day 10: Depart Akaka Forrest Camp, arrive Ndola Camp (1.5 hours by boat) 

• Embark on a gorilla trek with at the Max Plank Gorilla/Great Ape Research Center where you’ll spend time tracking and viewing a family of Western Lowland Gorilla with scientists and native pygmy trackers. 

Day 11: Game viewing and traditional safari experience at the Ndola Camp 

• Game drives, trekking, birding, boat-based safari 
• DIY fishing for tarpon and jacks 

Day 12: Depart Ndola Camp, arrive Port Gentil, arrive Libreville 

Day 13: Depart Libreville for home 

Gassa Camp, Cameroon 

Nestled along a pristine stretch of the Faro River, Gassa Camp from African Waters provides access to one of West Africa’s few remaining prolific populations of trophy Nile perch. By day, anglers navigate winding riverbanks and rocky beats on foot, stalk­ing aggressive tigerfish, yellowfish and other mixed species in crystal clear water. As dusk descends, the real drama unfolds on the Faro. Under a canopy of stars, and nearby to surprisingly docile herds of hippopotamuses, anglers get primed for massive Nile perch encounters. Nile perch are extremely muscular and wary ambush predators that strike with brutal speed and strength. This highly protected ecosystem is one-of-one for chances to catch one of these incredible fish on a fly rod.  

Accommodation embraces simplicity and solitude. Four canvas Meru-style tents and provided for guests that are modest yet comfortable. They are set into the riverside forest with a communal main tent for lounging and dining, complete with fire pit and gathering place for evenings spent swapping stories. Gassa Camp offers a raw, elemental encounter with nature, where the thrill of multi-species fly fishing converges with the stillness of one of the continent’s great wilderness experiences.  

Gassa Camp + Sette Cama

A trip to Gassa Camp can easily be combined with a trip to Sette Cama, Gabon and then further expanded with safari options as above. Custom itineraries are readily available to dial in the experience that most matches your interests and goals. We’ll do the heavy lifting and recommend our favorite options based on first-hand knowledge and experience in these zones.  

Sample Custom Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive Douala, Cameroon 

Day 2: Depart Douala, arrive Garoua (approximately 1.5-hour flight) 

Day 3: Depart Garoua, arrive Gassa Camp (approximately 5-hour drive)

• Orientation and dinner
• Evening fishing session (time permitting) 

Day 4 – 9: 6 days guided fishing on the Faro River 

Day 10: Depart Garoua, arrive Douala 

Day 11: Depart Douala, arrive Librevilla, Gabon  

Day 12: Depart Libreville, arrive Gamba (approximate 1hr, 45-minute charter flight) 

• From Gamba it's a 15-minute drive and 40-minute boat transfer to Sette Cama.
• Orientation, dinner, evening fishing session (time permitting) 

Day 13 – 16: 4 days guided fishing on the Ndogo Lagoon 

Day 17: Depart Sette Cama for home 

Tanzania Trophy Tiger Safari

African Waters’ Dhala and Samaki camps in Tanzania blend an awe-inspiring African experience with the thrill of targeting one of freshwater’s most intriguing, savage and challenging gamefish. Tigerfish will test your patience, skill and nerve but the reward to encounter the second largest species (of 5 species) on a fly rod is easily worth the effort and perseverance these fish demand. The Mynera and Ruhudji rivers rank among the only and best places in the world to catch a tiger fish on a fly rod. The African Waters Trophy Tigerfish Safari experience naturally combines the allure of a wild African safari with a hardcore fly fishing experience in the bush. With copious amounts of African wildlife, anglers organically experience a safari in the natural course of their fishing day while from the safety and ease of a large steel skiff. This is a true “glamping” type experience where anglers stay in traditional safari-style canvas tents.  

Sample Custom Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 

Day 2: Depart Dar es Salaam, arrive camp in the Kilombero Wilderness Preserve (approximately 2-hour charter flight)  

Day 3 – 8: 6 days guided fishing on Mnyera and Ruhudji Rivers 

Day 9: Depart camp, depart Dar es Salaam, Tanzania for home 

+ Tanzania Safari Options 

With a travel commitment bringing you half way across the world, it’s a great idea to look at adding an additional experience to your fishing trip. Tanzania offers a richly diverse array of safari options that are easily combined with a trip to African Waters’ tigerfish operation. We work with a trusted partner intimately familiar with all of the various offerings in Tanzania and can either refer you to their experts or include options through your Fly Water Travel booking package.