The Desert Lake Experience
A fishing safari on Lake Nasser is as close to the real meaning of the word "safari" as you are likely to find – a style of mobile camping that combines comfort with the incredible experience of being out in real wilderness.
Most anglers visiting this unique desert lake for the first time catch the largest freshwater fish of their lives. Almost everyone achieves this goal and enjoys an angling adventure that they will never forget.
As well as terrific angling, Lake Nasser is a fantastic place to visit, where stunning desert scenery borders clean waters that in turn are dotted with countless rocky outcrops and islands. There is an atmosphere of tranquillity, vastness and adventure – as befits a wilderness where anglers have hundreds of square kilometres to themselves.
People with a sense of adventure and a love of nature and the outdoors will find our boat safaris fit the bill in every possible way.
Boat Safaris
A boat safari is similar to the old style African safari where cross country vehicles are used for game viewing and travelling and are supported by a large truck carrying the camping equipment and safari staff. Fundamentally, the African Angler is the same except we use boats instead of 4 x 4 vehicles. Our fishing boats replace the cross country vehicles and our mother ships the large truck. The boat safari style of camping is comfortable but still maintains the adventurous atmosphere of being out in the wilds.
Fishing Boats
An experienced English speaking fishing guide captains each fishing boats.
The fishing boats are built by The African Angler in Aswan and are designed for tough work in remote areas. Each of our eleven fishing boats are fitted with long-range fuel tanks, a 12v lighting system, a fish-finder, scales up to 220lb. and plenty of storage area for your equipment.
The bow deck and stern decks provide ideal casting platforms and there is an all round deck in case a quick maneuver is needed when a big fish takes a dive under the boat.
Each boat has on board sleeping facilities with two bunks that have full-sized single mattress. At night the cabin can be enclosed by canvas, providing a cozy sheltered sleeping area. Many anglers enjoy the unique and peaceful experience of sleeping under the desert stars on the upper deck, which has a ladder access.
Mother Ship
Mother ships are an essential component of a well organized safari unit and enable comfortable camps to be set up close to the best fishing areas.
The African Angler has four of these units and each one is well appointed. There is plenty of space to relax and have sit down meals. All are fitted with a toilet & shower, a built-in kitchen, and large iceboxes to keep drinks cool. The mother ships carry all the provisions, fuel, cook, service staff, helpers etc. Leaving the fishing boats free to get on with the job they are designed for … to catch fish.
Most people are pleasantly surprised at the standard of food on safari. The style of cooking is a blend of western tastes merged with Nubian cuisine, which is superb, so if you are planning on losing weight then think again! With approximately one member of staff per angler, there is little to do except relax and fish to your heart’s content.
Safari Staff
African Angler safari staff and fishing guides are all Nubians who are the people that inhabited the Nile Valley before it was flooded by Lake Nasser. The Nubian people have a proud and rich heritage that dates back to long before the pharaohs were in control of ancient Egypt. To this day they still maintain distinct traditions, architecture, and their own language, even though they had to migrate into Egypt or south to the Sudan after Lake Nasser swamped much of their traditional homeland.
One of the most important requirements for a successful safari is a good guide. We take this seriously and devote time and effort in selecting and training our guides. To become an African Angler guide requires a minimum of 18 months training as an assistant guide before we consider giving them command of a fishing boat. When we select our guides we look for what we call a ‘hunting instinct’ and a genuine feel for fishing. There is an excellent ‘esprit de corps’ amongst our Nubian staff, they are proud of the work they do and you can’t beat them for their spontaneous and genuine friendship.
Lake Nasser Safari
The Lake Nasser Safari is designed for anglers who would like to come on their own or with a friend and then join in the atmosphere of a sociable camp with other anglers.
Anglers who book a single place on a safari are welcome. We will guarantee your place and then try to find a suitable partner for you to fish with and if not we will team you up with a trainee guide to fish a second rod for you.
The safari unit is made of two or three fishing boats, supported by a mother ship that acts as a mobile camp and rest area.
The safari price is per person and includes the ‘Arrival & Departure Package’ which takes care of your travel arrangements from your arrival at either Cairo Luxor or Aswan airport until you board your home bound flight. Pease see page 4 below for details.
The Lake Nasser Safari starts every Tuesday and ends on a Sunday while the ‘Arrival & Departure package’ is for a Monday arrival into Egypt and the following Monday is the home bound flight. If required you can come for two or more weeks.
If you would like to make your own arrangements to arrive in Aswan then deduct £120 from the safari cost. (£110.00 for 2006)
Nubian Safari (Private Safari)
A Nubian safari can start and end on any day of the year and can last for as long as is required which is ideal for anglers who would like to have the flexibility of deciding how long they want to stay on a fishing safari.
