Why should you visit Cahora Bassa?

Located on the Zambezi River in Mozambique's Tete Province, Southern Africa, Cahora Bassa is the fourth largest man-made lake in Africa. Its construction was finalized in 1974. The term “Cahora Bassa” comes from the Nyungwe phrase “Kahoura-Bassa,” which means “Finish the Work.”

Many anglers consider the Zambezi River a "Holy Grail" for fishing, particularly for its standout species: the Tigerfish and the Vundu.

Lake Cahora Bassa

So why fish Cahora Bassa?

That's a great question, and the answer is straightforward: because of its remote location and the absence of heavy tourism, Cahora Bassa remains an untapped destination with undiscovered potential. Lake Cahora Bassa covers an area of 2,739 km² (1,058 sq mi), yet there are typically fewer than 8 chartered sports fishing boats on any given day. This means the fish are not wary of lures, leaving only environmental factors like water levels, clarity, temperature, weather, and breeding seasons to consider, which significantly enhances your chances of catching fish, unlike many other spots on the Zambezi.

When is the best time to come to Cahora Bassa?

Your fishing target determines the best time. For Tigerfish, the prime season is from September to April. Fishing conditions decline in the winter months (May to August) because of cooler water temperatures and reduced water clarity. However, if you're after Vundu, Catfish, or Tilapia, you can fish year-round.

So, How big do the fish get in Cahora Bassa?

As mentioned earlier, with minimal fishing pressure on the lake, much larger fish are certainly present.

The typical size of Tigerfish in the lake ranges from 6kg to 8kg (13.23lb to 17.64lb), though it's not unusual to find ones weighing 10kg (22lb). The biggest Tigerfish I am aware of from the lake is 13.8kg (30.4lb).

Vundu typically weigh between 10kg and 14kg (22lb and 30.8lb). It's not unusual to find Vundu weighing 25kg (55lb), and the largest Vundu I've observed from Cahora Bassa weighed 45.6kg (100.5lb).

Can I visit the Dam Wall?

In summary, yes. To elaborate, visiting the dam wall is possible, but it necessitates advance planning, and you should anticipate it taking up the majority of your day. We will happily arange a day trip for you, which will include a dam wall visit, sight seeing around Songo, and a lovely lunch.

What else is there to do at Cahora Bassa?

Bird watching is absolutely essential, as we have an impressive variety of species near the lake.

While wildlife is regrettably limited, the populations of crocodiles and hippos are quite remarkable, making it enjoyable to seek them out.

Night fishing from a Kapenta Rig. Kapenta fishing plays a significant role in life on Cahora Bassa. Since Kapenta serves as the primary food source for numerous fish species in the lake, fishing from a kapenta rig at night offers a unique experience—provided you can tolerate the engine noise.

Sunset cruise. There's little that compares to setting off just before sunset, savoring a drink, and watching the day come to an end.

Sounds too good to be true, whats the catch?

Frankly, we face two problems regarding Cahora Bassa:

The road

Regardless of your starting point, the road is in poor condition, particularly the 100km stretch between Tete and the Songo/Chitima turn off. If you're driving from Harare via Mt. Darwin, a 4x4 is necessary, and you might have to wait at the border for the river to recede before crossing. (I prefer to avoid that route when traveling to or from Harare, as I find the Nyamapanda route to be much faster and safer.)

Netting

Sadly, this issue has become increasingly prevalent across Africa. However, those familiar with the lake can usually guide you to areas where netting is minimal. We (Ragnar Safaris) are currently working with the local community to remove "Ghost Nets" (nets which have been abandoned, and cause a massive impact on the environment) from a large portion of the lake.

Sunsets that take your breath away

Book your adventure now at https://shorturl.at/brdI4,

Email us at info@ragnarsafaris.com,

WhatsApp us on +258878717282 to start planning your trip.

Have you ever wanted to fish Cahora Bassa? Let us know in the comments below