River God

skydiver386

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I've seen several episodes of "This is Africa" with Andy Buchanan and the advertisement for River God cruise's down the Zambezi river. The Tiger fish and catfish look amazing, and I thought someone here might have gone on this river trip. The boss lady thinks Vic Falls, then a trip down the river would be a good idea.

If I've read correctly it's 6 days with nearly everything included.

Has anyone ever done this, or looked into booking such a trip?
 
I’ve looked into it, seems like a fun trip especially with family along to experience Africa. It is a rather pricey per person trip though. I just got an email from them yesterday announcing they are soon launching a second boat identical to the first. The second boat will operate from the Zambian side of the river. The original boat operates from the Zimbabwe side
 
Really do your research on water levels, best months and annual closures on the Zambian side.

Don’t miss out on the Vundu.

Cheers, Lon
 
Andy does a good job of explaining things. Looks like a fantastic trip on the river. Relaxing under those stars at night would be the most relaxing thing I could think of

 
I’ve looked into it, seems like a fun trip especially with family along to experience Africa. It is a rather pricey per person trip though. I just got an email from them yesterday announcing they are soon launching a second boat identical to the first. The second boat will operate from the Zambian side of the river. The original boat operates from the Zimbabwe side
Somewhere around $700 daily rate is what I gathered from a 3rd party website. Is that close to what you came up with?
 
That’s per person. I’m pretty sure if you’re the only one on the boat it’s 5,600$ per day. Boat holds 8 people. So if you’re a single boater it’s a lot more than 700 per day. We called and talked to them about going but we couldn’t find 6 like minded people to go with us to split the costs. Waiting to hear from anyone else that’s called them. That’s what i understand and they don’t mix groups.
 
That’s per person. I’m pretty sure if you’re the only one on the boat it’s 5,600$ per day. Boat holds 8 people. So if you’re a single boater it’s a lot more than 700 per day. We called and talked to them about going but we couldn’t find 6 like minded people to go with us to split the costs. Waiting to hear from anyone else that’s called them. That’s what i understand and they don’t mix groups.
Yikes!!!
 
It looks like it is a minimum of four people - 1 person per tent or a maximum of 8 people. I found a 2021 price of $2,840 1 - 4 people or $4,000 7 - 8 people. I would just reach out to them, if they are like the sponsors on our site, they will be happy to respond and provide you more details.
 
I’d like to add a fishing trip to a big game hunt someday. They look like a good, but pricey, option. I wonder if they combine groups to get to the minimum of four?
 
@Doug3006 The other option, depending on where you're hunting is a fishing lodge. In 2011 We were in Zimbabwe, Chewore north and had a one hour drive to Tafyka Fishing Lodge. Lon's comments about water levels, time of year, etc. are important. Although we caught some tigers over 1 1/2 days in mid-September, it was pretty slow. Maybe 10 total fish, mostly small 3 - 4 lbs. Ann caught one good one pushing 8 - 10 lbs and she caught a red-eye tilapia which we ate - very good.

After our Mozambique hunt in 2016, we stayed at Machangula Beach Lodge for a couple days. Ann caught a 200 lb blue marlin (catch and release) and a 20 lb yellowfin tuna - chef prepared as sushi for appetizer and grilled for dinner and he was ecstatic that he and his wife would get to eat the rest. That was early November.
 
I found my email with prices for 2025. 1-4 is 3,280$ per night. 5 people-3,900$. 6 people 4,236$ 7 people 4,571$ and 8 people 4,912$.
 
Cuan Meredith, owner of TCI taxidermy in Bulawayo, was /is the owner of River God. Not sure if partial or 100%. Good guy, and he’s always treated me right on taxidermy work. I know he is close friend with Dalton Tink of Dalton & York Safaris
 
Looks like great fun trip but out of my league.

Does anyone know of or remember a fishing lodge on the banks of the Zambezi on the corner where the Deka River enters ?

I was there way back & it was a very cool little spot, with a little bar on the water edge, after I wrecked a lot of their gear I managed to catch a 12lb Tiger Fish, later mostly destroyed by the Taxidermist in Bulawayo !
 
@Sarg A google map search found Sundowner Zambezi Lodge. A few others in the area too.
 
I fished the Zambezi last year while hunting in Matetsi. There are lots of options for day trips as well as fishing lodges for a couple of days that are a little more affordable. The months you’re there will greatly impact your success and the size of fish you’re catching. If interested, shoot me a PM and I can point you to a fishing lodge near the falls.

I might do another day or two next year when I’m done hunting in Zambia.
 
@Sarg A google map search found Sundowner Zambezi Lodge. A few others in the area too.
Thank you for that, made me look at Google Maps & that must be the lodge but it does look different to I remember but again that was in the 80s lol
 

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