This safari offers a degree of independence which many anglers prefer and is ideal for two anglers or a small group of friends who would like to set out and explore the lake, at their own pace, on a fishing adventure that has few equals anywhere.
A supply boat carries the requirements for a comfortable camp and the safari staff will cook great meals and keep drinks cold.
When 6 anglers book a safari together then the 6th angler (the organizer) is entitled to a 40% discount from their safari cost. Please ask us for details.
The cost of this safari does not include the Arrival and Departure Package (see page 4). If you would like to include this package the cost is an additional £120 and £60 for a single room supplement. (£110.00 for 2006)
The price table is based on the cost per person for each day or part of a day spent on the lake.
Abu Simbel Safari
It is difficult to comprehend the sheer size of Lake Nasser, with an area of 2,000 square miles and a shore line of some 4,500 miles; this lake is the size of an English county! Because of the long distances involved we have been content to fish the top two thirds of the lake while the bottom third still remains relatively unexplored.
We have now allocated a safari unit to operate safaris between Garf Hussein and Abu Simbel on selected dates.
This itinerary involves exploring areas which are not as heavily fished as the North of the lake. The current IGFA (International Game Fishing Association) all tackle world record, a Nile perch of 230lb, was caught by one of our American anglers in this area south of Amada.
An added bonus, on this safari, is a visit to the temples of Abu Simbel which are among the most magnificent monuments in the world.
Prices include the Arrival & Departure Package (see page 4).
Map link www.african-angler.co.uk/lake.htm
Day Fishing
You can come on a Day Fishing trip on any day of the year. We will collect you from your hotel or cruise ship at 08.00am and then transfer you to your fishing boat for full day’s fishing. We return to Aswan approximately 4.30pm where we will transfer you back to your hotel or cruise ship.
An experienced fishing guide will captain the fishing boat. We provide each boat with up to three sets of rods, reels and a box of lures; you only have to pay extra if you loose any lures. A quality picnic lunch is included in the price and there is an ice box full of soft drinks and beer, which is paid for at the end of the day. On a day trip a fishing boats will comfortably carry up to four people, with up to three fishing at a time.
Cost per Person per Day: 1 Person £125 - 2 People £90 - 3 People £70 - 4 People £60
Stealth Boats
Stealth Boats provide anglers with an alternative fishing platform to fish areas more quietly and efficiently. The main fishing boats have to be big enough to live in, and whilst they are also excellent fishing platforms a stealth boat has an advantage; it can be quietly drifted or rowed over underwater promontories or past rocky drop-offs, allowing anglers to cast lures, or wobble dead bait without the commotion caused by a bigger boat.
The Stealth Boats we use are light aluminum skiffs known as “Sea Ark's” which are powered with 10HP or 15HP engines. The Sea Ark is also light enough to be easily towed by the larger boats between fishing grounds.
A Stealth Boat holds only two people; if you want to use one on your own, it is important you have the experience to handle small boats.
You can book a Stealth Boat for the same number of days as the safari you have booked. Cost £25 per day
Catch & Release Policy
The African Angler practices a strict catch and release policy however, we do kill the occasional Nile perch for the kitchen.
A Nile perch of 75lb can be up to 15 years old and when they reach 100lb they are in the vicinity of 20 years old. These big fish are the main breeding fish and if we kill them we are wiping out future sport on Lake Nasser as well as our business.
“Don’t kill with kindness”. It’s not always a good idea to give away lures or fishing tackle to local fishermen we have proof that this tackle is being used for commercial fishing where everything is killed.
Please be patient when you come to release your big catch. Sometimes your catch is worn out after giving you his all in a hard fight and needs time and help to recover, live and breed again.
African Angler Top Twenty
The largest reliably recorded Nile perch from Lake Nasser weighed 176kg (392lb). The largest Nile perch caught on an African Angler safari was 6'2" long and had a girth of 4'11". Gerald Eastmure, a 78-year-old tea planter from India, landed this huge perch. The available scales measured up to 220lb which was not enough; this perch has been estimated to weigh 275lb plus.
Marked IGFA on chart - These are the three largest fresh water fish ever caught on rod & line that have been ratified by the IGFA (International Game Fishing Association) as world records. The 230lb fish is the existing all tackle world record Nile perch and the 213Lb and 210lb Nile perch are preceding all tackle world records.
We are often asked, ‘What can I expect to catch on a safari?’
Fishing being fishing, who knows for sure? Most anglers can expect to capture at least one Nile perch of 50lb plus. Beyond that, anything is possible – perhaps even another world record?
