Lesotho Wilderness Fishing

Lesotho and the surrounding parts of South Africa offer some very interesting trout fishing for wild Rainbows as well as indigenous Yellow fish. Lesotho and the areas of South Africa which surround it is often called the Roof of Africa and has a large amount of Freestone Rivers in stunningly beautiful mountain areas. There are a huge amount of rivers here at the roof of Africa in 2-3 KMs height over sea level. The area is very remote, with difficult access and very few people. As a result fishing pressure is very light and you will have unlimited kilometres of rivers all for yourself.

Together with the best guides in the area we offer exclusive fully inclusive tours for small groups or individual anglers. The program will be adopted according to your preferences and the circumstances prevailing during your trip maximising the potential. This is ideal for a 6 day extension to your visit in South Africa. The season is mid September – mid May.

The fishing is for wild spawning Rainbow trout introduced in the area almost a hundred years ago in the higher lying areas. As we get further down in the rivers the Rainbows will start mixing with indigenous Yellow fish. The trout are normally in the 200-500 gram range with a reasonable chance in some rivers for a much larger fish, and the Yellows average 700-800 gram with quite a few 1-2 KG fish and bigger around. Most of the fishing is upstream deep nymph fishing and dry fly fishing. Wading knee deep with a 3 weight outfit in your hands, under a canopy of Willow trees, sight fishing to Rainbows and Yellows is great sport. Up here in the small shallow gin clear headwaters, the Yellows behave like trout and it is not uncommon for them to be gorging in surface flies. A 1 KG Yellow on a dry fly with a 3 weight rod will put up a surprisingly good fight.

There is also a number of still waters around, with either wild Rainbows or Rainbows stocked as fingerlings. These trout grow surprisingly large and still water fishing can make for a nice diversion. The guides we work with know the area and rivers in and out from years and years of fishing and exploration and they are specialists in deep water nymph fishing and all other fly fishing methods.

Trip Itinerary
Clients will be collected at East London or Bloemfontein a day before the adventure or alternatively they can rent a car and drive themselves the approximately 4-5 hours.

Clients will spend 3 nights in Rhodes and 2 days in the Rhodes surrounds, sampling some of the best river fishing in Southern Africa for trout and smallmouth yellowfish.  Rhodes is a remote village tucked away in the Southern Drakensberg of the Eastern Cape, at the foothills of Lesotho and considered by many to be one of South Africa’s hidden treasures.

The accommodation is comfortable with home cooked meals, much of which consists of our traditional ‘boerekos’.  Breakfasts are served between 7:00 and 8:00 after which the guides will pick the clients up to explore the vast river systems on fly.  Lunch packs are provided on-stream and the fishing day ends late in the afternoon.  Dinners will be enjoyed at one of the restaurants in Rhodes.

We will depart for Lesotho from Rhodes around 5:00am on the third morning, taking the spectacularly picturesque route over Lundeans Neck Pass, entering Lesotho via the Telle Bridge border post.  Here we stop for coffee and rusks, arriving at our fishing destination at approximately 09:30 – 10:00.  Anglers will begin to venture onto the rivers at around 10:30 -11:00 enjoying a full days fishing until about 17:30 -18:30.  After regrouping back at the village, clients will enjoy sundowners and a dinner that will be prepared by the Linecasters guides and served, alfresco style, between 20:00 and 21:00.

The next morning sees a relatively early start with breakfast at 7:30, after which anglers will spend the day on the river, breaking at midday for lunch.  The afternoon will be spent on the rivers until 17:30 – 18:30.  We then return to the village and enjoy the evening around the camp fire, discussing the day.   Dinner will be served between 20:00 and 21:00.

On the longer trips where a sleep out in the mountain huts is part of the adventure, sure-footed, tame Basotho ponies will be ridden by the group to venture far into wilder mountainous terrain.

On the morning of the last day in Lesotho, breakfast will be ready at 7:30 and the group will fish until about 13:00, regrouping for lunch at the camp.  We then journey back to Rhodes, arriving in Rhodes at about 18:00.

The last night of this truly splendid adventure will be spent in Rhodes before returning to the airport the following day.

Trip Information

The guides travel with clients in comfortable, 4X4 vehicles to our destination. The trip tp to the fishing in Lesotho takes approx. 4 hours (depending on the destination) even though it is only 195km from Rhodes. This is a spectacular route that meanders over the Lundeans Neck Pass, 9000ft above sea level, through spectacular rural, tribal ground into the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho.

The local Basotho are a peaceful tribe and are willing to share their unique lifestyle with visitors. While in Lesotho the group will live in Basotho huts in a rural village where the chiefs’ cattle, chickens and livestock roam around the village freely. These huts are beautifully clean and well kempt especially for us, but do not have electricity or mod-cons of any kind. The guides will provide camp lights and necessary bedding. Do not let this put you off; it is a truly incredible African experience.

The pristine, almost untouched rivers that we fish are protected by the local chief/community leader and the fishing is outstanding. On these specific trips we target rainbow and brown trout with the average size of the fish between 14 to 17 inches. Fish of around 18-25+ inches are also caught and are normally in excellent condition. Nymphs are used in the deeper pools and dries in the riffles and runs.

The guides we use to host the trip are THETA approved, R.E.F.F.I.S qualified guides and they will take care of all the camp chores.

Horse riding on Basotho ponies to explore rivers that few fly fishermen ever reach is an option. Magnificent San art (rock art) galleries can be viewed in caves in the mountains and the birdlife is unique and exquisite.

All meals will be catered for by the guide team that includes tea, coffee, some soft drinks, breakfast, lunch packs and dinners. Please bring anything extra that you think you may like to have with you, including alcoholic beverages.

We enter Lesotho at the Telle Bridge border post; please make sure that you have your passport. Please make sure your passport expires no sooner than six months after your return. We provide a safe and productive fly fishing trip. Best months are September – December and March – May.

What to bring:

• 3 – 5 weight rods and floating lines
• Day pack or fly pack
• Tapered leaders and 4X, 5X and 6X tippet
• Strike indicator and lead putty
• Hat or cap
• Polaroid’s
• Multi tool
• Towel
• Toiletries
• Sun block
• Wading boots, gravel guards and technical wading pants
• Warm fleece
• Sleeping bag and pillow
• Passport
• Torch, head lamp
• Camp light
• Water bottle
• Warm tracksuit to sleep in
• Beer, wine, spirits and mixes of choice
• Sweets

The outfitters have a Fly Shop in Rhodes where clients can purchase anything fly fishing related