The best time of year to come on safari is a matter of personal choice. If you are looking for exceptional all-round sport, with plenty of fish from 20lb up, then the time to come is between March and July. These months are also the best for shore fishing, which can be tremendously exciting.
The winter months from October until the end of January are the ‘big fish’ months. At this time of the year the lake is at its highest level and the bigger Nile perch are starting to congregate prior to spawning in February. The groups of bigger fish are easier to target by trolling but, because of the high water level, they are in deeper water and difficult to reach from the shore.
Tackle Hire
It is important you have the correct fishing tackle to take on Nile perch which can cause unbelievable damage to lures, hooks and split rings. If necessary you can hire rods and reels for both trolling and shore fishing from the African Angler in Aswan. We can also provide you with a tackle box that covers all the lures and terminal tackle you will need for your safari. Fishing the lake every day we have the advantage of being up to date with successful lures. We have an excellent range of lures, fitted with extra strength hooks and rings, for both trolling and shore fishing. You will find detailed information about tackle hire in our Destination Guide or on our web site. There is always a good supply of lures available at prices that are the same as in a UK tackle shop
If necessary you can arrive in Aswan for your fishing holiday with no tackle at all and have total confidence that we will provide you with all you need.
Arrival & Departure Package
The “Arrival & Departure Package” is included in the price of a Lake Nasser Safari and the Abu Simbel Safari. It is not included in the price of a Nubian Safari.
The flight to Egypt and the internal flight to Aswan are not included in our safari prices. Please contact us if you need advice locating a reasonably priced flight to Egypt.
International flights to Egypt usually arrive in the evening, when there is no onward connecting flight to Aswan. This then entails a stop over night in either Cairo or Luxor before traveling to Aswan the next day. With American Express, our handling agent in Egypt, we have arranged the following itinerary that will take care of your travel arrangements from your arrival at either Cairo or Luxor airport until you board your home bound flight
Arrival Itinerary
Day 1 On arrival in Egypt, our representative will meet you at either Luxor or Cairo airport in the arrival hall. You will be assisted through customs & immigration and then taken to a first-class hotel.
Day 2 Transfer to Luxor/Cairo airport for the flight to Aswan, with an arrival time in Aswan of 8.30 or 9.30am. An African Angler representative will meet you at Aswan airport and transfer you to the safari start point.
Departure Itinerary
Day 1 At the end of the safari you will be transferred from the lake to Aswan airport or the train station for transport to Luxor or Cairo, where you will be met and then transferred to a first-class hotel.
Day 2 Transfer to either Luxor or Cairo airport for your flight home.
Included in the Arrival & Departure Package
- Meeting & assistance at all airports in Egypt
- All transfers between airports, hotels and safari start point
- Two nights in a first class hotel with a buffet breakfast
All Safari Prices Include
- Meeting & assistance at Aswan airport, hotel or cruise ship with transfer to & from the safari start point
- Use of fishing boats for 8 hours a day with an experienced English speaking fishing guide
- Mother ship with cook and safari crew
- All meals are provided on a safari
- Government taxes and fishing permits
- Tipping in Aswan and on the safari
Not Included In the Safari Price
- A hotel supplement of £35 per person affects safaris starting between April 2 & 11 and between December 15 & January 6 2007
- Fishing rods, reels & lures, these can be hired from the African Angler
- Soft drinks, beer and bottled water
- Tipping in Cairo and Luxor
- Laundry, drinks and personal items
Destination Guide
It is important that you are fully briefed as to what to expect on a boat safari. On request or when you make a booking we will send you our Destination Guide, which will give you detailed information about our safaris, guides, fishing methods etc.
How to Make a Booking
- Please contact us to confirm we have boats free on the safari date you have selected.
- If we have availability we will send you an invoice and our Destination Guide
- To confirm a booking a deposit of £150 per person is required. This deposit will be deducted from your final payment
- Full payment is required to confirm a One-Day Fishing Trip
- A reservation will be held for two weeks, after which time, if no deposit is paid, the boats booked will be put back on offer to other anglers
- Payments can be made by bank transfer, or by using a credit card
Payment Conditions
- The deposit is not refundable if you cancel
- Balance of payment is due four weeks before the safari starts after which there will be no refund of payment.
- We strongly recommend that insurance be taken out to cover all contingencies, including cancellation
We will refund the balance, but not the deposit, within two weeks prior to arrival if the reason for canceling is not covered by travel insurance, for example civil strife or war, or where accredited authorities advise against travel. The African Angler uses the advice of the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office; please consult their website, www.fco.gov.uk for travel advice. |
